The Big Shepherd and Little Shepherd in a day
Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2012 2:37 pm
Along with everyone else who has ever driven through Glen Coe the site of Buachaille Etive Mor and his little brother Buachaille Etive Beag has always filled me with awe; the site of the these two huge megaliths standing at the gateway to the Glen is one of the most memorable sites in Scotland and a view that every visitor to Glen Coe will never forget. I always remember looking across at them both from the Devils Staircase when I walked the West Highland Way with my 4 brothers a few years ago, they are very impressive looking Munros. After climbing them both in a day it's an experience I'll never forget either.
It was a great day for walking, a bit of high cloud and at times a slight breeze but loads of sunshine and nothing to spoil the view.
I parked the car at Altnafeadh just after 8.00, the car park was already filling up so I knew I wouldn't be alone on this walk. Started walking at 8.20 and followed the path down to the River Coupall and across the footbridge; the path maintenance team have done a great job on the footpath up through the Coire na Tulaich, it is very easy to follow and steps most of the way. I soon warmed up and the fleece was in the bag after about 10 minutes never to be seen again all day. Reached the top of the ridge in just over an hour and was soon on the top of my first Munro of the day the impressive Stob Dearg. As I had presumed I wasn't alone and had a chat with a couple of other walkers before moving on.
I never fully understand the system for grading Munros, Corbetts etc. particularly when you look at B.E.M (please excuse the abrieviation) and in particular Stob na Doire which although standing at an impressive 1011m is down graded (because of it's proximity to Stob Dearg I presume). But it does make for a great walk along the ridge past Stob na Doire, Stob Coire Altruim and on along to Stob na Broige my second Munro of the day.
I stopped on the summit of Stob na Broige for brunch and chat with the other walkers who had gathered their, everyone else was heading back to the car park at Altnafeadh but my trek was only part way over. I was heading across the Lairig Gartain and up the other side to Buachaille Etive Beag.
The route down to the path in the Lairig Gartain is easy enough to follow, just retrace your steps back to the bealach below Stob Coire Altuim and follow the path north. It's an interesting route down, with a couple of short scrambles on the way. When I reached the path alongside the River Coupall I turned left up the Lairig Gartain whilst everyone else turned right and back to the car park.
I followed the path for about 1K until I reached the first large burn coming down from the bealach on Buachaille Etive Beag, turning right here there is a faint path which leads straight up to the lowest point on the Buachaille Etive Beag ridge above. The going up was fairly straight forward, the path keeps close to the right hand bank of the burn all the way to the top.
The ridge was pretty crowded with walkers; it is good to see so many people out enjoying themselves but its a bit strange when you are used to being pretty much on your own on the less popular walks. The views from here were great especially looking across to the Aonach Eagach Ridge.
I headed South West towards the summit of Stob Dubh first as that is the furthest from the bealach; I can honestly say I have never seen so many people on one summit, I didn't stay long.
Followed the ridge back along Buachaille Etive Beag towards Stob Coire Raineach, my legs started to cramp up a bit when I was heading up towards the summit but thankfully a good stretch and a rub eased it off.
It was 3.00 when I reached the last of the 4 Munro summits; what a great walk it had been I felt a real sense of achievement and it was a perfect day for attempting this walk.
I followed my route back to the Lairig Gartain and on down to the car park at Altnafeadh which I reached at about 4.45. I had promised to take the wife out for something to eat tonight so didn't stop off for a pint headed straight back to Edinburgh, tired but feeling pleased with myself.
It was a great day for walking, a bit of high cloud and at times a slight breeze but loads of sunshine and nothing to spoil the view.
I parked the car at Altnafeadh just after 8.00, the car park was already filling up so I knew I wouldn't be alone on this walk. Started walking at 8.20 and followed the path down to the River Coupall and across the footbridge; the path maintenance team have done a great job on the footpath up through the Coire na Tulaich, it is very easy to follow and steps most of the way. I soon warmed up and the fleece was in the bag after about 10 minutes never to be seen again all day. Reached the top of the ridge in just over an hour and was soon on the top of my first Munro of the day the impressive Stob Dearg. As I had presumed I wasn't alone and had a chat with a couple of other walkers before moving on.
I never fully understand the system for grading Munros, Corbetts etc. particularly when you look at B.E.M (please excuse the abrieviation) and in particular Stob na Doire which although standing at an impressive 1011m is down graded (because of it's proximity to Stob Dearg I presume). But it does make for a great walk along the ridge past Stob na Doire, Stob Coire Altruim and on along to Stob na Broige my second Munro of the day.
I stopped on the summit of Stob na Broige for brunch and chat with the other walkers who had gathered their, everyone else was heading back to the car park at Altnafeadh but my trek was only part way over. I was heading across the Lairig Gartain and up the other side to Buachaille Etive Beag.
The route down to the path in the Lairig Gartain is easy enough to follow, just retrace your steps back to the bealach below Stob Coire Altuim and follow the path north. It's an interesting route down, with a couple of short scrambles on the way. When I reached the path alongside the River Coupall I turned left up the Lairig Gartain whilst everyone else turned right and back to the car park.
I followed the path for about 1K until I reached the first large burn coming down from the bealach on Buachaille Etive Beag, turning right here there is a faint path which leads straight up to the lowest point on the Buachaille Etive Beag ridge above. The going up was fairly straight forward, the path keeps close to the right hand bank of the burn all the way to the top.
The ridge was pretty crowded with walkers; it is good to see so many people out enjoying themselves but its a bit strange when you are used to being pretty much on your own on the less popular walks. The views from here were great especially looking across to the Aonach Eagach Ridge.
I headed South West towards the summit of Stob Dubh first as that is the furthest from the bealach; I can honestly say I have never seen so many people on one summit, I didn't stay long.
Followed the ridge back along Buachaille Etive Beag towards Stob Coire Raineach, my legs started to cramp up a bit when I was heading up towards the summit but thankfully a good stretch and a rub eased it off.
It was 3.00 when I reached the last of the 4 Munro summits; what a great walk it had been I felt a real sense of achievement and it was a perfect day for attempting this walk.
I followed my route back to the Lairig Gartain and on down to the car park at Altnafeadh which I reached at about 4.45. I had promised to take the wife out for something to eat tonight so didn't stop off for a pint headed straight back to Edinburgh, tired but feeling pleased with myself.