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One of those stunning days you long for in the highlands: crystal clear with wall to wall blue sky and just a sprinkling of snow on the highest hills - 1100m + I drove up the A82 from Crianlarich and turned down into Glen Etive - but I had to stop and photograph the Buchaille - how often do you see it like this? Even at 11.00 am the sun was quite low in the sky the light intense, and the shadows almost black
The Buchaille from the road junctionI stopped again to shoot Beinn Ceitelin/Stob Dubh,
Beinn Ceitlin and Stob Dubh from the Glen Etive roadI parked at the bridge leading to Alltchaorunn, crossed it, followed the boggy path avoiding the cottage and then the stalkers path over the plank bridge and L up through the gorge.
Beinn Mhic Chasgaig from the stalkers pathLooking up into the gorge The plank bridge One of many splendid Scots pines in the gorge Looking back down the gorge to the little knob of An Grianan on Beinn Ceitlinhigher up - the long ridge leading up to the Bidean topsI paused opposite the recommended ascent gully, where a fell runner shot past, but decided the route via the col would be much nicer.
and again just beyond the (alternative) ascent gully The path became fainterlooking up tp Clach Lleathad from the same point upper fall I crossed the stream on the slabs above the waterfall.
The 300m ascent to the col was quite steep and seemed endless, but once there it was a very short climb to the summit.
Nearing the col A few deer on the other side Creise and Clach Leathad across the colI had taken 3 hours, but I had stopped to take a lot of photos. The views were stunning with the Ben, Carn Mor Dearg and Aonach Beag peeping over the gap between the Buchaille's twin Munroes, and a touch of snow on Bidean as well.
North to the Buchaille and the BenBuchaille Etive Beag and Sgurr Coire Sgreamhach - part of Bidean Beinn Fhionnlaidh on the L - the sharp peaks must be parts of Beinn a Bheithir A wider view of the Buchaille with the Ben, Carn Mor Dearg and Aonach Beag behind The summit cairn with Creise behind The descent of the NE ridge (which is the natural way if you are doing the circuit from Creise) was a real joy and I made it to the river in about 45 minutes.
A last look at the Buchaille from level section of the NE ridge From above it looked as if one could cross where it splits in two - and return on the road - but although there were lots of boulders the gaps between them were wide and I would certainly be well above boot level. Why hadn't I bought my Tevas?
There was plenty of daylight so I decided to press on down the South bank and soon came to a "bucket" crossing with 4 wires stretched across the river. If only I'd had a harness and a couple of krabs it would have been a synch. Another omission
Instead I had to plough on down. I wasn't too bad for a while, but nearer the car the bank became steeper, the terrain more complex, and the vegetation deeper. I also had to go through a deer fenced plantation climbing over the gates. The 3 Km took an hour and a half and my feet ended just as wet as if I'd waded in the first place! I suspect that descending diagonally left from the foot of the ridge would have been easier, but any route down this side is not recommended. I should have waded the river and sploshed down the road.
Still a truly memorable day out
