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Etive Mor and Etive Beag guard the eastern approaches to Glencoe. The northern summit of Etive Mor, Stob Dearg, often just referred to as 'the Buachaille' rises dramatically above Rannoch Moor and is very popular with climbers, hill walkers and scramblers. Etive Beag is smaller than Etive Mor, but is similar in shape and appearance to its bigger brother. Because of the hills' popularity and with The West Highland Way passing nearby, parking can be problematic at weekends.


main route outline

Getting there
The main parking area for the Etives is by the farm buildings of Altnafeadh on the A82, 4km west of Kingshouse Hotel. This can be very busy in summer and at weekends, therefore additional parking is available 1km further west of Altnafeadh. If heading up Curved Ridge, then limited roadside parking is possible 2km east of Altnafeadh on a corner.

Etive Beag - Stob Coire Raineach
From the main car-park at Altnafeadh, walk westwards along the road to the other car-aprk. A right-of-way sign-post points the way down the Lairig Gartain, from where a path starts. Get on this path, which can be fairly sodden and crosses some occasional bog. Follow it along the northern bank of the River Coupall for 2km. A burn flows down from the Mam Buidhe pass on Etive Beag and there is a path heading up the east bank of this. Follow this path, which becomes fainter further up, up to the bealach. Turn right (north-east) and follow a worn path through scree and small boulders to Stob Coire Raineach's summit. Excellent views, so stop for a bit and take them in !

Etive Beag - Stob Dubh
From Stob Coire Raineach's summit return to the bealach. On a very obvious path, start climbing south-west up grassy and occasional sections of loose gravel. The ground levels out at c900m, from where it's a straightforward walk taking in the fine views all around. The base of the last climb up Stob Dubh is reached and the ground narrows to a scrambly crest. No difficulties are encountered, but there is a real airy feel to this section of the route. upon reaching the summit cairn, you'll find the views down Glen Etive are blocked by a minor top, so continue south-west for a few metres over some boulders to a smaller cairn for amazing views down Loch Etive and beyond.

Etive Mor - Stob na Broige
Return to the Mam Buidhe bealach, then head back down to the Lairig Gartain following the burn you came up. Upon reaching the glen floor, cross the Lairig Gartain path and drop down over tussocky ground to the River Coupall. Even after rain, I've never found this river difficult to cross. Once across, directly ahead is the peak of Stob Coire Altruim with a burn coming down from the coire to the left. On the west side of this burn a well worn path climbs up into the coire. Follow this path up. It's loose in bits and, particularly in wet conditions or in snow, will require some case to clamber over rocks. Up onto the ridge at the higher of the two bealachs that separate Stob Coire Altruim from Stob na Doire, a faint by-pass path contours around the south side of Stob Coire Altruim's summit. Alternatively, on an obvious path, you could head up to the summit cairn on Stob Coire Altruim then continue south-west along the crest. Both of these routes converge and continue along the crest. One short last pull up over some gravel and stone will get you on Stob na Broige's summit cairn, where some beautiful views await.

Etive Mor - Stob Dearg
Head back to the bealach beyond Stob Coire Altruim, then continue on a worn path over a bump to drop to the lower bealach. Aim north-east directly uphill along a path on the crest. Initially the ground is grass covered, then onto scree and rock higher up. A small cairn sits on Stob na Doire. Turn north and lose some height by dropping down on more loose gravel and over some boulders and rock. Further down the crest widens and a worn path is followed over undulating grass covered ground to the small cairn sitting above Coire na Tulaich. This cairn is marking the route down, but there is still one more peak to bag - Stob Dearg, the highest Etive peak. The terrain changes dramatically from grass to pink loose rock and scree. A very obvious path zig-zags up to the crest and is followed to the summit. Once here, you can glow in the knowledge that you've left the best view-point to the end of the day. A vast panorama is enjoyed from this summit, with Rannoch Moor below and Schiehallion pointing up far in the distance.

Return
Return to the cairn above Coire na Tulaich. In winter the descent from here may be corniced over and ice descending techniques will be called upon. Otherwise, although the descent may look difficult, it's not. A fairly straightforward scramble is required down the initial drop into the gully, then keep to the left side (west) of the burn, from where scree makes for a fast descent. A rough path is picked up and followed down to the coire and out to the hut at Lagangarbh, from where a short walk will return you to your car.

alternatives

Etive Beag from the south
Prior to 1997, Etive Beag and Etive Mor only had one munro each. Etive Mor's was Stob Dearg and was approached mainly from Altnafeadh as described in descent in the main route. Etive Beag's munro was Stob Dubh at its southern end, therefore it was frequently approached from the south near the Lodge at Dalness.

To get to Dalness, from the A82 just west of Kingshouse Hotel, follow the narrow road south for 10km to reach a large car-park just beyond the lodge. Walk back up the road for half a km, then a right-of-way sign points north. Follow the path from this sign for a few metres, then drop down to the Allt Lairig Eilde. Cross this, which can be difficult in spate, then follow a worn path ascending Stob Dubh. The path is initially on grassy ground, then loose scree further up. From the Stob Dubh's summit continue over to Stob Coire Raineach, return to the Mam Buidhe col, then head down to the River Coupall as described in reverse of the main route. Follow the path south-west down the Lairig Gartain back to the route's starting point. From the Mam Buidhe col it is also perfectly possible to head north and return via the path along the Lairig Eilde.

Total distance : 10.5km (6.5m), total ascent : 1200m (3,950ft)


Stob Dearg via Curved Ridge
A popular route up Stob Dearg is via the Curved Ridge. I was hoping to ascend Etive Mor using this route in 2008, but that hasn't happened yet ! Talking to people who've done it and looking through a few guides, it doesn't sound difficult. It can be accessed from Altnafeadh - head down to Lagangarbh climbing hut, just beyond which the path splits, turn left and walk to a the base of a big slab called Waterslide Slab. Just beyond this, the path from Jacksonville Hut is met and followed up to the base of the rock. From there on it's a scramble to the summit. More details and a route map once I climb it !