Glencoe is a truly stunning region of the Scottish Highlands, introduced by the towering and staggeringly beautiful Buachaille Etive Mor. The big hitters keep on coming: to the north is the infamous Aonach Eagach ridge, the most demanding on the mainland; to the south is the Bidean Nam Bian massif, complete with Glencoe's highest peak and The Three Sisters; and to the west is marvelously named Hill of the Thunderbolt or Beinn a'Bheithir (to give it its correct Gaelic title) - just as dramatic as its name suggests.

 

This was my first visit to Glencoe, strange coincidence meant that it was on the 325th anniversary of the Glencoe Massacre - the famous betrayal of hospitality which saw William III's soldiers murder thirty-eight members of Clan MacDonald for not being prompt enough when pledging allegiance. On our day in Glencoe, conditions were not favourable, so we decided not to climb any of the headline acts but instead opted for the Buachaille Etive Beag and the Munro of Stob Coire Raineach at 925 metres. We had a splendidly challenging time in the clouds.