Ben Starav and Glas Bheinn Mhor Route Information

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Ben Starav & Glas Bheinn Mhor

Quick Facts

This is the summed total of all the climbing within a route and is a good indicator of the strenuousness of a route.

Total Ascent

1700 m

An estimate of the time taken based on a derivation of Naismiths rules. Our calculation is based on the horizontal and ascent components of a climb, we do not make a reduction for descent.

Registered users can customise these walking times by specifying their own walking and ascending speeds. They can also add a fixed time period for stoppages.

Route Time

6.5 hrs

The horizontal distance of the route.

Route Distance

15.87 km

The UK is covered by 204 Ordnance Survey Landranger 1:50,000 scale maps. Maps numbered 1 to 86 cover Scotland but for the highest mountains (Munros) only 23 maps are required. The name given roughly describes the area covered by the map.

You can click on the map name to purchase the map for £6.29 including postage which is one of the cheapest prices we have found.

OS Landranger Maps Required

50	Glen Orchy & Loch Etive

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A brief summary of this route.

Our summary will always contain one of easy, moderate or hard to indicate the severity of the route.

Notes

Moderate route on craggy mountains so good navigation skills needed particularly in poor visibility. Care needed on descent of Glas Beinn Mhor to avoid steep NNW slopes.

Here we provide the nearest town to the start of the route where you will find basic services.

We then give directions from that location to the route start. Your approach route may differ.

Travel Information

Head to: Kings House Hotel

From Kings House Hotel (A82) travel W 1.5km to junction (NN246550). Turn S minor road and travel S 16km to junction with minor road at bridge over River Etive to Coileitir.

Route Waypoint Map

The total ascent is 1,700 metres. Allow 6.5 hours to complete this 15.87 km route.

In winter months please check the local snow conditions at sais.gov.uk.

The hillphones service can inform you of stalking activities in the area.

Usually the shortest way to climb the mountain, making best use of tracks and paths to gain altitude. Route navigation requires map reading skills and an ability to navigate with a compass.

The information given here will enable you to annotate your map and plan your route. We do not give anecdotal descriptions on where to find the paths, worn by the feet of previous mountaineers.

Where the access routes are few or the ridge is narrow, paths are generally obvious. On open ground, following paths without using your compass may get you lost in poor visibility.

Route Information

Waypoint Detail

	Start at junction with road to Coileiter and bridge over River Etive
		NN13714686	Distance	Altitude 35 m

1	Cross River Etive and head SW past Coileitir to bridge over Allt Mheuran
		NN13584598	Distance 1.53 km	Altitude 25 m

2	Cross Allt Mheuran, head SSE 850m, then ascend SSW on NE ridge of Ben Starav
		NN12914384	Distance 2.70 km	Altitude 800 m

3	Continue SSW to summit
		NN12574271	Distance 1.27 km	Altitude 1078 m

4	Follow ridge SE turning E to Stob Coire Dheirg
		NN13134268	Distance 0.75 km	Altitude 1068 m

5	Descend E to col (766m)
		NN13864243	Distance 0.81 km	Altitude 766 m

6	Ascend SE turning NE to Meall nan Tri Tighearnan
		NN14534257	Distance 0.80 km	Altitude 892 m

7	Follow ridge E then ascend NE to the summit of Glas Bheinn Mhor
		NN15324294	Distance 0.94 km	Altitude 997 m

8	Descend E turning NE to bealach (738m)
		NN16334334	Distance 1.26 km	Altitude 738 m

9	Follow Allt Mheuran NW to return to aproach route
		NN13714686	Distance 5.81 km	Altitude 35 m

A selection of weather forecasts local to this route.

Weather

West Highlands
by MWIS (PDF format)

West Highlands
by Met Office

Bidean nan Bian
by Metcheck

Images of Ben Starav & Glas Bheinn Mhor

Ben Starav from Glen Etive 02/04/08

Image by Sam Marshall

The long descent off Glas Beinn Mhor. The route takes the gentler ridge on the left skyline.

Image by Roger Coppock

Ben Starav from the Glen Etive road; 9th May 2008.

Image by Roger Vander Steen

The western slopes of Ben Starav, seen from the head of Loch Etive.

Image by David S Brown

Route Area Map

Legend

Munro

Corbett

Graham

English/Welsh Top

Accommodation

A selection of local accommodation options who advertise with Munromagic.com.

Where to Stay

We currently have no
sponsored accommodation listings for this area.

Rating & Reviews

Rating & Reviews

Rated:

from 7 votes

Click Stars to Vote
Your Rating

Written by Sc Joss on 19 May 2010:

The house at Coleitr is now fenced in and you have to go round. A bit boggy but there are signs but may be better to follow advice below re. going SW. We climbed up the ridge to Meall nan Tir Tighanean then dropped our rucksacks to ascend GBM. Out to BnA again dropping rucksacks, before tackling Ben Starav. This makes for quite a lot of re-ascent to get to the top of Ben satarav but you get good views and a nice walk by approaching the ridge this way. It is a long day though! Took us 10.5 hours at a moderate pace.

Written by David Harbottle on 28 May 2008:

A good classic route - but if you're up for it I suggest you add Beinn nan Aigenan to your day, if you need it.

Written by Craig Dunderdale on 01 May 2006:

I did this on 13/04/06 on snow above 600m with it raining and gale force winds sufficient to lift me (15 stones) off the floor and tear my map case containing my map from me at Beinn nan Aighenan. Very tiring and very challenging day but you would be mad not to do Beinn nan Aighenan at the same time. The route is obvious, after Colletir look for the sign marked hill track pointing west and the walk down from Glas Bheinn Mhor is a little wet but very pleasant.

Written by Alan Wilson on 12 Aug 2004:

At Coileitin cottage (NN139465) there's a wooden sign marked 'Hill track' and points left (SE) up the lower slopes of Beinn Chaorach. Don't be fooled- ignore this sign! This path takes you to marshy ground with a deer fence to climb and then ( in June ) you'll be shoulder deep in bracken. The track to the right (SW) along the River Etive is the real track to follow.

Written by Frances Kinnon on 25 Jul 2003:

This hill was summited together with Glas Bheinn Mhor in April 2002. We were blessed with a clear crisp spring day, no wind which only added to this fantastic walk. From memory there isn't much to see but just being there that makes you feel fantastic!

Disclaimer. The details provided above are an aid to planning an expedition, but all distances, altitudes and bearings must be considered approximate. You must navigate with the appropriate map, a compass, your navigation skills and common sense, MunroMagic.com accept no responsibility for your interpretation of our route information.

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