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Elegy for Glen Etive - a different way up Ben Starav

Elegy for Glen Etive - a different way up Ben Starav


Postby HalfManHalfTitanium » Fri Apr 26, 2019 6:53 pm

Route description: Ben Starav and Glas Bheinn Mhòr

Munros included on this walk: Ben Starav

Date walked: 31/03/2019

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It was a gorgeous morning as I crossed Rannoch Moor en route for Glen Etive.

ImageIMG_1453 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

Stob Coir'an Albannaich from Glen Etive.

ImageIMG_1461 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

I was pleased to get this photo of Starav below, partly because it shows the full bulk and height of this mighty hill, but also because it shows my entire route.

I planned to ascent the narrow ridge about half-way up the photo on the left, named Glas Bheinn Chaol. Its knobbly nature can be seen by its jagged shadow cast on the slope to its right. From the map, I guessed that this ridge would have superb views, especially in morning light, of the surrounding hills and valleys. In fact, it turned out to be even better than I hoped.

Then, I planned to traverse across from the upper part of the ridge, just before its final steepening, to the snappily-named Bealachan Lochain Ghaineamhaich. Then I would follow the left-hand skyline to the summit of Stob Coire Dheirg, then on to Ben Starav, and descend the north ridge.

ImageIMG_1466 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr


our_route.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts



The River Etive was my companion for the first stage of the walk.

ImageIMG_1492 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

ImageIMG_1501 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

ImageIMG_1517 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

Even more beautiful was the Allt Mheuran. This is destined to become a hydro-electric power station. I took several photos - my elegy for this magic place.

Looking upstream to the old wooden bridge

ImageIMG_1542 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

The old bridge and Beinn Trilleachan.

ImageIMG_1557 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

Above the bridge

ImageIMG_1565 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

ImageIMG_1572 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

ImageIMG_1546 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

ImageIMG_1607 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

ImageIMG_1577 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

ImageIMG_1606 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

ImageIMG_1601 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

ImageIMG_1604 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

ImageIMG_1611 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

ImageIMG_1586 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

ImageIMG_1612 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

ImageIMG_1616 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

ImageIMG_1620 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

I crossed the stream here.

ImageIMG_1622 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

I did not expect to find a path along the crest of the Glas Bheinn Chaol ridge, but in fact one appeared almost immediately - this is looking back down the path into Glen Etive.

ImageIMG_1633 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

The ridge provided wonderful widening views of the neighbouring peaks - Glas Bheinn Mhor and Stob Coir'an Albannaich on my left, Ben Starav and its fine satellite Stob Coire Dheirg on my right.

ImageIMG_1676 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

ImageIMG_1625 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

Looking downwards on my right - I was intrigued by this waterfall falling into a slot canyon, like ones I have seen in Arizona.

ImageIMG_1636 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

Looking ahead along the upper part of the Glas Bheinn Chaol ridge.

ImageIMG_1662 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

Glas Bheinn Mhor

ImageIMG_1688 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

Stob Coire Dheirg

ImageIMG_1670 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

A small icy pond

ImageIMG_1673 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

I reached the highest part of the ridge accompanied by a chorus of loud croaking. It was like that Paul McCartney Frog song. The frogs were in several large, beautiful pools along the crest of the ridge.

Glen Coe hills in the background.

ImageIMG_1693 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

Zoomed shot of Bidean nam Bian.

ImageIMG_1697 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

Other views from the ponds.

ImageIMG_1691 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

ImageIMG_1704 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

After a while sitting and enjoying this idyllic spot, I traversed across to the bealach, where there were more good views - Beinn nan Aighenan and Beinn Eunaich

ImageIMG_1720 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

Looking from the bealach up the ridge towards Stob Coire Dheirg (right) and Ben Starav (left).

ImageIMG_1718 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

Beinn Eunaich, Beinn a'Chochuill and the Ben Cruachan peaks.

ImageIMG_1722 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

Looking up the ridge from the bealach to Stob Coire Dheirg. The thin whitish line in the centre of the photo is not snow but a vein of quartz.

