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It was a beautiful Sunday – we’d had a good 80km cycle on Saturday and were home early enough to get things ready, get an early night and be up bright and early
As we drove up the road we forgot the clocks had gone back and actually wished we’d been up earlier, but we were parked up near Alltchaorunn and walking before 9.
Looking up the glen to Sron na Creise
Passing through the gate Malky regaled me with tales of folks who had crossed the bridge before it was unlocked – apparently shuffling along the outside was the usual method
An Grianan – the end of the Beinn Dubh ridge
We followed the very boggy path as directed by the estate which was fortunately fairly frozen. Not frozen enough around the stile though, as we had to be fairly acrobatic to get over the bog
Now properly on the path we had to be careful as the big slabs were super icy!
Back to An Grianan
Looking back to Buachaille Etive Mor
Malky avoiding the ice on the path
Looking up the glen
As we walked up the glen we started to get a bit warmer and the sun was hitting the Bookle behind us
Beinn Dubh
We were slightly concerned about the river crossing, but as it turned out there were no problems and we didn’t even need to bother looking for the bridge which was supposed to be somewhere there. We were safely across and heading up the path up Coire Ghiubhasan
The path was less icy from here but definitely muddier and I managed to slip and put mud over the top of my boot…The gaiters went straight on but the damage was done
Clach Leathad – our planned route up onto Creise
We had thought to head up Creise first but realised that we were wasting the good weather down in the glen so crossed over and headed up beside the big gorge of Beinn Mhic Chasgaig
It was steep going but as we climbed we could see Stob Coire Sgreamhach start to appear
The impressive nipple of An Grianan
Malky likes an impressive nipple
The sun popping over the Aonach Mor ridge (one to explore another day!)
Now we were in the sun it was really warm – I was seriously regretting the fleece lined trousers as I was sweating buckets – the gaiters came off which helped a bit but I was still cooking
But the views were good
The whole of the Beinn Dubh ridge
Soon we were into the snow – it wasn’t deep but enough to make a nice crunchy noise underfoot – and as we climbed higher we could see further down Glen Etive
We made for the ridge – at least we had views in all directions now, but it was bloody steep
Ben Starav popping out the top
Towards the top it got rockier underfoot, and there were patched of ice where we had to be careful but finally we were at the almost summit – we stopped to add layers and I decided to play with the big lens before we lost the view back down Glen Etive!
Bidean and Sgreamhach
Beinn a’ Bheithir
Ben Nevis and Carn mor Dearg
The Grey Corries and Stob Ban with a very prominent Crowberry Tower in the foreground – not often seen from this angle!
The Easains
Ben Starav
Beinn Fionnlaidh & Sgorr na h-Ulaidh with Glen Galmadale hills behind
I started to lose feeling in my hands and Malky was getting cranky so we moved on, walking over the last few bumps to the summit. There was a lot of snow and it had built up enough in some places to sink into and make walking tricky
The Crianlarich hills
Stob Ghabhar
A wee frozen lochan near the summit
Buachaille Etive Mor with Ben Nevis and Carn Mor Dearg behind
Summit of Beinn Mhic Chasgaig
Despite being stunning it was freezing cold and we didn’t want to hang about too long
We also didn’t want to go back down just yet…I’d felt a bit sore on the way up but was keen to continue so we talked through a few options and decided we would continue on slowly and see how I felt
The NNE ridge that we could have come up with Stob Dearg and Beinn a’ Chrulaiste
Beinn Dubh with Beinn Trilleachean behind
Beinn Fionnlaidh and Sgorr na h-Ulaidh
Malky leading the way
Incredible Stob Dearg and Crowberry Tower
It was a steep descent down to the 698m bealach but surprisingly easy underfoot and before long it was time to start going up again. Looking back Beinn Mhic Chasgaig was mighty impressive
The ridge up onto Creise wasn’t too steep and we plodded up very slowly with plenty of breathers every time I started feeling sore again. We had a nice lunch stop in a sheltered spot half way up
As we climbed higher we could see all the way down to the end of Glen Etive and beyond
Ben Cruachan starting to peek out
Layers upon layers of awesomeness
Stob Ghabhar with Ben Lui peeking out to the left
Buachaille Etive Mor
The ridge steepened for a short section but soon after the gradient eased and we were into deeper but flatter snow and onto the plateau
We continued across to the edge of Mam Coire Easain and we were able to see the impressive edge
Meall a’ Bhiuridh – it was incredible how the northern sides of the hills were so covered in snow and the southern faces had virtually nothing!
The Bridge of Orchy munros
Walking along the edge of the corrie we were pleasantly surprised how consolidated the snow was, making it remarkably good to walk on
Looking west down Glen Etive
Bidean and Buachaille Etive Mor – the light was definitely going!
Ben Cruachan and Ben Starav in front
Glen Etive
Ben Nevis and the Mamores with the Grey Corries
Blackwater Reservoir and the Ben Alder hills
Meall a’ Bhiuridh with it’s amazing banana-shaped ridge with the Orchy munros behind
Summit of Creise
Loch Rannoch with Schiehallion just visible on the right
It was cold so we again didn’t hang around – originally we had thought to go back over Clach Leathad but it was getting late and I wasn’t up for any more ascent we so dropped back down the ridge we had come up
Buachaille Etive Mor with the Aonach Eagach behind
A last glance down the glen
Back at the col we decided to drop down to Glen Ghuibhasan – this is actually the WH route but I’d have to say I wouldn’t recommend it – very steep and difficult underfoot
Looking back up
There were plenty of runs of slabs to cross, fortunately Malky managed to find a line through them, but then we came across a huge load of slabs and decided to cross the burn to get away from them
Finally we were back on the path – there was still plenty of ice near the top but as we dropped lower it became damper and less slippery!
Looking up to Bidean
With less sun around we could now see the detail in the glen and the lovely autumn colours
We were back across the burn and onto the even better path – and the bonus being that most of the ice from the morning had melted so it made walking a lot easier
Looking back up the glen
The fading light meant we had to be careful
Back at the track the light was definitely going….
Back at the car I threw the car keys at Malky and enjoyed being driven home
A fabulous day out
