Advice needed on Glen Coe

MP said:

Past through Glen Coe many times have even camped at the village camp site
a couple of times, walked up to the Hidden Valley many years ago but have
never managed to climb any of the fine hills which form the glen.

Can any one give me advice on which of the summits is most accessible and
dare I say the easiest route up.

Hi MP,

I'd recommend Buachaille Etive Beag. It has stunning views over Loch
Etive, on a good day you'll see Ben Cruachan to the south and Ben Nevis to
the north. Even on poorer days, you'll be in arguably the best place
to see most of Buachaille Etive Mor, Ben Starav and Loch Etive, over to
the incredible complex of Bidean, and the famous Aonach Eagach ridge. The
views should give you added impetus to get up all of those with
any luck.

Some of my favourite pictures I've taken were on BEB. The middle row on
http://paul-keenan.fotopic.net/c520533_25.html
(with the exception of Clachnaharry sea lock!) were taken on a day where
we parked in Glen Coe then got a lift round from my sister to the Glen
Etive side. It's a long hard pull up Stob Dubh but no real difficulties
compared with some of the others. Once you're up the south end, you walk
to the other end basically, then down the west side and back to the A82.

I've done it once before, about 15 years ago where I was penalised by
(a) having a blinding hangover from a late night at the Clachaig Inn
followed by more beers at an impromptu camp fire in the Red Squirrel
(b) not being particularly fit compared to the group I was with
(c) walking in from the Glen Coe side to the Loch Etive side to start the
walk.

I'd recommend against (a) or (b) pretty much all of the time. You'd need
to be careful with timing the walk within daylight hours at this time of
year if you are forced into (c). Two cars would be better. Or being
quick. You can shorten the walk by not going all the way round the back
I think, but I've not tried this and you'd be missing out the whole
end-to-end experience, which I would argue is worthwhile in itself.

Curiously, one of my most vivid memories of the day years ago is my relief
at the party deciding not to bother with the northern Munro Stob Coire
Rainneach. I had been feeling decidely uncomfortable with how steep it
looked. After getting up a few hills since then, including 3 times over
the Aonach Eagach (and can't wait to go again), I am surprised at how
pushing the boat out a little further each time can work wonders for a
fear of heights.

You could make cases for pretty much any of the hills there, but I
think BEB is the best introduction. Good luck !

--
pjk

I agree with Paul, Buachaille Etive Beag is the easiest of the Glen Coe
Munros to climb.

An alternative is the Munro Meall a Bhuiridh from the White Corries
south of Glen Coe.

Lindsay.
www.caledoniahilltreks.com

Following up to MP

Quoted message said:

Can any one give me advice on which of the summits is most accessible and
dare I say the easiest route up.

Aonach Eagach the easy way:-
"http://www.fellwalk.co.uk/page61.htm"

also Pap is easy should any of the weather be less than perfect.
--
Mike Reid
Walk-eat-UK "http://www.fellwalk.co.uk" <-- you can email us@ this site
Walk-eat-Spain "http://www.fell-walker.co.uk" <-- dontuse@ all, it's a spamtrap
Photos of both "http://www.lawn-mower-man.co.uk"

Following up to MP

Quoted message said:

Can any one give me advice on which of the summits is most accessible and
dare I say the easiest route up.

Aonach Eagach the easy way:-
"http://www.fellwalk.co.uk/page61.htm"

also Pap is easy should any of the weather be less than perfect.
--
Mike Reid
Walk-eat-UK "http://www.fellwalk.co.uk" <-- you can email us@ this site
Walk-eat-Spain "http://www.fell-walker.co.uk" <-- dontuse@ all, it's a spamtrap
Photos of both "http://www.lawn-mower-man.co.uk"

Except that isn't the Aonach Eagach at all - just two summits on either
end of it.

druidh

"Paul J. Keenan" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

MP said:

Past through Glen Coe many times have even camped at the village camp
site
a couple of times, walked up to the Hidden Valley many years ago but have
never managed to climb any of the fine hills which form the glen.

Can any one give me advice on which of the summits is most accessible and
dare I say the easiest route up.

Hi MP,

I'd recommend Buachaille Etive Beag. It has stunning views over Loch
Etive, on a good day you'll see Ben Cruachan to the south and Ben Nevis to
the north. Even on poorer days, you'll be in arguably the best place
to see most of Buachaille Etive Mor, Ben Starav and Loch Etive, over to
the incredible complex of Bidean, and the famous Aonach Eagach ridge. The
views should give you added impetus to get up all of those with
any luck.

Thanks pjk
Great reply plenty of detail, just the sort of reply I was hopeing for.

Quoted message said:

Past through Glen Coe many times have even camped at the village camp site
a couple of times, walked up to the Hidden Valley many years ago but have
never managed to climb any of the fine hills which form the glen.

Can any one give me advice on which of the summits is most accessible and
dare I say the easiest route up.

Clare and I spent a brilliant week in Glen Coe in 2000, staying in a cottage
in Glencoe Village. There are the 6 walks on my website at
www.thewalkzone.co.uk following the Scotland link (logical I suppose).

Two of the walks are low-level Glen/valley walks, the remainder are high
level but no scrambling involved. All are close to Glen Coe except Ben
Nevis, did 'the Ben' as Clare had never been to the top. Weather was
perfect all week and not a single midge bite!

cheers

--
sandy saunders @ www.thewalkzone.co.uk
email: saunders.sandy at ntlworld.com

'Mountains or Mole Hills ... summiting still
brings the same excitement'

On 27 Sep 2005 23:18:29 -0700, "Lindsay" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

I agree with Paul, Buachaille Etive Beag is the easiest of the Glen Coe
Munros to climb.

Another vote for BEB, it was my first Munro (as far as I can remember,
we did a lot that week, all of it in rain and hill fog).

Another option would be Buachille Etive Mor, not by the normal tourist
route (which depending on timer of year is either steep snow or steep
horrible scree), but by the corrie on the Glen Etive side which leads
to the same col - pathless for the most part, but an easy walk.

Simon

--
Oppose ID cards and the database state - sign the pledge at
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Following up to druidh

Quoted message said:

Except that isn't the Aonach Eagach at all - just two summits on either
end of it.

and in the middle. As the OP doesn't want scrambling, an ideal
way to see it.
--
Mike Reid
Walk-eat-UK "http://www.fellwalk.co.uk" <-- you can email us@ this site
Walk-eat-Spain "http://www.fell-walker.co.uk" <-- dontuse@ all, it's a spamtrap
Photos of both "http://www.lawn-mower-man.co.uk"