Note Photos from two occasions
I've really enjoyed all the four Etive Corbetts. They are big, steep, exciting and with great views: you start directly from the road at a low altitude and they feel much more like Munros. So it was with a tinge of sadness that I set out in late May 2017 to do the last - Beinn Trilleachan. But the weather was red hot, and expecting some en route, I took only a litre of water. But I found not even a trickle and by the time I reached the sub-summit my bottle was empty, I was already very thirsty and It seemed foolhardy to go on
But forewarned is forearmed, so on this occasion - in perfect but again very hot weather - I took nearly 2 litres which proved only just enough. This close to the West coast, the vegetation low on the hill is luxuriant - to say the least - and the lovely aroma of the bog myrtle permeated the atmosphere . I followed the "patchy" path beside the wood through knee deep grass and continued on it for a while after it broke away to the L.

The start - Cruachan - down Loch Etive - looking majestic

The path veers off L up and across the hillside

From a bit higher. I am always intrigued by the perfect parabola between the Buchailles at the head of the Lairig Gartain: A parabola is of the form y= some function of x squared so I take this to indicate that the erosive power of ice is proportional to the square of its depth - but maybe that's just simplistic

In theory you ascend the SE ridge, but the only description of the terrain I can think of is "amorphous" - you just plod on up the steep slope Looking back from higher still - The huge bulk of Stob Dubh fills the R of the picture

Eventually the angle eases - but it's still quite a way to the sub-summit
At this point on my first attempt, an eagle flew alongside the loch beneath me. from above you see the wonderful golden colour that gives it its name. It turned across the loch, climbed steeply and came back right over my head. I quickly grabbed the camera and blasted away - a bracket of three each time. unfortunately in "idiot automatic" the focus is set for depth rather than pinpoint accuracy, and I didn't have time to adjust it, so the pics are not sharp. I was still quite pleased - at least you can see what it is - but compared to other Walk-Highlander's eagles it pales into mediocrity .

Across the loch

Behind me and above my head



Eventually I reached the point where both summits come into view and it's not far to the sub-summit

Views from the sub-summit


The cairn looking West - Creach Bheinn centre and Beinn Sgulaird R

Sgulaird L and Fraochaidh centre: I guess that must be Ardgour behind

Beinn Fhionnlaidh - with Bheinn a Bheithir behind L

Zoomed view - Bidean on the R and Sgor na -h- Ulaidh and Stob an Fhuarain centre

Wider view of the whole NW panorama

Looking up the glen

Ben Starav is right opposite

Zoomed

Looking on to the summit

From the start of the steep descent - Cruachan across Loch Etive

Looking back at the descent - seen from here it's quite benign, but it's a convex slope and at the top it's not so obvious where to go. Like most others I think I started down to the R - L in this pic

Basalt dykes in the granite

Views from the main summit

The Ben Lui group on the L over the shoulder of Starav - Beinn Eunaich on the R

Out to sea - over Creach Bheinn and Barcaldine

Zoomed view - the white screes of Sgorr Dhearg on the R, Sgorr Dhonuill centre and Fraochaidh L

Back over the sub-summit and up the glen

Loch Etive and Cruachan again: I could just make out the paps of Jura and Colonsay on the horizon but the picture isn't clear enough for them to be seen

I retraced my steps, pausing to peer down this steep narrow gully

On the drive back up the glen I couldn't resist a photo of An Grianan in the evening sun
A wonderful day out and a beer at the Kingshouse on the way home