Photographs, route description and map of springtime traverse of the ridge of Buachaille Etive Beag with its two Munro summits above Glen Coe

Route Map of Buachaille Etive Beag

BUACHAILLE ETIVE BEAG - ROUTE DESCRIPTION:-

Location: Glencoe
Map: OS Landranger 41 (NN179533)
Distance: 6.5 miles (10.5km)
Time: 4 hours 10 minutes
Terrain: paths

The customary approach of the "wee" Buachaille from Glen Coe makes: a ﬁne outing, but the peak is rather overshadowed hy its magniﬁcent brother next door. ln part this is hecause Stob Dubh, the ﬁnest summit on Buachaille Etive Beag's long ridge lies at the must southerly end and makes little impact when viewed from Glen Coe. See the peek from Glen Etive to the south though, and it's quite a different matter. From there Stob Dubh displays classic lines beside Buachaille Etive Mor's southern summit, the chunkier but slightly lower Stob na Broige.
The best-looking line on both peaks is Stob Dubh's curving and relentlessly steep South Ridge. lt’s a magniﬁcent route, but anyone expecting a gentle day's Munro bashing is in for a shock. But this isn't sweat for sweats sake. The surroundings are consistently spectacular as are the views down Glen Etive, and there’s a complete absence of motorcycles, tour coaches and bagpipers.
You can park in Glen Etive just before the conifers surrounding Dalness at a bridge just south of the confluence of the Allt Lairig Eildie and Allt Gartain. There is limited space for cars at the bridge but if you're careful you can park a little further south at a long passing place on the left.
Walk back up the road to the signpost indicating a public footpath to Glencoe via the Lairig Eilde and Lairig Gartain, the passes on either side of Stub Dubh. Go through a gate and head right, ascending the hillside towards an obvious gate in the fence above. This section is boggy in places but the worst bits can be avoided with care.
From the upper gate, the main path heads off right above the Allt Gartaln. Follow this for a short distance then head directly up the south ridge on a fainter path. As the view opens up, the roaring of the River Etive increases, it will accompany you the whole way.
When grass gives way to scree you'll need to concentrate to pick the best line up the grassy strips to reach bouldery and more stable, if rougher. ground leading to the summit of Stob Dubh (958m; 3143ft).
From here a short, steep descent down the north ridge gains a broad ridge leading to Point 902m (2959ft), from where a slope leads to the col below Stob Coire Raineach. A rocky path winds its way to the summit of this peak (925m: 30335ft), which gained Munro status in 1997 and offers ﬁne views across Glen Coe.
Return to the col then descend south-east into the Lairig Gartain towards Buachaille Etive Mor, contouring south as much as possible to retain some height. Pick up the good path in the glen and follow it south-west to the col between Stub Dubh and Stob na Broige, overlooking Glen Etive.
From here, a path, stony and eroded in places, decends above the Allt Gartain back to the gate at the base of the south ridge to join the outward route.