Walk: Impossible made possible on Buachaille Etive Mor

📌 Glen Coe, Highland
★★★★

Buachaille Etive Mòr is the unmissable pyramid rising out of Rannoch Moor as you drive past, wide-eyed, on the A82 into Glencoe. The name actually refers to the whole ridge, which extends for a few miles over several peaks (and two separate Munros) to Stob na Bròige overlooking the upper reaches of Loch Etive. This side of the pyramid looks a frightening prospect, but Coire na Tulaich makes the seemingly impossible possible with almost no scrambling. The mountain scenery is nothing less than superb throughout: rough ridges, rocky buttresses, waterfalls and summits of all shapes and sizes. And the views measure up too. Ben Nevis and the Mamores crown the northern vista, while Rannoch Moor stretches away to the east (its sheer scale fully realised from up here), drawing the eye all the way to Schiehallion‘s proud cone above Loch Rannoch.

📷 Chronological photo guide

🌍 Location

📌 Start / finish at Altnafeadh, A82 9 mi east of Glencoe village

🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NN 220563

🛰️ GPS coordinates: 56.664679,-4.905988

❌ Buses pass the start but there is no official stop

🚗 Layby & car park

📝 Key info

▶ 14 km / 9 mi | ▲ 1110 m | ⌛ 7.5-8.5 hr

Features: △ Stob Dearg (1022 m, Munro); △ Stob na Doire (1011 m); △ Stob Coire Altruim (941 m); △ Stob na Bròige (956 m, Munro)

⬤ Tough | Paths throughout, mostly clear but often rocky & rough. Steep ascents / descents in the coires and on Stob na Doire. Hands occasionally needed, especially in Coire Altruim where the path passes over steep rock slabs which could be a little awkward if wet. The last 0.5 mi is on a boggy path just south of the A82.

➡️ Clockwise circuit with extensions to both Munro summits: start – Coire na Tulaich – bealach at head of coire – Stob Dearg – return to bealach – Stob na Doire – Stob Coire Altruim – Stob na Bròige – return to bealach above Coire Altrium – Coire Altruim – Lairig Gartain – A82 at Cnoc nam Bocam – start

Download file for GPS

🥾 On our last visit

Wildlife: Pair of cuckoos heard at Altnafeadh; tame raven at the top of Stob Dearg.

Weather: Mostly sunny although some cloud around, especially in the middle of the day with showers visible to the west and south. A few degrees above freezing on the ridge, with light winds. Snow patches still covering the path at the head of both coires, but now avoidable on rough ground to the side.

May 2016