The southern side of Glen Coe includes some very well-known mountains and can be split into two groups; the ones you can see from the A82 and the ones you can’t. Included in the former group is Buachaille Etive Mor, Buachaille Etive Beag, the Three Sisters and the Ballachulish Horseshoe, and in the latter, three Munros between Glen Creran and Glen Etive (Sgor na h-Ulaidh, Beinn Fhionnlaidh and Beinn Sgulaird). With huge amounts of climbing and walking in summer and winter, this area is also home to a large cairn built for Queen Victoria, or so the story goes. Includes all major peaks above 600m.
This was a wonderful walk, despite the occasionally turbulent weather. I did it as part of a walking group organised by someone else. The forecast for that day was dreadful, but only a few people were put off by this so there were about 14 of us in the group. The weather wasn't quite as bad as forecast. There was light rain in the morning, and it got heavier as we climbed Stob Coire Sgreamhach. As we climbed from the bealach to the summit of Bidean nam Bian, there was a downpour with strong winds, and we were all soaked to the skin. I kept thinking "just keep putting one foot in front of the other" - and as the summit came into view, the clouds parted and the sun came out. We had our lunch with glorious views. There was a long walk ahead after that, but it was so beautiful. A fantastic day.
