Taking annual leave between Christmas and the New Year meant potential opportunities to get out into the mountains with my son if the weather was right. The plan was to either hike up An Teallach via Dundonnel or Buachaille Etive Beag down near Glen Coe. Both hiking routes would include fantastic views from the summits - but with a break in the rain expected down at Glen Coe on Boxing Day (day after Christmas Day in the UK), Buachaille Etive Beag was chosen.

To get there for sunrise with a 2+ hour car journey meant a 4.50am alarm, followed by an initially hazardous car journey west due to extremely icy conditions on the first part of the route.

We arrived with low cloud over the mountains of Glen Coe, and rain and snow starting, as we readied the rucksacks and hiking gear. With the predicted clear skies later in the morning we headed off up the mountain trail even amidst falling snow, hoping the weather forecast was to be accurate!! The photo below was looking back to Glen Coe as we ascended the slope toward Buachaille Etive Beag.

The climb itself was hard work, particularly with such a heavy rucksack - made all the more interesting with quite icy conditions underfoot. The first ridge we were heading for was at 748m. The views on the way up brought welcome distraction ….

Reaching the first ridge was a good opportunity for a break and putting on the micro spikes. This aided the continued ascent to the waypoint at 902m that provided excellent views back down to the first ridge, as well as looking ahead to the ridge that would take us up to Stob Duhh (958m).

The ridge along to Stob Dhub provided great views of the glen to the right and to the left, and the climb up to Stob Dhub didn’t pose too much difficulty. The landscape around us from the top made all the effort worthwhile.

By the time we reached the summit the cloud was clearing from above the mountains just leaving rising mist in the glens beyond, looking out towards Loch Etive.

The views across to Stob Coire Sgreamhach (1072m - munro) and the other surrounding ridges and summits were superb.

The top of Stob Dubh has two cairns beyond which was a shoulder down to an area where we stopped to set up our temporary abode. This time I had brought the hiking chair with me which gave welcome relief to the legs as we fired up the Jetboils for a cup of tea to try and warm up! Drinking Rooibos tea while taking in the super views down to Loch Etive which momentarily appeared between the mist now and again was special…

The low mist/cloud created some great atmosphere looking down Glen Etive. Ebbing, flowing, rising and falling. A timelapse would have been amazing (an idea for next time). Here’s a selection of the many photos taken of the changing views from the mist.

Some more of the views from our vantage point:

We were debating whether to wait out the sunset, but evidence of a weather front cloud line on the horizon that was slowing rising, soon convinced us that we would lose any chance of a colourful sunset. So we packed up and headed off once the sun dipped behind the cloud layer, as the surrounding skyline started to display pastel hues of approaching golden hour. We traced our way back to the Stob Dubh summit and noticed the near-full moon rising above the mountain peaks in the distance.

It was an overall stunning view as we looked north/north east. The wide panoramic below shows Ben Nevis at the left of the image and the mountain tops over to the rising moon.

Here’s a selection of aerial views as we made our way across the summit on the return.

The light was starting to fall now, providing a few more photo opportunities with the moon as we looked over the Buachaille Etive Beag ridge on the way back, also catching it ‘touch’ the top of Stob Coire Raineach (925m).