ImageIMG_1731 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

Views from the ridge.

ImageIMG_1735 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

ImageIMG_1744 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

ImageIMG_1736 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

The upper ridge and the quartz vein

ImageIMG_1745 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

Midday sun casting long shadows

ImageIMG_1738 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

ImageIMG_1746 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

ImageIMG_1748 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

The summit of Stob Coire Dheirg

ImageIMG_1752 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

Ben Starav from the cairn

ImageIMG_1759 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

A quartz pinnacle in the foreground, my ridge of ascent in the middle distance, Mamores, Grey Corries, Easains and the Geal Charn group far away. Stob Ghabhar on the far right.

ImageIMG_1751 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

Ben Lui and its neighbours above Beinn nan Aighenan.

ImageIMG_1762 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

The north ridge of Ben Starav. The twin peaks of Beinn a'Bheithir are on the right hand skyline. Rum can be seen, very faint, above a dark patch of forestry on the left.

ImageIMG_1760 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

The arete along to Ben Starav was brilliant fun. Views along the arete...

ImageIMG_1765 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

ImageIMG_1770 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

ImageIMG_1783 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

ImageIMG_1776 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

ImageIMG_1778 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

The cairn on the east summit of Ben Starav, and views from it.

ImageIMG_1784 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

ImageIMG_1790 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

ImageIMG_1788 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

The final stroll to the summit felt like a walk in some celestial realm.

ImageIMG_1793 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

ImageIMG_1795 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

ImageIMG_1805 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

ImageIMG_1798 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

ImageIMG_1806 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

ImageIMG_1819 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

Last steps to the cairn

ImageIMG_1817 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

View from the cairn of Ben Starav, with Ben Nevis appearing exactly above Bidean nam Bian - nice to see these three bad boys lined up.

ImageIMG_1820 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

Zoomed shot

ImageIMG_1821 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

Views from the summit

ImageIMG_1826 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

ImageIMG_1829 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

ImageIMG_1832 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

ImageIMG_1833 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

Starting the descent - a look back at the summit

ImageIMG_1834 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

And I couldn't resist some last shots of Beinn Trilleachan and Loch Etive

ImageIMG_1846 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

ImageIMG_1844 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

ImageIMG_1849 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

Views along the north ridge

ImageIMG_1853 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

ImageIMG_1856 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

ImageIMG_1864 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

Looking back up to Ben Starav

ImageIMG_1873 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

The Robber's Waterfall visible from this angle

ImageIMG_1885 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

Late afternoon light around the Allt Mheuran gave a different ambience to the morning views I'd seen.

ImageIMG_1887 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

ImageIMG_1888 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

ImageIMG_1886 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

ImageIMG_1889 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

ImageIMG_1893 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

ImageIMG_1897 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

Back to the old bridge

ImageIMG_1909 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

Waterslide in the evening sun

ImageIMG_1913 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

The River Etive again

ImageIMG_1921 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

Coileitir Cottage and Stob Dubh

ImageIMG_1922 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

A last view of Ben Starav from the bridge over the river

ImageIMG_1928 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

Sunset sky over Buachaille Etive Mor

ImageIMG_1936 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Last edited by HalfManHalfTitanium on Wed May 01, 2019 1:06 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: Elegy for Glen Etive - a different way up Ben Starav

Postby Hillbeback » Fri Apr 26, 2019 7:59 pm

Tim,

Brilliant photos :clap: How l wish l had been accompanying you on that walk. You definitely have a good eye for capturing a great image. Think I'll need lessons from you when we meet up :lol:

Moira
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Re: Elegy for Glen Etive - a different way up Ben Starav

Postby maxie23 » Fri Apr 26, 2019 8:22 pm

Tim

Cracking report mate, looks like a good alternative route up.
Love the photographs, the views from Ben Starav are really fantastic ( weather permitting of course )
.
ImageBen Cruachan group and Loch Etive, picture postcard time by robert irvine, on Flickr

Keep up the good work.
Regards
Robert
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Re: Elegy for Glen Etive - a different way up Ben Starav

