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peaks





ascent
distance
time

start/finish
maps
Beinn Starav (1078m, Munro 63)
Beinn nan Aighenan (960m, Munro 196)
Glas Bheinn Mhor (997m, Munro 145)
Stob Coir'an Albannaich (1044m, Munro 90)
Meall nan Eun (928m, Munro 254)

2560m (8,400ft)
25km (15.5m)
running : 5:30hr, walking : 10hr

3km ne of Loch Etive (NN137469)
OS landranger 50
main route summary
These five munros lie east of Loch Etive and can be accessed from the west or the east. With sea-level start and a height of just under 1100m, there is a hard, stiff slog to reach the summit of Ben Starav. This is a prominent peak with a steep drops down to Loch Etive, not unlike a fjord, and great views in all directions. On its own, Beinn nan Aighenan is fairly remote, include it with Ben Starav however and it requires much less effort. Glas Bheinn Mhor feels like a subsiduary top, whereas Stob Coir'an Albannaich is a bulky hill, with corries north and south. Meall nan Eun is a small grassy hill, but careful route selection is needed to descend.


main route outline

Getting there
On the A82 that travels from Tyndrum to Fort William, just before approaching Glencoe and just after the turn off for the Kingshouse hotel, there is a single track road that heads south down Glen Etive. This area is a favourite with canoists, so can be busy when wet ! Head down this road for 16km to where there is a small hut that looks like a bus-stop shelter and a track heading down off left, barred by a chain. Get there early as roadside parking is limited.

Ben Starav
Head down the track and cross the bridge over the River Etive. There's a juction immediately after the bridge, the track heading left is the return route. Head right and pass the building of Coileitir and through a fence. The path splits, keep to the right, cross some wet ground and head on the path towards the River Etive. The path reaches the Allt Mhearan, where there are two bridges a few metres upstream to cross. Now on the south side of the burn, follow the wet path to the lower slopes of Ben Starav's northern shoulder, where the path splits. One path heads due south to follow the Allt nam Meirleach into the coire, the other strikes directly uphill. Take the uphill path which continues unrelentingly uphill. There are some bits of easy scrambling here and there and one or two short sections of boulderfield to cross, but generally just keep to the path all the way to the summit. The views are wonderful, particularly looking over Beinn Sgulaird to the Hebrides.

Beinn nan Aighenan
From Starav, head south-east over a flattish area, then turn north-east. Ahead is the eastern top of Ben Starav, but infront of you will be the narrow ridge to get there. Aim straight for the top, any slight difficulties on the ridge can be by-passed on the south side, but it's more fun to stick to the crest. From this eastern top, head east-south-east and start to drop on a path over loose bouldery ground with sharp drops on your left (north). As Bealachan Lochain Ghaineamhaich is approached, the ground underfoot becomes easier and grass covered. At this bealach, look for a path contouring off right - follow this over grass towards the col connecting with Beinn nan Aighenan, where the ground gets more rough. Head up Beinn nan Aighenan on an obvious path that zig-zags as it climbs trying to avoid a few slight difficulties. Once you reach a small lochan (ok, just really a big puddle), you are almost on the summit. Good views from the small summit cairn, with a particularly fine outlook to Ben Cruachan.

Glas Bheinn Mhor
Return to the bealach between Beinn nan Aighenan and the main ridge, then come off the path and head directly up the ground ahead. There is a small fresh burn to refill water-bottles en-route. It's pretty steep and grassy for most of the way up to the ridge, from where there's a path to join and follow eastwards. Uphill to Meall nan Tri Tighearnan, is followed by a drop of 70m, then the ascent up to Glas Bheinn Mhor.

Stob Coir'an Albannaich
Leave Glas Bheinn Mhor's summit and head east dropping around 100m. The ground leaves out, and the path gradually turns north-east, then starts to drop again. Reach the bealach with its cairns and paths, cross it and strike directly uphill on steep loose ground. As the ground starts to level out, Stob Coir'an Albannaich's summit comes into view - make a bee-line for this. You'll need to cross some wet grassy ground, before the gradient starts to increase. Superb views in all directions from Stob Coir'an Albannaich's cairn.

Meall nan Eun
In mist and snow, the next part of the route can be confusing. Head east from Stob Coir'an Albannaich's summit for 500m and drop around 150m of height. Look for a faint path heading north. Sometimes there is a small pile of stones to mark the start of this, sometimes there isn't. In winter, there can be a cornice on the northern side. The faint path heads north west, following a grassy break between the lines of rock. The ground becomes quite steep, wet and loose. Gradually height is lost and the bealach with its lochans is reached. A fairly obvious path crosses the bealach and continues over Meall Tarsuinn, a mere bump on today's route. Past Meall Tarsuinn, the path again drops before the last rise of the day, up Meall nan Eun. It's just a trudge up grassy slopes to attain the small cairn on this munro. The views from this uninspiring mound are actually quite good.

