Buachaille Etive Mòr
1,021 m
United Kingdom
Also known as The Buachaille, Buachaille Èite Mòr, +1Also known as
The Buachaille · Buachaille Èite Mòr · Buachaille Etive Mor
- Elevation
- 1,021 m
- Prominence
- 533 m
- Difficulty
- 3/10
- Mountain hike
- Best Season
- May–Jun
- Routes
- 2
Routes
2The walkers' way up the Buachaille: from the A82 layby at Altnafeadh past Lagangarbh hut and steeply up the rough, bouldery Coire na Tulaich to the bealach on the main ridge, then east along a broad stony ridge to the 1,021 m summit of Stob Dearg. About 11 km return and 900 m of ascent; a notorious avalanche blackspot in winter.
Elevation Profile
approximate line- Distance
- 3.6 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +765 m
- start → summit
- High Point
- 1,021 m
- Time Up
- 3h 03m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 2h 05m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
From the layby at Altnafeadh on the A82, follow the track down to the footbridge over the River Coupall and on to Lagangarbh, the white-walled climbing hut owned by the National Trust for Scotland and run by the Scottish Mountaineering Club (locked; for hire). A few hundred metres beyond, the path forks: keep right (the left branch leads to the climbers' cliffs and Curved Ridge). The rebuilt path climbs ever more steeply into Coire na Tulaich, crossing the Allt Coire na Tulaich and continuing up the far bank. Near the top of the corrie the path veers right and threads through boulderfields well right of the central scree chute, then cuts back left and climbs a rocky rib to the bealach on the main ridge. Hands are needed in a few places but the line is not exposed. Turn left (east) up the broad, bouldery ridge, which narrows only near the summit cairn of Stob Dearg, perched above the cliffs that drop to Rannoch Moor. Descend the same way, taking care on the steep, loose first section back down into the corrie. Many walkers continue south-west along the ridge over Stob na Doire and Stob Coire Altruim to the second Munro, Stob na Bròige, and descend by the Coire Altruim path to the Lairig Gartain (13 km, 1,110 m ascent, 7–9 hours for the full round). In winter the corrie headwall banks out with snow and has been the scene of several fatal avalanches; it then becomes a serious winter route needing an ice axe, crampons and an avalanche forecast check.
Start
Altnafeadh287 m
- Scottish Citylink Glasgow–Fort William/Skye coaches run along the A82; the nearest regular stop is at the Kingshouse junction, about 4 km east of Altnafeadh.
- Parking at the trailhead
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Altnafeadh → Stob Dearg | 3.6 | 765 | 31 | 3h 03m |
Waypoints
- Parking: Altnafeadh287 m
Free informal layby on the A82 (about 20 cars), often full by 08:00 on summer weekends
- Hut: Lagangarbh277 m
SMC club hut, locked
- Feature: Coire na Tulaich656 m
- Col: Coire na Tulaich bealach796 m
- Summit: Stob Dearg1,021 m
Key Passages
- River Coupall footbridge
- Boulderfields and rocky rib at the head of Coire na Tulaich
- Broad bouldery ridge to Stob Dearg
Equipment
0/6 packedDownloads
Route confidence 85%Overview
The rock pyramid that guards the entrance to Glen Coe, seen by everyone who crosses Rannoch Moor on the A82. Walkers reach its 1,021 m summit, Stob Dearg, by the steep Coire na Tulaich; scramblers take the famous Curved Ridge up the north-east face.
Buachaille Etive Mòr, 'the great herdsman of Etive', is an 8 km ridge almost encircled by the River Etive and the River Coupall, at the junction of Glen Coe, Glen Etive and Rannoch Moor. Its north-eastern end, Stob Dearg, rises in a single sweep of rhyolite buttresses and gullies above the moor, and is one of the most photographed mountains in Scotland. The ridge carries four tops: Stob Dearg (1,021 m), Stob na Doire (1,011 m), Stob Coire Altruim (941 m) and Stob na Bròige (956 m); Stob Dearg and Stob na Bròige are Munros.
The north-east face is a historic climbing ground (Crowberry Ridge, the Rannoch Wall, Curved Ridge), and from the road the mountain looks impregnable. The walkers' route finds a weakness on the north-west side, up the steep, bouldery Coire na Tulaich, and reaches the ridge half a kilometre west of the summit. Many walkers continue along the whole ridge to Stob na Bròige for one of the finest ridge days in the southern Highlands.
