How to Climb Buachaille Etive Mòr: The Walkers' Route

Buachaille Etive Mòr — the Great Herdsman of Etive — is the pyramid-shaped mountain that guards the entrance to Glen Coe, and it is probably the most photographed hill in Scotland. Seen from the road across Rannoch Moor it looks like an impregnable rock peak, and its famous crags are the preserve of climbers. For hillwalkers, though, there is a fine mountain route around the back that takes in the ridge's two Munros — but make no mistake, this is a serious mountain, not a beginner's hill.

The two Munros of the Buachaille

The long summit ridge carries two Munros: Stob Dearg (1,022m), the iconic pointed peak you see from the road, and Stob na Broige (956m) at the far south-western end. Most walkers take in both in a single round, giving a full and rewarding mountain day.

The Coire na Tulaich route

The walkers' route starts at Altnafeadh on the A82 and climbs into the hidden bowl of Coire na Tulaich, behind the famous face. The round to both Munros is roughly 13 kilometres with just over 1,000 metres of ascent, taking 6 to 8 hours. From the coire, a steep, badly eroded slope of loose scree leads to a short, easy scramble onto the col on the main ridge. From there you turn north-east to Stob Dearg, return, and continue south-west along the airy ridge over Stob na Doire to Stob na Broige, before retracing your steps.

The hazard: the coire headwall

The upper headwall of Coire na Tulaich is the crux and the danger. It is steep, loose and prone to rockfall, and it holds snow and ice well into spring — it is a recognised avalanche and slip location, and people have been killed here. In summer, take great care with footing and be aware of walkers above you dislodging stones. In winter it is a mountaineering route requiring an ice axe, crampons and winter skills and avalanche awareness. This is not a mountain to attempt as your first or second Munro.

When to go and what to pack

The Buachaille is at its best on a settled, dry day from late spring to autumn, when the loose ground is at its most stable and the ridge views are clear. Carry warm layers, full waterproofs, plenty of food and water, and a map and compass — the ridge is exposed to weather sweeping in off Rannoch Moor. Check the mountain forecast, and be ready to turn back at the coire if conditions on the headwall look poor.

A classic Glen Coe day

The reward is one of the great ridge walks in the Highlands, with huge views over Rannoch Moor, down Glen Etive, and across to Bidean nam Bian and the peaks of Glen Coe. Log both Munros in the Munros app, which stores offline maps and the route for a mountain where the descent line off the ridge matters as much as the ascent.

Related guides

• Munro bagging in Glen Coe and Ben Nevis — the wider region
• Best Munro ridge walks — more classic ridges
• Glen Coe Munros — all the peaks nearby