Buachaille Etive Mòr

Few mountains in Scotland are as iconic as Buachaille Etive Mòr (The Great Herdsman of Etive). Guarding the entrance to Glencoe, its striking, pyramid-shaped peak is one of the most photographed sights in the Highlands, drawing climbers and walkers from around the world. The usual ascent begins from Altnafeadh on the A82, climbing steeply up the stony gully of Coire na Tulaich before emerging onto the ridge. From here, the first Munro summit, Stob Dearg (1,021 m), rises proudly, offering jaw-dropping views across Rannoch Moor, the length of Glen Etive, and the jagged skyline of Glencoe’s other peaks. Many walkers continue along the mountain’s long, rocky ridge to Stob na Bròige (956 m) at the far end, bagging a second Munro and enjoying a superb high-level traverse before descending into the glen. The sense of space, scale, and drama on this walk is hard to match—this is Highland mountain walking at its finest.