Ben Starav in the late summer sun

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On 25th July this year I completed the Cruachan Horseshoe walk.
One view in particular caught my attention.

Ben Starav and Loch Etive

Ben Starav and Loch Etive with the Glencoe hills behind, really impressive looking.
I had never visited Glen Etive before, although I had read plenty about it on Walk Highlands, so I added it too my places to visit before I die list.
It's a very long list, so fingers crossed.
The weather forecast for Monday 3rd September was very promising for Glencoe and the surrounding area and the decision was made to visit Glen Etive and Ben Starav.
Left Falkirk at 4 a.m. on a slightly misty and cold morning.
Arrived at Glencoe just after 6 a.m., with the dawn approaching through a clear sky.

Big Buachille on a clear and cool pre dawn morning

Turned left at the sign post and began the 10 mile drive down the single lane road through Glen Etive.
I must admit, the surface of this road was really excellent and although it was obviously a very twisty track, the 25 minute journey down was very enjoyable and the scenery was first class.
Arrived at the small parking place to find it occupied by a large camper van and a tent.
No probs, parked in the small off road space, not a passing place, opposite the gate at the start of the walk.
Temperature gauge in the car was showing 4 degrees and it felt it when I went outside.
Got suited and booted and spent a short while looking around and taking in the scenery, Wow.Ben Starav and Glas Bheinn Mhor from roadside by robert irvine, on FlickrStob Coire Dheirg by robert irvine, on FlickrTwo Buachailles at dawn by robert irvine, on FlickrBeinn Chaorach, I think by robert irvine, on FlickrBen Starav, sun coming up by robert irvine, on Flickr
Followed the W.H. route, down the track from the roadside and across the River Etive, luckily I was within the weight limit.Bridge over River Etive at start of walk by robert irvine, on FlickrRiver Etive from bridge by robert irvine, on Flickr[url=https://flic.kr/p/2aG4HmC]River Etive, view downstream from bridge. by robert irvine, on Flickr
Then there is a boggy diversion around the white cottage.Muddy diversion path by robert irvine, on FlickrWhite cottage, what an outlook by robert irvine, on Flickr
Join the path along the river again. What a morningRiver Etive in early light by robert irvine, on FlickrGlas Bheinn Mhor and Meal nan Tri Tighearnan by robert irvine, on Flickr
Over the small burn and then on to the bridge over the Allt Mheuran, lots of water flowing after yesterdays and last nights rain.Bridge over Allt mheuran by robert irvine, on Flickr
Following the burn uphill was a bit boggy at times but nothing too bad.Ben Starav and Glas Bheinn Mhor from further up path by robert irvine, on FlickrPath up to ridge, steep and relentless by robert irvine, on Flickr
After half a kilometre, you take to the right when the path forks.Fork in path, turn right here by robert irvine, on Flickr
Really nice views from here on such a glorious morning.Glencoe hills from start of ridge by robert irvine, on FlickrBidean nam Bian zoomed in by robert irvine, on Flickr
A bit steep and relentless from here on.Up and up we go by robert irvine, on Flickr
You had to keep stopping and admiring the scenery, what a place in this kind of weather.Glas Bheinn Mhor by robert irvine, on FlickrOn ridge, what a gorgeous sky by robert irvine, on FlickrBack to Glen Etive and Glencoe hills by robert irvine, on Flickr
Then I met this nice little fellow.Bird on ridge by robert irvine, on Flickr
Finally, the ridge leveled out slightly and the going became a bit easier for a while.
There was a nice gentle cooling breeze as the sun began to rise higher in the sky and the summit was coming nearer and nearer.Starav, zoomed in, main summit right, secondary summit center and Stob Coire Dheirg right by robert irvine, on Flickr [/url]Getting there by robert irvine, on Flickr
Then it was into the boulder field for the final ( long ) pull up to the summitStart of boulder field by robert irvine, on FlickrRocky to summit by robert irvine, on Flickr
Clambering through all these boulders seems to stretch a lot of muscles and relieve the legs after a longish climb, or maybe it's just me.
I was wearing a video camera on this part of the climb, when I watched it back with the volume up it sounded like a 30 min obscene phone call with all the heavy breathing going on.
Now I know why people add a soundtrack to these videos.
