Ben Starav, Beinn nan Aighenan & Glas Bheinn Mhor - Glen Etive Hills - August 2005

Ben Starav Triple Information

The Ben Starav Triple ( Ben Starav Beinn nan Aighenan & Glas Bheinn Mhor) is one killer of a day, i would probably recommend not doing Beinn nan Aighenan, save it for another day as it totally floors you.  This is one of the classic climbs of the Glen Etive area.  Doing more and more of the Glen Etive hills my opinion of the area has rocketed, the area is amazing and nearly on level par with Glencoe.  Anyways back to the Starav walk, the drive in is horrible along the Glen Etive road which i absolutely hate for some reason this road always makes me car sick...and i was driving ! The walk starts at near enough the end of the road just round the corner from picturesque Loch Etive.  Ben Starav is a fat git and is easily seen from all other hills around the area and is quite a sight from the Glen Etive road.  The ascent is absolutely brutal, 1078 m of thigh bustering walking starting at sea level.  The top consists of 3 ridges which Glas Bheinn Mhor is a part of.  The views of Loch Etive from the summit are fantastic.  The other two hills are good but just do not match up to the beauty and complexity of Starav which for me was peak of the day.     

Ben Starav Triple Route

As i said before the route starts at near enough the end of the Glen Etive road accessed form Glencoe.  Parking is sort of available in small clumps at the side of the road, bit of a premium so get there fast.  A path heads off road through a gate, following this path takes you across to the other side of River Etive and along its banks.  You pass a small cottage.  Signs indicate the path to the hill which is a bit handy because paths spurt off everywhere.   The path now continues up the side of a River Etive tributary stream ( standard grade geography terminology !) clearly heading for the base of Ben Starav.  It really is a bulky git which is clear to see as you take to the lower slopes.  Its steep un-relentless climbing for about 300m until you reach a large plateau at the bottom of Ben Starav's huge corrie an fhir leith.  The views of Glen Etive open up now and you get a good shot of the Bidean and The Buachailles.  The climbing is still steep but slightly more enjoyable for another 400m or so until you reach another plateau.  Glas Bheinn Mhor opens out now showing you the end of your walk a very annoying thing to see !  The last 400m climbing is very tough taking you over a boulder field to the summit ridge.  The path is a bit intermittent at this stage and the drops on either side are no laughing matter so watch out.  Final bit of climbing takes you eventually to the summit.  As i said before the views of Loch Etive are incredible, and Ben Cruachan is a nice site guarding the end of the loch.  No time for gloating though as you got to head on this is a long walk.  Head off the other side of Ben Starav following the ridge path, this is steep and tough on the ankles and again watch the edges, especially in winter i guess.  Head for the col between Ben Starav and Glas Bheinn Mhor which is quite a low col, i.e. a lot of going down just to go back up again ! at the col you can take on Beinn nan Aighenan if you want a path runs along form the col over the bealach connecting to it.  There's a lot of ascending to do.  If you try it route finding is not difficult there is a path all the way and the summit cairn is right where you expect it to be so i don't see a problem even in bad weather.  The ascent is a bit of a slog and not very enjoyable, although you do get a good panorama of Ben Starav along to Glas Bheinn Mhor.  Head back to the col for the start of the last hill, Glas Bheinn Mhor.  I had to make a detour to grab some much needed water out of the stream about 100 m below the col, so that added yet more ascent for me, this walk is a water drainer and you will need a good supply as there's no where really to get some en route.  The ascent up Glas Bheinn Mhor is enjoyable, easy climbing and a change form the rocky terrain of Ben Starav and endless slog of Beinn nan Aighenan, nice and smooth and easy,  you will reach the summit before you know it.    Good views here of the other Glen Etive Hills including Stob Coire Albanaich ( spelling ?)  and the remoter ones of Glen Etive.  The descent is hefty boring i could of done without this.  You need to continue along the ridge down the other side of Glas Bheinn Mhor down to to col.  You now meet up a small stream which you follow right down the valley back into Glen Etive.  I absolutely hated this path, one minute it was a complete bog then your heather bashing, tough on the soles of the feet especially after such a long day.  Anyway following this path leads you back to where you branched off for Ben Starav and you can continue back along the banks of the River Etive to the car.  Hmm that was a bit of a long write up...suppose its a pretty long route though !

Excellent walk and i had uber weather but if i was to do it again i would miss out Beinn nan Aighenan as it just made the walk a bit to tiring for my liking.

Ben Starav Triple Photos, pictures, images

      Western ridge of Ben Starav leading towards the col                  Beinn nan Aighenan from Glas Bheinn Mhor

     Ben Starav as seen from slopes of Beinn nan Aighenan             Glas Bheinn Mhor as seen from the Ben Starav col

Something I've always wanted to see ! a cloud inversion with the Glencoe peaks sticking out above