Return
Although Meall nan Eun appears quite characterless when compared to the other peaks on this route, it has some surprises waiting ! From the summit. follow the path north-west on the hill's grassy crest. After around 1km, the ground starts to drop quite sharply and, unexpectidly, rocky sections block progress. Aim northwards, carefully picking your route down to the Lairig Dhochard with its old wall. Turn north-west again to start following the burn down. A path will be picked up, follow this through wet ground and thigh deep grass downhill eventually reaching the bridge over the Allt Ceitlein. Jog back along a track to take you back to the bridge over the River Etive and return to your car.






Zoomable OS 1:50000 and 1:25000 maps are here
inverlael weblinks
Get the local mountain weather forecast here
See todays conditions on the nearby Kingshouse Webcam
Food and accomodation at the Kingshouse Hotel, the Bridge of Orchy Hotel, or near Victoria Bridge, the Inveroran Hotel
The Glencoe Ski Centre is just up the road


routes nearby
The Cruachan and Glen Kinglass are just to the south
Beinn Sgulaird is on the other side of Loch Etive
To the north is Bidean nam Bian and the Aonach Eagach

alternatives

Ben Starav and Glas Bheinn Mhor
There are some waterfalls to view on the return of this route.

Start as in the main route described on the left, head up Ben Starav and continue to the bealach between Ben Starav and Meall nan Tri Tighearan. The path continues from the bealach directly up Meall nan Tri Tighearan, where the main route is again followed over Glas Bheinn Mhor to the bealach preceding Stob Coir'an Albannaich. From this beaclach, the path turns and heads westwards downhill. It sticks to the north side of the Allt Mheuran, and quickly starts to become quite wet underfoot. Where the Allt Mheuran joins the Allt Choire Dhuibh, the path tries to cross the burns - this may be quite impossible in spate, in which case, you'll have to stay on the north side of the burns right back to Coileitir. If not in spate, cross the burns, pick up a path to cross the Allt nam Meirleach and rejoin the path back to Coileitir.

Ascent : 1475m, distance : 15km


Beinn nan Aighenan
Taken on its own Beinn nan Aighenan is a fairly remote munro. Good forestry tracks come in from the Taynuilt area to the south-west and from Victoria Bridge to the east (partially described below). However, mountain bikes will really be needed on these routes, leaving the shortest and most direct route to that coming in from Glen Etive.

Start off as in the main route on the left, past Coileitir, over the Allt Meirleach and start up Ben Starav. Where the path splits, this time keep left and follow the path into the coire. For just over 2km, the path gradually and steadily climbs uphill on the western side of the burn, passing some pretty waterfalls on the way. Eventually the path reaches the bowl of the coire with its small lochan, turns south and starts to climb steeply over occasional loose ground to Bealachan Lochain Ghaineamhaich. From this bealach follow the route descibed on the left to Beinn nan Aighenan.

Return by the same route.

Ascent : 1300m, distance : 15km


Stob Coir'an Albannaich and Meall nan Eun
Many people take these two munros together as a pair, though you'd be surprised, since there are no signs of worn paths until on higher ground.

Start as in the main route on the left, cross the River Etive, then turn left at the junction of the tracks. You'll be separated from some birch-forest by a deer-fence. When you find a gate in it, cross through it and head directly uphill. The going is quite rough at first, but as the forest is left behind, a faint path is picked up and followed. The ground starts to level out and Beinn Chaorach is reached. From this top, aim south, head around Coire Glas, then trudge up the last 1km to Stob Coir'an Albannaich's summit.

Leave Coir'an Albannaich's cairn behind and follow the main route described on the left over Meall nan Eun and back to the road.

Ascent : 1350m, distance : 15km


Approach from Victoria Bridge
You might want to head into these munros from the east, in which case a mountain bike is recommended.

Start from Victoria Bridge and head in to the Glasgow University Climbing Hut as described in the Stob Gabhar and Creise route. Continue on the track for a further 3km to reach Loch Dochard and leave your bike. Walk or run on the track for a further 1km to the western end of the loch, then leave the track and head north-west over really wet ground. Reach the base of the crags and continue north around these for a bit to where an obvious gap is used to start up uphill. It's steep for around 250m of ascent, then levels out, from where the line of the hill is followed up to Stob Coir'an Albannaich.

Head over Meall Tarsuinn to Meall nan Eun as described in the main route on the left. Meall nan Eun is guarded by crags on nearly all side, except the eastern one. So from the summit, head west for 300m, before starting to turn down into Coire Chaorach and picking up the Allt Coire Chaorach. Follow this burn, then the Allt Dochard down to Loch Dochard. In spate you might have a wade over the outflowing burn to pick up your bike to cycle back to Victoria Bridge. Ascent : 1325m, distance : 26km
starav