Buachaille Etive Beag

Buachaille Etive Beag (the Little Shepherd of Etive) is a mountain located at the head of Glen Coe, on the edge of Rannoch Moor. Viewed from the south in Glen Etive it forms a twin with Buachaille Etive Mor (the Great Shepherd of Etive), from which it is separated by a bealach at a height of about 480 m. The mountain is often known affectionately as the "wee Buachaille".

Buachaille Etive Beag forms a ridge about 3 km in length that runs in a southwest-northeast direction. It has two peaks of Munro status: Stob Dubh and Stob Coire Raineach. Until the 1997 revision of Munros tables only Stob Dubh was listed as a Munro. Due to its relative height Stob Coire Raineach was probably the prime candidate for "promotion", being one of only three Marilyns to top 3000 ft (914.4 m) and yet not be a Munro.

The most common route on the mountain starts from the A82 at the head of Glen Coe. A cairn and a sign mark the existence of a right of way to Glen Etive, following the through the Lairig Eilde that separates Buachaille Etive Beag from Bidean nam Bian. This route is followed for around 1.5 km, at which point most hillwalkers simply head up the hillside to reach the bealach between the two summits, which is at a height of around 750 m. From here Stob Coire Raineach lies about 0.5 km to the northeast, whilst Stob Dubh is about 2 km to the southwest. After bagging both tops, most walkers simply descend by their route of ascent. One may also reach (and descend from) the bealch by means of the Lairig Gartain, which separates Buachallie Etive Beag, from its larger sibling, Buachaille Etive Mor.

An alternative route would be to start from Glen Etive, thus allowing for a traverse of the ridge. It should be noted that the southwest ridge is unrelentingly steep, and one would be obliged to arrange transport back to Glen Etive or walk an additional 4 km to return via the Lairig Eilde or Lairig Gartain.