Postby dav2930 » Fri Apr 26, 2019 10:30 pm

Really enjoyed that :thumbup: A superb collection of photos; I especially like the ones of the waterfalls and rock pools :clap: . Looked a great way up Starav too. It's such a shame about the proposed hydro scheme :(
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Re: Elegy for Glen Etive - a different way up Ben Starav

Postby tweedledog » Sat Apr 27, 2019 9:34 am

Wonderful photographs. Thank you.
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Re: Elegy for Glen Etive - a different way up Ben Starav

Postby past my sell by date » Sat Apr 27, 2019 4:37 pm

Great report and photos :D - I did more or less the reverse about 20 years ago on a hot summer's day and also "nipped" down and back the 300m or so drop to Aighenan in the middle. It was a very long walk (nearly 2000m of ascent!!) - but I was keen in those days and Bill who came with me seemed inexhaustible. We did the whole of the Grey Corries next day :crazy: I particularly remember this rather striking quartz vein on the descent from Starav
Image
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Re: Elegy for Glen Etive - a different way up Ben Starav

Postby Sgurr » Sun Apr 28, 2019 9:04 am

Good to hear there are still plenty of frogs still, I haven't met any this year. Some lovely pictures there. Not surprising that there is a path up Ghlas Beinn Mor as it is a traditional return route from Ben Starav. We climbed it as a 60th birthday treat and came back that way.
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Re: Elegy for Glen Etive - a different way up Ben Starav

Postby HalfManHalfTitanium » Mon Apr 29, 2019 9:30 am

Hillbeback wrote:Tim,

Brilliant photos :clap: How l wish l had been accompanying you on that walk. You definitely have a good eye for capturing a great image. Think I'll need lessons from you when we meet up :lol:

Moira


Thanks Moira!

Yes it was a great day, although a bit sad that some of the special magic of the Allt Mheuran will be lost soon. Glad to have got some photos of it in good weather!

Tim
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Re: Elegy for Glen Etive - a different way up Ben Starav

Postby HalfManHalfTitanium » Mon Apr 29, 2019 5:44 pm

maxie23 wrote:Tim

Cracking report mate, looks like a good alternative route up.
Love the photographs, the views from Ben Starav are really fantastic ( weather permitting of course )
.
ImageBen Cruachan group and Loch Etive, picture postcard time by robert irvine, on Flickr

Keep up the good work.
Regards
Robert


Thanks Robert! - and thanks for posting up the photo - what a wonderful view!

We were both lucky to see it in good weather!

Tim
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Re: Elegy for Glen Etive - a different way up Ben Starav

Postby HalfManHalfTitanium » Fri May 03, 2019 12:45 pm

past my sell by date wrote:Great report and photos :D - I did more or less the reverse about 20 years ago on a hot summer's day and also "nipped" down and back the 300m or so drop to Aighenan in the middle. It was a very long walk (nearly 2000m of ascent!!) - but I was keen in those days and Bill who came with me seemed inexhaustible. We did the whole of the Grey Corries next day :crazy: I particularly remember this rather striking quartz vein on the descent from Starav
Image


Thanks - just spotted your comment and photo - the quartz vein is certainly quite a feature!

I usually just do one hill at a time, going slowly - I am not sure if I will ever get to Beinn nan Aighenan!

Tim
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Re: Elegy for Glen Etive - a different way up Ben Starav

Postby past my sell by date » Fri May 03, 2019 1:14 pm

HalfManHalfTitanium wrote:
I usually just do one hill at a time, going slowly

Me too these days!!
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Re: Elegy for Glen Etive - a different way up Ben Starav

Postby litljortindan » Sat May 18, 2019 1:54 pm

Great route but sad that the start will be altered.
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Re: Elegy for Glen Etive - a different way up Ben Starav

Postby HalfManHalfTitanium » Sat May 18, 2019 10:13 pm

litljortindan wrote:Great route but sad that the start will be altered.


Thanks! Yes - the hydro plans gave a strange sense of loss to an otherwise wonderful day.

Didn't stop me enjoying it though!

Tim
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