So the date was provisionally booked for 29th and 30th May; preceded in the month running up to this by increasingly frantic scanning of every available forecast (don’t laugh: it did seem to turn the weather for the better on 24th May…). But the omens weren’t good, and I we decided that, rather than give up altogether, if the forecast was for low cloud, we’d eschew the high hills and try to find a good low level walk along. I got some good advice from Hillbagger on this – for which, again, my thanks.
However, the weather folk got into quite a tangle in the days leading up to the booked dates about the progress of various low and high pressure areas, the upshot of which, when I printed out the MWIS on Wednesday afternoon, was pretty positive. So we decided to go for them thar hills.
It poured down all day, from well South of Wigan right to the Squirrel campsite in Glencoe, and it was still raining when we pitched the tent at midnight.
But the morning broke fair, and with a real spring in our hearts we drove the short way up to Altnafeadh to start the walk. We hadn’t gone for the usual pre-dawn start, so we were pretty well rested, and really looking forward to tackling the 2 Buachaille ridges, starting with the Curved Ridge. We’d eyed them with anticipation the previous August when we’d done Spidean, Sgurr nan Screamhach and Aonach Eagach.
IMG_0443. The most photographed hill in Scotland - apparently. Dr Frank raring to get up Stob Dearg!!!
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IMG_0446. On the way up the Curved Ridge. It looks more difficult than it really is; the main issue is the exposure. But it's wonderful scrambling with many slight diversions if you want to push yourself a bit.
IMG_0447. A really awe-inspiring environment...
IMG_0448. Rannoch Moor spread below us. Unfortunately it was into the clag after this.
IMG_0449. I refuse to take any more pictures of clag-bound summits, so no picture of Stob Dearg. But this is looking back along the usual ascent path down Coire na Tulaich.
IMG_0453. The little Buachaille. It doesn't look very far up ... but more of that later!
IMG_0456. Shortly afterwards it began to clear... (looking along the ridge to Loch Etive)
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IMG_0460. Stob na Broige from the Bealach between Stob na Doire and Stob Coire Altruim. The Cloud is now beginning slowly to dissipate...
IMG_0461. Brilliant ridge walking. And remnants of this year's heavy snow everywhere in thick drifts.
IMG_0464. The view back along Buachaille Etive Mor from Stob na Broige, tops still in cloud.
IMG_0465. After a short but decisive debate, we decided to head straight down the hill towards Stob Dubh. An easier descent would have brought us down much lower into Lairig Gartain...
IMG_0466. It was quite steep, but perfectly doable. Unfortunately I'm getting a recurrance of the knee pain I'd had towards the end of my walk the previous weekend, and Dr Frank's diagnosis is a probable slightly split cartilage.
IMG_0469. Looking SSW, there's the other local Stob Dubh (there must be very many of them), and (I think) Ben Starav in the distance, taken from the start of the slog from Lairig Gartain to Stob Dubh (the Buachaille one!).
IMG_0470. It's only 500m ascent from Lairig Gartain to Stob Dubh, but it takes us a ridiculous amount of time to get there. I relieve the monotony by scambling up some of the rock faces (childish fun!)
IMG_0472. Looking back along Buachaille Etive Mor - that was fabulous! The descent from Stob na Broige looks much worse from here than it actually is.
IMG_0473. From Stob Dubh: Stob Coire Sgreamach and Beinn Fhada in the foreground, Bidean nam Bian in the background - catalysing wonderful memories from last August.
IMG_0475. Looking along Buachaille Etive Beag from Stob Dubh toward Stob Coire Raineach. Easy ridge walking from here. The knee is holding up reasonably well, though the pain is intermittent and very variable in intensity.
IMG_0478. Could that be the Ben I spy in the distance...???
IMG_0479. Stob Coire Raineach, here we come...
IMG_0483. Aonoch Eagach ridge also evoking memories from last August. It doesn't look too daunting from here...
IMG_0484. We met the only other walkers (2) on the ridge that day here at Mam Buidhe. The last (gentle) climb to Stob Coire Raineach.
IMG_0485. Looking back up the glen towards Stob na Broige on the left. It really doesn't look too far down and up, but it took a ridiculous amount of time and effort. Must be getting old...
IMG_0486. Looking back along the ridge to Stob Dubh, with Ben Starav in the far distance on the left, and Beinn Maol Chaluim to the right.
IMG_0487. ... and in the other direction the starting point, Stob Dearg. The question was: how to descend? OS 1:25000s are most deceptive, in that they completely ignore many significant cliffs...
IMG_0488. Off the end of Stob nan Carbar, or down to the right into the glen. For no very compelling logical reason, we decided to drop into the glen...
IMG_0489. Wrong choice! It's doable, but quite time-consuming, with significant scrambling and exposure (at least on the route we took). I don't recommend it!
IMG_0492. This is the route - there is actually a path we could see. I think the problem was: finding the start from the top.
IMG_0494. On the home straight now. Looking back from where we'd come, Buachaille Etive Mor on the left, Buachaille Etive Beag on the right.
IMG_0495. And Stob Dearg looking sensational in the evening sun (look! no clouds!)
IMG_0496. Then back to the Squirrel Campsite (what the lady behind the Clachaig bar described as 'the midge reserve') for a shower, followed by a visit to a building of cultural, architectural and historical interest for a half of shandy...
IMG_0497. Heading off early the next morning for Arochar, I had to take a few pics of the Buachailles at their most alluring in the morning sun...
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IMG_0501. This is what it looked like on Friday morning; but on Thursday it looked a little different...
IMG_0502. .... with a final farewell pic looking across Lochan na h Achlaise towards Clach Leathad and Meall a Bhuiridh on the right, and Stob a Choire Odair and Stgob Ghabhar on the left, presaging another great day's walking (another report....)
It is a very good day out in the hills. Prior to this it was a climb on the Buachaille then a descent of curved ridge back to the valley. 
