Buachaille Etive Mòr

Buachaille Etive Mòr — "The Great Shepherd of Etive" — is arguably Scotland's most iconic mountain. Its perfect pyramidal form, seen from the A82 at the entrance to Glen Coe, has graced more calendars, book covers, and whisky labels than any other Scottish peak.

The standard route ascends via Coire na Tulaich, a dramatic corrie that funnels you up between towering rock walls to a high bealach, then a final rocky ridge to the summit of Stob Dearg (1,021m). The views from the top are staggering: Rannoch Moor stretches endlessly to the east, Glen Etive plunges to the south, and the peaks of Glen Coe march westward.

This is a serious mountain. Navigation skills, proper equipment, and mountain experience are essential. In winter, it becomes a serious mountaineering proposition with Grade I/II climbing near the summit. But on a clear day, it's one of the finest hill days in Scotland.