Glen Etive swan song to beat the bulldozers - clockwise circuit from Coileitir following the Allt Ceitlin up to Meall nan Eun (munro), Meall Tarsuinn (simm, subhump, corbett top), Stob Coir’ an Albannaich (munro), Beinn Chaorach (unlisted, but worth it for the Glen Etive views plus eerie granite rockscape similar to Craignaw’s ‘devils bowling green’ in Galloway) finally direct down.

A couple of route musings ...

First I annotated a pic of the Tarsuinn col which I hope some might find useful. This area guidebooks note is tricky in the mist and was one of many sections on this walk where the ‘path’ is indistinct.

Secondly about the ‘direct’ route between Chaorach and the car. Best saved for a dry spell at a time of year when the bracken is down I’d say. Advocated in guides by the like of Cameron McNeish no less, it’s a route rather than a path, doable compared to the alternatives but not necessarily at all pleasant. On the plus side it’s short and direct and the going’s easy above 600m due to the convex nature of the hillside. But there are 2 deer fences to cross and the ‘open birch woodland’ lower down has had 20 years to thicken up since some guides were penned. In the woods you want to be on the north side of the stream. Above the trees I used the south side, taking care to avoid one way or the other a solitary crag just above the tree line which is visible from the road. Out of the woods you’re on uniform steep clumpy long grass, heather and moss with no proper path to speak.

A big part of today was to enjoy scenic Glen Etive low down before everything changes, and very pretty and peaceful it was too under quiet clear skies in crisp air and bright autumn sunshine. Despite opposition from conservationists and outdoor groups, planning permission has depressingly been given for multiple hydro schemes plus access roads etc., massively impacting Glen Etive in exchange for relatively small amounts of generating capacity, all subsidised to a material degree by energy users and the taxpayers. Grrrrrr. I stopped to snap a few photos for the record near the Ceitlin bridge. A rowan tree thick with probably its last ever crop of vibrant red berries struck up alongside sympathetic land rover track. Close by orange surveyors marker posts tellingly condemn the area; the Rowan stands little chance and even the track will be ‘upgraded’ to facilitate heavy industrial machinery movement. I don’t suppose filmmakers (Harry Potter, Skyfall) will find the area much use in future. The 007 carnage was all GCI so no lasting effects, in contrast to the standard hydro scheme lip service bigging up post works ground reinstatement.


https://www.obantimes.co.uk/2019/03/20/council-approves-all-seven-glen-etive-hydro-schemes/

https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/news/blow-for-wild-land-as-glen-etive-hydro-schemes-approved-again-by-council/0019442/

https://www.highland.gov.uk/download/meetings/id/74876/item_32_-_applicant_dickins_hydro_resources_ltd_1802739ful

https://inspiredbymaps.com/skyfall/