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.
I led Nikki on a challenging and scenic day out in the mountains around Glencoe, tackling several significant peaks. The weather was perfect, with clear skies and a gentle breeze, allowing us to enjoy some stunning views throughout the hike. The day involved substantial elevation gain, covering over 26 km and ascending nearly 2600 meters, making it a demanding outing.During the day, we encountered a navigation issue where we inadvertently ascended back to a peak we had already summited. After realizing the mistake, we corrected our route and continued on, but it served as a valuable lesson in the importance of always checking your bearing, even in good visibility and familiar terrain. This experience highlighted the need for vigilance in navigation and the importance of clear communication when leading a group.Overall, it was a highly successful day, with both physical and navigational challenges that provided excellent training and learning opportunities. The combination of beautiful scenery, significant elevation, and the responsibility of leading and supervising made this a true Quality Mountain Day.
