Glen Etive

Last weekend's double Corbett bag inspired me to get back on the pursuit. I still had one more to get in the Glencoe area, but it is very much an isolated peak, probably why I had neglected it. 
The forecast was decent, so after some satellite imagery research the night before, settled on a way to make the simple up-and-down route to Beinn Maol Chaluim into a longer loop over some Munros. 

Starting from Dalness in Glen Etive, it was an unrelenting 600m climb out of the valley through young bracken and bluebells. The cloud came and went from the summits surrounding the glen, but when I finally reached the Munro of SCS it was clear. Looking down into Coire nan Gabhail, I spied dozens of brightly coloured ants following in procession up the path to the head of the valley. Busy day!

Onwards to Bidean, the Sauchiehall Street of Argyll. Didn't stop...carried on to another cairn above Church Door Buttress and ate my lunch. 

Then came my contrivance....to connect the Munros to the Corbett...Descended steeply on loose scree, then entered a gully system fortunately with nothing impassable, I reached the bealach without incident. 

The summit of Beinn Maol Chaluim was at the end of a long ridge, overlooking Loch Etive far below. Some more fuel and then followed the delightful undulating ridge until it started to steepen as it reached Glen Etive. Weaving between crags once more, I stupidly climbed a deer fence into an area of felled trees and then battled the final 300m to the road, cursing as my legs were lacerated on the brash. 

Pic looking back up Glen Etive from the descent. The Blackmount prominent in the distance. 

Corbett #191