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Sunday 15th May 2016 was a much better day that the weather forecast had predicted - it was sunny from dawn until 6pm for us!
Peter and I were unsure of where we were heading but I picked Peter up in Glasgow at 7am and we headed up the A82 past Loch Lomond. At Crianlarich we took a jump to the left and then at Tyndrum a step to the right ... LOL
We stopped off at Ben Dorain, Loch Tulla, Rannoch Moor, Glencoe Ski Centre, Kingshouse Hotel and disappeared down Glen Etive. Campers everywhere due to the excellent weather, both tent and RV.
We had thought of getting a the pair of Stob Coir an Albannaich and Meall nan Eun, but as it was 11am before we parked up near Coiletir [all the best spaces were occupied!] we both decided that we would do the easy(!) outlier Beinn nan Aighenan with ascent of 1320m depsite being only 3150 feet (960m) high. It's a sea level start so that is the equivalent of Ben Nevis with a 16km return hike to boot. [we were back at the car for 8:30pm, so good choice!]
First obstacle of the day ... The RIver Etive. There is 1 bridge across it down here so it was a 1/2 mile to the left and then a 1/2 mile through bog to the right to join the path up the hill. The river is lovely, lots of excellnt carving by the water and stones and some real good waterfalls, including the Robber's Waterfall which drops in bits and bobs all of the way from the summit of subtop Glas Bheinn Chaol. There are dodgy drops possible into the gorge from the low road up the glen, but we avoided these on the return by taking the high road!
When the gorge and river finish the going gets tougher right up to the beallach between Ben Starav, Glas Bheinn Mhor and Beinn Nan Aighenan. Let me state this that this point would be ideal for a wild camp. Go up Starav, setup tent, out to Beinn Nan Aighenan, and relax. Next Day Gals Bheinn Mhor and if good weather Stob Coire an Albannaich and Meal nan Eun and back to the car, was where we parked is the starting/finishing point for any/all of these 5 Glen Etive Hills. [Its going to take me 3 visits now to bag these 5!]
The drop from the beallach is 150m [500 feet], down to around 2000 feet. Then its 1100 feet up, but a delightful 1100 feet with unexposed hands on scambling and very firm rock to the summit of Beinn Nan Aighenan.
Great all round views down to Loch Etive and Ben Cruchan, as far as Ben Nevis, south to Ben Lui and S//W to Ben More and Stobinnean. Just check my video, shot in 4K from my Panasonic Lumix DMC FZ1000E bridge camera.
The descent was superb too and the re-ascent none too taxing. You then lose a lot of height quickly on the scree path when it soon becomes a motorway back to the river etive.
This time we decided to body swerve the bridge over River Etive and give our boots and knees(!) a wash with a more direct route to the car. What a great day. 11:30 and I was home and in my bed! Knackered!!
Wild red-deer by the roadside of Glen Etive:
Looking towards the end of the Glen Etive and Ben Starav is looking 3700 feet large:
Looking back up Glen Etive to Buachaille Etive Mor and Buachaille Etive Beag:
Closer inspection of that U-Shaped valley:
Peter Adams on the path to the bridge over the River Etive:
Our munro for the day Beinn Nan Aighenenan is behind these two - Ben Starav (right) and Glas Beinn Mhor (Left):
Glas Beinn Mhor is a lovely rounded top from both the front and the back:
Buachaille Etive Beag framed by a stunning tree:
The view back up Glen Etive from the Bridge over the River Etive near the Coiletir cottages:
This pool looked just sublime:
Another waterfall, this time around its got a name - The Robber's Waterfall:
We took "the low path" up and it skirts close to the gorge (other paths are available ... LOL):
View back from the beallach showing Bidean Nam Bian (centre) and Sgor Na u-laidh (left):
The gorge has vertical deep sides at the end:
View up to Ben Starav from the beallach:
Descending the 150m from the beallach we get this view of Glas Beinn Mhor:
View to Ben Cruachan and Loch Etive from the summit cairn of Beinn Nan Alighenan:
Ben Lui is still holding a lot of snow in that northern Corrie:
View back to Ben Starav and Glas Beinn Mhor:
