Over The Hill

The Buachaille Etive Beag is a fine high level ridge walk linking the two Munros of Stob Dubh and Stob Coire Raineach. But before you can enjoy the ridge there is the little matter of getting there, especially if you are about to tackle this route from a rather unorthodox approach; that is, directly up the steep south west slopes of Stob Dubh from starting from Dalness at the heart of Glen Etive.

We parked up a few hundred metres beyond Dalness and made our way back along the road to pick up the footpath with leads to the Lairig Eilde and Lairig Gartain circular walk, branching off towards the Lairig Gartain as the path crosses the Allt Lairig Eilde, which was nothing more than a trickle due to the extended dry weather we have been having of late, and made our way towards the fenceline and gate leading onto the open hillside beyond. We were quite well spread along the narrow path, as all 15 of us made our way through the bracken and high grasses which at times almost swamped the very narrow paths.

Around the 270 metre height, there is a very faint trace of a path forking north northwest away from the main Lairig Gartain path which, after a short distance became more distinct, and it was this path that we followed up the ever steeper grassy slopes of Stob Dubh in glorious sunshine, and with wonderful views west towards Loch Etive and the mountains lining it's shores.

Almost as if a line had been drawn around the 700 metre height on the hillside the terrain suddenly changed, from grassy slopes to one strewn with rocks and short stretches of loose scree which combined to make the remainder of the ascent a slow and cumbersome process as we made our way over this awkward terrain. It was with some small relief that we finally made our way up the final small crag surrounding the summit plateau to the western cairn, and then onward for a few more metres to the true summit cairn of Stob Dubh (958m). We enjoyed a leisurely break on the summit with wonderful views opening up all around as what cloud remained began to clear, the weather was certainly kind to us, with no signs of the forecast thunder showers materialising.

From Stob Dubh the path could be seen stretching the length of the ridge to the minor 902 metre top, beyond which Stob Coire Raineach rose skywards above Glen Coe. Descending along the ridge, with its sides dropping away very steeply north west into the Lairig Eilde and south east to the Lairig Gartain, was in complete contrast to the boulder strewn ascent, the path is well defined and easy walking that culminates in a steep descent to the bealach at Mam Buidhe. From here, it was a short, sharp ascent up the stony path to the summit of Stob Coire Raineach (925m), our second Munro of the day.

We retraced our steps, descending to Mam Buidhe, before dropping south east down grassy, and sometimes a little boggy, slopes to reach the path some 350 metres below in the Lairig Gartain. A gentle walk took us uphill to the watershed at 489 metres, before making the steep descent down to the roadway at Dalness and the end of what had been a great walk on a beautiful day.

Thanks Lindsay