Pronunciation/Translation: Buachaille Etive Beag - booakil etiv bek (small herdsman of Etive), Stob Coire Raineach - stop kora ran-ach (peak of the corrie of ferns), Stob Dubh - stop doo (black peak)
Post Easter camping and hiking got off to a belated start on Tuesday 26th. It was to be Shona's new Springer Spaniel's first camping trip and we were a little unsure how Bracken, formerly known as "Marli" but changed to curb Alfie's confusion, would get on sleeping al fresco.
As things turned out she coped with all the fresh air and fun admirably. Day one saw us ease her in gently with a semi-wild camp near Victoria Bridge by Loch Tulla. After pitching, we took a walk over the West Highland Way path to the Bridge of Orchy Hotel. After a quick pint we headed back along the same path to the Inveroran Hotel for another, my kind of walk!
Day two, and we moved on up to the Kingshouse Hotel camping ground with the tent. After our usual hit of cappuccino from Nisa in Glen Coe village we got our kit organised and set off along the lower end of the Lairig Eilde for our traverse of Buachaille Etive Beag, the little brother of Etive Mor.
There are two Munros to complete on this stretch of mountain, Stob Coire Raineach to the northeast and the slightly higher Stob Dubh to the southwest. I previously climbed them in late summer last year and felt that they would be a good place to introduce Bracken to the delights of Munro-bagging.
A short way along the Lairig Eilde, just before the path veers down to cross the stream, another path forks left uphill towards the first steep section of this route. An abundance of carefully laid steps take you steadily up onto the bealach of Mam Buidhe. Here is a good place to stop for some intake of food and also gives some cracking views of Buachaille Etive Mor to the east.
Many hikers prefer to scale Stob Dubh first then Stob Coire Raineach, then head back down from Mam Buidhe the same way they ascended. Where I can, and if time permits, I like to climb over a mountain rather than just up and down it. I feel that you get to know the area much better this way and it makes for a more interesting walk too.
We tackled Stob Coire Raineach first then headed southwest along the ridge over the middle rise to Stob Dubh, then descended south off the second summit. Here we got to indulge in a little bit of scree surfing. After dropping considerably in altitude we picked our way around some of the tricky crags and moved westerly across the contours to lower ground on the southern side of the Lairig Eilde. We finally joined onto the main path that runs the full length of the valley and although a long walk back, it is very pleasant in the late afternoon sunshine.
The usual post-walk refueling took place at the Clachaig Inn, I just wish they'd stop serving those mushed up peas with their fish and chips, could it be the chef is a Sassenach?
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