Buachaille Etive Mòr (/ˈbuəxeɪlˈɛtɪvˈmɔːr/),[3]Scottish Gaelic: Buachaille Èite Mòr,[4] 'great herdsman of Etive'), also known simply in English as 'The Buachaille', is a mountain at the head of Glen Etive in the Highlands of Scotland. Its pyramidal shape, as seen from the northeast, makes it one of the most recognisable mountains in Scotland, and one of the most depicted on postcards and calendars.
Buachaille Etive Mòr is a large ridge nearly five miles (8 km) long, almost entirely encircled by the River Etive and its tributary the River Coupall. The ridge contains four main peaks: from north-east to south-west these are Stob Dearg (1,021.4 m), Stob na Doire (1,011 m), Stob Coire Altruim (941 m) and Stob na Bròige (956 m). Stob Dearg and Stob na Bròige are both Munros; the latter was promoted to Munro status by the Scottish Mountaineering Club in 1997.[5] To the west is the smaller ridge, Buachaille Etive Beag.
Buachaille as seen from the north with all its main peaks visible. (See the image annotations on its Wikimedia Commons page.)
The steep, craggy north-eastern face of Stob Dearg forms the classic aspect of the mountain as seen from the Kings House Hotel, and constitutes the most direct route of ascent for climbers and scramblers. Crowberry Ridge, a classic rock climb gradedsevere, was first climbed direct – and photographed – in 1900 by the Abraham brothers with Messrs Puttrell and Baker. Immediately to the left is Curved Ridge, one of the most famous scrambling routes.
Alternatively there is a somewhat eroded path leading steeply up the Coire na Tulaich which, in summer conditions, allows walkers to ascend the peaks, reaching the ridge about half a kilometre west of Stob Dearg.
Buachaille Etive Mòr is separated from its sister mountain of Buachaille Etive Beag to the west by the valley of Lairig Gartain. To the east lies Glen Etive, which provides an alternative route of ascent, heading up steep grassy slopes to the summit of Stob na Bròige. Another route follows the AlltCoire Altruim from the Lairig Gartain, reaching the ridge about two thirds of the way along from the north. This route is often used as descent route in conjunction with an ascent via Coire na Tulaich, forming a circular route with a walk out along the Lairig Gartain.
It was reported in 2009 that in the previous 30 years in the same area of Buachaille Etive Mòr there had been three separate occasions when three people died.[6]
In 1994 one person died in an avalanche on Buachaille Etive Mòr.[6]
In February 1995, three people died when they were descending down the mountain and an avalanche occurred.[6] In 1995 there were six people who died on Buachaille Etive Mòr.[6]
In 2008 a person died in the same area of Buachaille Etive Mòr where an avalanche occurred in 2009.[6]
In January 2009, three people died and one was injured in an avalanche on Buachaille Etive Mòr.[7] The avalanche occurred in the Coire na Tulaich area of the mountain.[6]
In the past on Buachaille Etive Mòr there have been 13 people who have died in one 12-month period.[6]
Buachaille Etive Mòr from the A82, showing Lagangarbh Hut in the lower left
The only building in the vicinity of Buachaille Etive Mòr is Lagangarbh Hut, popularly referred to as a cottage on account of its appearance. It sits at the foot of Buachaille Etive Mòr, adjacent to the River Coupall, and near the A82. It is owned by the National Trust for Scotland, and managed by the Scottish Mountaineering Club, who make it available to hire as accommodation; up to 30 people can be accommodated.
The Buachaille has become synonymous with landscape photography in Scotland and is probably the most photographed mountain in the country. The most popular spot for this is the small waterfalls on the River Coupall to the east of the mountain. In recent years, the condition of the ground around these falls has deteriorated rapidly and many photographers now actively encourage staying away from the area to allow for regeneration. The site has also become popular for wedding photography with the mountain providing a dramatic backdrop.
The Buachaille's north-east face
Stob Dearg in spring
Stob Dearg in autumn
Stob Dearg in summer
A red deer stag in Glen Etive, showing the south side of the Buachaille, with Stob na Bròige (right) and Stob Dubh (left) Buachaille Etive Mòr from the east side
^"Buachaille Etive Mòr (Stob Dearg)". Hill Bagging - the online version of the Database of British and Irish Hills (DoBIH). 2019. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
^Peter Hodgkiss, The Central Highlands, Scottish Mountaineering Club District Guidebook, 5th ed. (Scottish Mountaineering Trust, 1994)
The Buachaille's north-east face
Stob Dearg in spring
Stob Dearg in autumn
Stob Dearg in summer
A red deer stag in Glen Etive, showing the south side of the Buachaille, with Stob na Bròige (right) and Stob Dubh (left)
