Sgor na h'Ulaidh - Holiday in Lochaber.

Driving south - views west over Loch Linnhe

Aonach Dubh a'Ghillinne - the view from Glen Coe

A beautiful day with views for miles, over mountains, sea and islands from a lesser known Munro, accessed from the western end of Glen Coe.

Rafe - Achnacon - the start

Glen Coe and Aonach Eagach from the start of the walk

Jim and Rafe - Sgor na h'Ulaidh and Gleann Leac-na Muidhe

Gleann Leac-na Muidhe

Gleann Leac-na Muidhe with views to Aonach Eagach

Rafe - Sgor na h'Ulaidh from Gleann Leac-na Muidhe

Jim - Sgor na h'Ulaidh from Gleann Leac-na Muidhe

A longish walk in, via a good landrover track, a boggy route around some locals gardens (!) and after a further trek along the landrover track, the upper glen path was boggy in (lots of) places by the burn.

Gleann Leac-na Muidhe

Aonach Dubh a'Ghillinne
a steep grassy - but quick - ascent

We struck off up the very steep and grassy side of Aonach Dubh a'Ghillinne, with improvong views every metre of ascent.

Views west whist climbing Aonach Dubh a'Ghillinne

Dog on a Rock - Rafe
Aonach Dubh a'Ghillinne

Aonach Dubh a'Ghillinne - views north from the ridge

Bidean nam Bian and  Stob Coire Screamhach from Dubh a'Ghillinne

We had our first lunch at the summit, followed by an excellent walk along the ridge, down into the first bealach and up onto Stob an Fhuarain.

Views south west from Aonach Dubh a'Ghillinne

Views north from Aonach Dubh a'Ghillinne

The start of the ascent of Stob an Fhuarain

Ben Nevis and friends from Stob an Fhuarain

The views were tremendous! From Loch Rannoch to Mull, Ben Nevis (briefly clear !) and beyond and far to the south.

Views north including Ben Nevis from Stob an Fhuarain 

Stob an Fhuarain - views towards Sgor na h'Ulaidh

Views north west from Stob an Fhuarain

Buchaille Etive Mor from Stob an Fhuarain

A friend on Stob an Fhuarain

Bealach between Stob an Fhuarain and Sgor na h'Ulaidh - yes, that is ice.

Jim - Ascent of Sgor na h'Ulaidh

Not another person to be seen. The hills were our's.

Views south west from the ascent of Sgor na h'Ulaidh

Our steep grassy ascent route - from Sgor na h'Ulaidh

Jim nears the summit of Sgor na h'Ulaidh

We continued on to the Munro which had equally great views.

Looking back along our route from Sgor na h'Ulaidh

North from Sgor na h'Ulaidh

Loch Etive and the Isle of Mull from Sgor na h'Ulaidh

We had our second lunch here, between the taking of many photographs.

Jim on the summit of Sgor na h'Ulaidh (994m)

East from Sgor na h'Ulaidh

North west from Sgor na h'Ulaidh

Rafe and Jim - Views west from Corr na Beinne

We descended to the small top of Corr na Beinne and then started north down the very (very !) steep slopes to Belach Easein, via long grass and scree.

Jim - Descent from Corr na Beinne to Belach Easain

Views to Belach Easain and Ben Nevis

The going was pretty hard, but the views still great.

Sgor na h'Ulaidh and Gleann Leac-na Muidhe

When passing the houses in the glen, a local said that the day had been one of the best in the year weatherwise and that he hadn't seen anyone else heading up to our mountain all day.

Sgor na h'Ulaidh and Gleann Leac-na Muidhe

We were just a few minutes late for another coffee and cake at Glen Coe, it should be open til 5.30pm !!

Jim - Gleann Leac-na Muidhe

Route:  Car park at Achnacon (NN118565), track SW in Gleann Leac-na Muidhe, continue S into the upper glen, at approx 300m contour ascend E up Leacann na Bo Cairtidh to summit of Aonach Dubh a'Ghilinne (845m), Stob an Fhuarain (Munro Top 126, 968m), Sgor na h'Ulaidh (Munro 19, 994m), Corr na Beinne (920m), descend steeply to Belach Easain, return to start via Gleann na Muidhe.

Statistics:  Distance: 13.5km.  Ascent: 1100m.  Time: 7 hours.

Mostly Ardnamurchan Point - Holiday in Lochaber.

Carn Dearg (Ben Nevis)

Not quite such a good day for weather today - with a cold wind from the west. We deserved a bit of a rest after yesterday, so, after a walk for Rafe in Glen Nevis, we set off for the West....

Loch Sunart from NM745618

Rafe - Ardnamurchan Lighthouse

Ardnamurchan Point - views to the south

Rum, Muck and Eigg from Ardnamurchan Point

Rum and Muck from Ardnamurchan Point

Views noth east from Ardnamurchan Point

Rum and Muck from Ardnamurchan Point

Buachaille Etive Mor - Holiday in Lochaber.

Buachaille Etive Mor from Altnafeadh

An amazing day for October. Clear and sunny for the most part, giving excellent and wonderful views. Only Ben Nevis didn't show us her summit - although it was very close at times.

Glen Coe from Altnafeadh

Rafe - Buachaille Etive Mor

Coire na Tulaich - Buachaille Etive Mor

Coire na Tulaich - Buachaille Etive Mor

A step ascent on a mainly good path into Coire na Tulaich and then a scramble up a bit of nasty scree (and over a few less nasty boulders !) onto the bealach between Stob Dearg and Stob Coire Altuim.

Coire na Tulaich - Buachaille Etive Mor

Stob Dearg - Buachaille Etive Mor

On the bealach we met a chap with his son from Largs who were doing their 5th and 6th Munro's. They were standing there amazed, taking in the jaw dropping view, and taking copious photographs. We met them again several times during our walk.

Jim - Stob Dearg (1022m) - Buachaille Etive Mor

We made a scrambly ascent to the first Munro, Stob Dearg after a couple of minor false tops, at 1022m the highest point of the day.

Jim nears the summit -Stob Dearg (1022m) - Buachaille Etive Mor

Views of Rannoch Moor
from Stob Dearg - Buachaille Etive Mor

The ridge dropped away to nothing above Glen Coe with clear views over Rannoch Moor - glorious.

Views west from Stob Dearg - Buachaille Etive Mor

We had our first lunch just below the summit, at NN222542.

Views from our lunch spot - Rannoch Moor from Stob Dearg - Buachaille Etive Mor

Views north from Stob Coire na Tulaich (902m) - Buachaille Etive Mor

Views into Coire na Tulaich
from Stob Coire na Tulaich
Buachaille Etive Mor

We returned to the bealach and then had another short steep ascent on good paths to Stob na Doire. The wind had got up and some cloud had blown in, so gloves and hats were donned, and the views moody and ever changing.

Jim and Rafe - Stob Coire na Tulaich - Buachaille Etive Mor

Stob Coire na Tulaich - Buachaille Etive Mor

Rafe and Jim ascend a moody Stob na Doire - Buachaille Etive Mor

West from Stob na Doire - Buachaille Etive Mor

Views back along our route from the summit of Stob na Doire (1011m) Buachaille Etive Mor

Stob na Doire from the west - Buachaille Etive Mor

A steep descent and we had a second lunch in the bealach, looking towards Glen Etive. A short ascent to Stob Coire Altruim and an airy walk along a narrowing ridge, undulating to a final ascent to Stob na Broige, our second Munro of the day.

Glen Etive from Stob Coire Altruim - Buachaille Etive Mor

View back along our route from the summit of Stob Coire Altruim (941m)
Buachaille Etive Mor

Views west from Stob Coire Altruim (Munro Top 170, 941m) - Buachaille Etive Mor

Jim ascends Stob na Broige - Buachaille Etive Mor

We met a woman from Aviemore, who was on the tops with her two dogs (some fun for Rafe), who gave us the benefit of her knowledge of Munro's and Corbett's.

Views back along our route from Stob na Broige (956m)
Buachaille Etive Mor

 Glen Etive  from Stob na Broige - Buachaille Etive Mor

Views back along our route from the summit of Stob na Broige (Munro 207, 956m) Buachaille Etive Mor

Rafe and Jim - Stob na Broige - Buachaille Etive Mor - Views north east to Blackwater Reservoir

Coire Altruim - Buachaille Etive Mor

After a photo session on the summit, with more great views of our whole route, we returned along the ridge, and down into Coire Altruim. The descent was steep and often scrambly and we descended quickly (unlike some others on the hill who were struggling !)

Waterfalls in Coire Altruim

Lairig Gartain

We had a third lunch in Lairig Gartain, looking for Red Deer, who were barking and calling up and down the glen. We returned to the start with a few hundred metres along the A82.

Rafe - Coire Altruim

What a great day.

We finished off with coffee and cake at the Tea Garden in Glencoe village (open til 5pm !)

Lairig Gartain

Route:  Altnafeadh car park, Glen Coe (NN222564), Coire na Tulaich,  bealach, Stob Dearg (Munro 110, 1022m), Stob Coire na Tulaich (902m), Stob na Doire (Munro Top 73, 1011m), Stob Coire Altruim (Munro Top 170, 941m), Stob na Broige (Munro 207, 956m), Stob Coire Altruim (again) descent into Coire Altruim, and return to start via Lairig Gartain.

Statistics:  Distance: 11km  Ascent: 1010m  Time: 7:30 hours