Earlier in the year I attempted to climb the Munro, Beinn Fhionnlaidh, but snow conditions near the summit prevented the dog I had for company making further progress so I was forced to abandon the ascent. We were now back for another go.
I drove down Glen Etive, accessed from the A82 east of Glen Coe, and parked on waste ground just east of the bridge over the Allt Charnan. I then set off on foot across this bridge and onto a new entrance to the forest.
![Start of walk, across Allt Charnan then straight ahead](https://scotlandhills.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/01-Start-of-walk-across-Allt-Charnan-then-straight-ahead.jpg)
This forest track was followed until it emerged from the trees above the Allt nan Gaoirean although most of the trees to the south and west had been harvested with a new deer fence constructed.
The path down to the Allt nan Gaoirean was wet and boggy and on reaching this stream it was fairly high. I therefore walked upstream until I came to a suitable crossing point then headed across the hillside to the path that led to Meall nan Gobhar. The path then climbed north towards Beinn Fionnlaidh East Top but I later left it and headed more directly to the col to its west where I rejoined the path.
![Layers of cloud](https://scotlandhills.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/02-Layers-of-cloud.jpg)
![Ben Starav](https://scotlandhills.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/03-Ben-Starav.jpg)
![Beinn Trilleachan](https://scotlandhills.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/04-Beinn-Trilleachan.jpg)
![Beinn Fhionnlaidh](https://scotlandhills.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/05-Beinn-Fhionnlaidh.jpg)
As I ascended Beinn Fionnlaidh the cloud lowered and at the section where a short scramble was required, which the dog wouldn’t manage, I worked my way round to the left where there was traces of a path. From there I climbed to the summit of Beinn Fhionnlaidh.
With no views I returned to Meall nan Gobhar although in the low cloud I was a bit too far west so regained the path and descended to the Allt nan Gaoirean where the water level had dropped. Once across it I returned to the start. In the forest I met a woman on a quad bike taking her dog for a run.
![Herd of deer Glen Etive](https://scotlandhills.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/06-Herd-of-deer-Glen-Etive.jpg)
![Stag, Glen Etive](https://scotlandhills.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/07-Stag-Glen-Etive.jpg)
- Time taken – 6.5 hours.
- Distance – 13.5 kilometres.
- Height climbed – 1015 metres.