Anyway, on to the summit and it really was picture postcard time.Summit cairn, view towards Crianlarich by robert irvine, on FlickrCrianlarich hills by robert irvine, on FlickrBen Cruachan group and Loch Etive, picture postcard time by robert irvine, on FlickrAcross Loch Etive by robert irvine, on FlickrGlencoe hills from summit by robert irvine, on FlickrBidean nam Bian zoomed in (2) by robert irvine, on FlickrNorth East from summit by robert irvine, on FlickrSmall Buachaille by robert irvine, on FlickrStart of Loch Etive by robert irvine, on FlickrView down to Stob Coire Dheirg with Glas Bheinn Mhor behind by robert irvine, on FlickrSummit cairn with Glencoe hills behind by robert irvine, on FlickrSummit cairn to Glen Etive by robert irvine, on Flickr
I sat for quite a while, just chilling out, what more could you ask for.
Met one other walker on the summit.
I left before him, but he passed me on the summit ridge, how can you hurry on such a day.View down Coire an Firh Leith by robert irvine, on Flickr
On to the secondary cairn.True summit from secondary by robert irvine, on FlickrSecondary summit by robert irvine, on FlickrView to Beinn nan Aighenan by robert irvine, on Flickr
There is a bit of a steep drop down from the cairn to the ridge, on a slippery scree path.
Take a bit of care here.View off summit ridge to Stob Coire Dheirg by robert irvine, on Flickr
Then it's along the ridge to Stob Coire Dheirg.
You can either clamber along the rocks on the top, or use the bypass path on the right, it's up to you.Rocky ridge to Stob Coire Dheirg, with by pass path on right by robert irvine, on Flickr
At the end of the ridge, with a nice view down Coire Dearg,View down Coire Dearg by robert irvine, on Flickr
you come across a large rocky outcrop which is the top of Stob Coire Dheirg.View up to Stob Coire Dheirg top by robert irvine, on FlickrView back to Ben Starav from Stob Coire Dheirg by robert irvine, on FlickrView back up to summit, zoomed. Hi who ever you are by robert irvine, on Flickr
The route over the top did not appeal to me, so I chickened out and took the path round and down to the bealach.Bealach back to Ben Starav by robert irvine, on FlickrBealach to Meall nan Tri Tighearnan and Glas Bheinn Mhor by robert irvine, on Flickr
At one stage, the plan was to include Beinn nan Aighenan on today's walk, but now it seemed a fair bit of a trek there and back.
So, decision made, up the broad grassy ridge to the top of Meall nan Tri Tighearnan.Summit Meall nan Tri Tighearnan to Glas Bheinn Mhor by robert irvine, on FlickrSummit Meall nan Tri Tighearnan to Glencoe hills by robert irvine, on FlickrMeall nan Tri Tighearnan to Ben Starav by robert irvine, on FlickrMeall nan Tri Tighearnan to Ben Cruachan group by robert irvine, on FlickrMeall nan Tri Tighearnan to Ben Lui by robert irvine, on Flickr
From here it is a short climb on a still broad ridge to the flat and rounded top of Glas Bheinn Mhor, today's second munro.
Still fantastic views as there had been all day.
Not much wind up here now and it was pleasantly warm.Glas Bheinn Mhor summit cairn to Glencoe hills and beyond. by robert irvine, on FlickrBen Nevis center of photo by robert irvine, on FlickrGlas Bheinn Mhor to Stob Coir an Albannaich by robert irvine, on FlickrDescent path from Glas Bheinn Mhor by robert irvine, on Flickr
It was here that I met Graeme, a member of Perth Hillwalking club.
He had traveled up the day before, with members of his club, and climbed Meall nan Eun and Stob Coir an Albannaich, the other two munros in this group of five, in really atrocious weather.
While descending down Coire Odhar,Coire Odhar by robert irvine, on Flickr
which is also the descent route today, you are advised to follow the path on the right of the Allt Mheuran all the way down to the River Etive.
However, Greame's group encountered really boggy and swampy conditions as they approached the wooded area towards the end of the walk.
He suggested crossing the Allt Mheuran about halfway down the Coire and joining a path on the left side, which he had seen yesterday, and follow this down until it joined up with the ascent path, therefore avoiding the swamp.
You can see from my route map where we crossed over and followed the other path down, with dry feet.
Big up to Greame, hope you got on ok the following day with your next two munros.
Pleasant enough walk down.
Really enjoyed this walk.
Special mention to the Ben Cruachan group of mountains, I just could not stop taking photos of them, glad we live in an age of digital photography, I would have ran out of film very quickly otherwise, it just seemed such a perfect view every time I looked in that direction.
What a day, great weather and fantastic scenery.

Ben Starav and Glas Bheinn Mhor 3 sep 2018.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts