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walks in this area

Stob Ghabhar

Loch Leven & Pap of Glencoe

Stob a'Choire Odhar

Location of Glen Coe and Glen Etive Hills

Glen Coe is located on the west coast of Scotland within the Lochaber District, the mountaineering capital of Britain.   It can be found south of the town of Fort William on the main A82 Glasgow to Fort William Road which goes down the spine of the Glen.

Glen Etive is at the south end of Glen Coe and to its west.   A single track road goes for many miles to just beyond the head of Loch Etive.

Sgorr na h-Ulaidh

Glen Etive

Loch Creran

Mountains of Glen Coe

There are some spectacular mountains in Glen Coe, which is popular with hill walkers and climbers during both summer and winter.

The first group of mountains you reach when travelling west on the A82 are those surrounding the White Corries Ski Centre.   They include two Munros, Creise and Meall a'Bhuiridh.   However the mountain that stands out as you cross the remote Rannoch Moor is the Buachaille Etive Mor with its two Munros Stob Dearg and Stob na Broige.   Just west of Buachaille Etive Mor is Buachaille Etive Beag known as 'The Little Buachaille'.   It also has two Munros, namely Stob Dubh and Stob Coire Raineach.

Further west is the highest mountain in the area Bidean nam Bian and it can be climbed with its neighbour Stob Coire Sgreamhach.   You should also visit the Lost Valley where rustlers used to conceal stolen cattle.

The final Munro on the west side of Glen Coe is Sgorr na h-Ulaidh which is rather remote and hidden behind its higher neighbour Bidean nam Bian.   North-west of Sgorr na h-Ulaidh is the Corbett Meall Lighiche which could be included in an ascent of Sgorr na h-Ulaidh.

On the opposite side of the Glen is the famous Aonach Eagach ridge with its two Munros, Meall Dearg and Sgorr nam Fiannaidh.   This is an exposed and narrow ridge and requires a head for heights.   The steep descent on scree and loose boulders requires extreme care.   The direct route down to the Clachaig Inn is not recommended.   The descent could include the Graham Sgorr na Ciche, or as it is commonly known The Pap of Glencoe.   

Behind the Aonach Eagach ridge is the steep sided Corbett Garbh Bheinn and further east and above the Kingshouse Hotel is another Corbett, Beinn a'Chrulaiste.

To the west of Glencoe are two Munros Sgorr Dhearg and Sgorr Dhonuill located above the village of Ballachulish.   They are commonly known as the Ballachulish Horseshoe but the official name for these mountains is Beinn a'Bheithir.    South of Beinn a'Bheithir is the Corbett Fraochaidh.

Aonach Eagach Ridge

Stob na Doire

Beinn a'Bheither

Mountains of Glen Etive

The White Corrie Munros and the Buachaille Munros can also be climbed from Glen Etive and with two cars they could be climbed on a linear walk.    There are also Rights of Way through the Lairig Gartain and the Lairig Eilde which link the two Glens.

On the west side of Glen Etive are a couple of Corbetts Beinn Maol Chaluim and Beinn Trilleachan and the Munros Beinn Fhionnlaidh and Beinn Sgulaird.   Although these Munros can be linked together they are normally climbed separately with Sgulaird being accessed from Loch Creran on the Fort William to Oban Road as can the Corbett Creach Bheinn.

On the east side of the Glen are seven Munros and a couple of Corbetts.   Two of the Munros, Stob a'Choire Odhair and Stob Ghabhar are normally climbed together from Victoria Bridge, which is reached from the village of Bridge of Orchy on the Glasgow to Fort William Road.   However they could be combined with the other five Munros on a backpacking trip.

The other Munros are accessed from near Coiletir in Glen Etive and includes Ben Starav with its steep north ridge.   The other Munros which could be combined with Ben Starav on a very long day are Beinn nan Aighenan, Glas Bheinn Mhor, Stob Coir an Albannaich and Meall nan Eun, the lowest of the group.   Coiletir is also the starting point for the steep sided Corbett Stob Dubh.

The other Corbett, on this side of Glen Etive, Beinn Mhic Chasgaig has access difficulties due to a high locked gate on a bridge over the River Etive.   However it is hoped that this matter will be resolved shortly as it does not conform to the new Scottish access legislation.

Little Aonach Eagach Ridge

Garbh Beinn & Aonach Eagach

Loch Etive

Additional Information

The Massacre of Glencoe occurred in the 17th century and involved the clans MacDonald and Campbell.   The Visitor Centre, run by the National Trust for Scotland, located on the A82 just south of the village of Glencoe is worth a visit where you can learn more about The Massacre and the surrounding area.

Stob Ghabhar

Bidean nam Bian

Rannoch Moor

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