Buachaille Etive Beag (Stob Coire Raineach & Stob Dubh) - Glencoe - March 05

Buachaille Etive Beag Information

Buachaille Etive Beag is Buachaille Etive Mor's little brother but don't let that fool you into thinking this mountain is a walk over.  Any Glencoe expedition offers a serious climb and Buachaille Etive Beag is no exception.  Although the features of Buachaille Etive Beag is similar to that of Buachaille Etive Mor the main summit Stob Dubh sits at the end of the ridge whereas Stob Dearg frowns down over the A82 for the big brother.  There are two ways to access Buachaille Etive Beag but both lead to the same route. The two passes run up either side of it, the Lairig Gartain and Lairig Eilde you can go through either and from each you climb to the bealach on the Buachaille Etive Beag ridge.  The views from the ridge are fantastic as you would expect from ay hill walk in Glencoe especially of Buachaille Etive Mor and Bidean Nam Bian to each side.  How ever the best view is definitely the view out towards Loch Etive and the monster Ben Starav that hill is defiantly on my list.  Overall should be a good day out offering an exciting challenging climb especially in winter conditions.  Can Glencoe do no wrong?

Buachaille Etive Beag Route

I had read a few reviews about Buachaille Etive Beag before I left and read that the Lairig Gartain was a bit of a mud bath so I decided to tackle the ridge from Lairig Eilde.  To do this park at the honeycomb cairn which is at the side of the road.  There are a few lay bys about there.  There is a signposted path showing right of way to loch Etive.  This is the Lairig Eilde so walk along this with Buachaille Etive Beag an obvious sight on your left.  after about 3/4 km or so a small path branches off heading to the bealach on Buachaille Etive Beag this is your cue to leave the Lairig Eilde behind.  Head up the path while its there ( bit intermittent)  and head for the obvious bealach.  Like all ridge walks views are pretty poor at this point but don't lose faith.  after you top out on the ridge the views open out big time oooofa there crackin.  Buachaille Etive Mor ridge looks like a monster.  Next head north up the steep slops of Stob Coire Raineach this was tough climbing when I done it the elements had hit it hard and was definitely an ice axe job.  As you top out at the summit the views across Rannoch Moor are amazing.  The Aonach Eagach sits to the NW, black water reservoir straight ahead of you, and of course the big daddy Buachaille to the immediate east.  Then you look behind you at the next bit of the walk wow what a site, Buachaille Etive Beag is a longgggg ridge.  Head back down to the bealach and head up to Stob Dubh's foretop.  Again its a steep climb and very tiring.  I passed a huge group of people doing winter skills training  sliding down hills and stuff looked great fun!  Next Head to Buachaille Etive Beag's final summit Stob Dubh the last bit of the climb looked absolutely treacherous in winter conditions (bottom right photo) its steep and the ridge becomes very skinny.  There was so much cornicing I didn't know if I was walking on snow with land beneath it or not.  Very very exciting climb best I've had yet.  As you reach the summit look back at what you've conquered its a mighty site.  To get back just head back to the bealach and retrace your steps.  Overall a very memorable day especially in the conditions and Buachaille Etive Beag will definitely go down as one of the classics for me and has officially made Glencoe the best place in Scotland for hill walking (in my opinion) 

Weather today was strange, Buachaille Etive Beag seems to have its on little frontal system (can see in the photos).  the weather was clear all round with bright sunny skies but a bit of cloud hung over Buachaille Etive Beag making it feel very dramatic .  This was definitely branching off into mountaineering rather than just hill walking, winter gear becoming very important !

Buachaille Etive Beag Pictures / Photos / Images

      The foretop on the Buachaille Etive Beag Ridge                  Looking along the ridge to Stob Dubh Loch Etive behind

          Looking back along ridge to Stob Coire Raineach                    Stob Coire Raineach with Rannoch Moor behind