This is a serious hill for its height. The weather is Atlantic, wet and windy, cloud is common, and in winter Coire na Tulaich holds deep, wind-loaded snow; it has been the scene of several fatal avalanches. The mountain and much of Glen Coe belong to the National Trust for Scotland.
Climbing Notes
In summer the Coire na Tulaich route needs fitness for about 900 m of steep ascent, sure feet on boulders and loose scree, and the ability to navigate: the top of the corrie must be found again on the descent, and cloud is common. Allow 5–6 hours for Stob Dearg alone and 7–9 hours for the full ridge with Stob na Bròige. Curved Ridge is a Grade 3 scramble / Moderate rock climb; it suits experienced scramblers, and most parties carry a rope, helmet and a few slings. Hire a guide in Fort William or Glen Coe if you are new to roped scrambling.
In winter (roughly November to April) the mountain is a full winter climb. Coire na Tulaich becomes a steep snow slope with a significant avalanche risk; check the Scottish Avalanche Information Service (SAIS) Glencoe forecast, carry an ice axe and crampons and know how to use them, and be ready to turn back. Winter days are short at 56.6° N. Start early at any time of year: the Altnafeadh layby is small and fills by 08:00 on summer weekends.
History
Climbing on the Buachaille began in the 1890s. Camptocamp records the first summer ascent of Curved Ridge in July 1896 by G. B. Gibbs and the first winter ascent on 11 April 1898 by G. T. Glover and R. G. Napier. Crowberry Ridge Direct, graded Severe, was climbed and photographed in 1900 by the Abraham brothers with Puttrell and Baker. Lagangarbh, the cottage at the foot of the mountain, became a Scottish Mountaineering Club hut and features in climbing lore through Dougal Haston, who redecorated its interior to the club's displeasure. Stob na Bròige was promoted to Munro status in 1997. The mountain has a grim accident record: three walkers died in an avalanche in Coire na Tulaich in January 2009, and up to 13 people have died on it in a single twelve-month period.
Season
Best May–Jun- January: Possible
- February: Possible
- March: Possible
- April: Possible
- May: Best (best window)
- June: Best (best window)
- July: Good
- August: Good
- September: Best
- October: Good
- November: Possible
- December: Possible
- Jan
- Winter mountaineering only; avalanche risk in Coire na Tulaich; check the SAIS Glencoe forecast
- Feb
- Winter conditions; ice axe and crampons; short days
- Mar
- Often the best winter conditions; avalanche risk remains
- Apr
- Snow lingers in the corrie; conditions variable
- May
- Usually snow-free; long days and fewer midges
- Jun
- Long days; midges at low level
- Jul
- Busy; car park fills early; midges and humid, cloudy days
- Aug
- Busy; midges; wet spells common
- Sep
- Often settled weather and quieter paths
- Oct
- Shorter days; first snow possible on the summit
- Nov
- Early winter; storms and short days
- Dec
- Winter mountaineering only; about seven hours of daylight
Access & Permits
- Hut Booking
- No hut is needed. Lagangarbh (NTS-owned, run by the Scottish Mountaineering Club) can be hired by clubs and groups; otherwise stay at the Kingshouse Hotel, in Glencoe village or Fort William.
- Fees
- Parking at the Altnafeadh layby is free
- Rules
- Access under the Scottish Outdoor Access Code; the mountain is owned by the National Trust for Scotland, with no deer-stalking restrictions on the main routes
- Do not park on the A82 verges; the layby holds about 20 cars and fills by 08:00 on summer weekends
- Lagangarbh hut is a locked club hut, available for hire only
- Getting There
Glencoe village (about 15 km by road); Fort William (about 40 km)
Glasgow (GLA), about 2 hours by road
- Car: A82 Glasgow–Fort William road; park in the layby at Altnafeadh (postcode PH49 4HX, grid ref NN 221 563), about 4 km west of the Kingshouse turn-off
- Coach: Scottish Citylink Glasgow–Fort William and Skye services run along the A82; the nearest regular stop is at the Kingshouse junction
- Train: West Highland Line to Bridge of Orchy or Fort William, then coach
Hazards
- Avalanche
- Weather
- Rockfall
- Exposure
Huts & Shelters
1- 277 m
LagangarbhHutUnstaffedBooking required
All year, by advance group booking