Lochaber
Glen Etive — Walking Guide
Glen Etive runs south from Glencoe through one of the most remote-feeling glens in mainland Scotland.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:25
- Sunset
- 21:08
- Civil dawn
- 04:38
- Civil dusk
- 21:55
NOAA Solar Calculator · 5 May 2026
About Glen Etive
Glen Etive runs south from Glencoe through one of the most remote-feeling glens in mainland Scotland. A single-track road follows the River Etive to Loch Etive — 18km with no turning points and barely any habitation. The Munros surrounding the glen are among the most remote and least-visited in the southern Highlands.
Getting there
Single-track road from the A82 at Kings House Hotel (turn signed 'Glen Etive'). No public transport. Limited parking at informal spots through the glen. Allow 30–45 minutes to drive the full glen length.
When to go
Glen Etive is exceptionally quiet compared to nearby Glencoe — it was used as a James Bond filming location precisely because it looks completely untouched. Wild swimming is best in July and August when the river is warm enough (12–15°C) and the pools are at their finest. Midges are a serious consideration June–August in the sheltered glen bottom — bring a head net. The Munros here (Ben Starav, Beinn Ceitlein, Buachaille Etive Beag) are best May–October. In spring, the River Etive runs spectacular white water through the gorges. Autumn colours (October) are excellent against the dark Rannoch Moor backdrop.
Highlights
- Stob Dubh (Buachaille Etive Beag)
- Beinn Ceitlein
- wild swimming in River Etive (multiple pools)
- Ben Starav at the head of Loch Etive
Hills in and around Glen Etive
| Hill | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| Beinn Mhic Chasgaig | corbett | 864m |
| Stob Ghabhar | munro | 1089m |
| Creise | munro | 1099m |
| Meall a' Bhuiridh | munro | 1107m |
| Meall nan Eun | munro | 928m |
| Stob a' Choire Odhair | munro | 945m |
| Stob Dubh | corbett | 883m |
| Buachaille Etive Mor - Stob na Broige | munro | 953m |
| Buachaille Etive Mor - Stob Dearg | munro | 1021m |
| Stob Coir' an Albannaich | munro | 1044m |
| Buachaille Etive Beag - Stob Dubh | munro | 956m |
| Buachaille Etive Beag - Stob Coire Raineach | munro | 924m |
| Beinn Suidhe | graham | 676m |
| Glas Bheinn Mhor | munro | 997m |
| Stob Coire Sgreamhach | munro | 1072m |
| Beinn a' Chrulaiste | corbett | 857m |
| Beinn Maol Chaluim | corbett | 906m |
| Bidean nam Bian | munro | 1149m |
Frequently asked questions
- Where are the best wild swimming pools in Glen Etive?
- The River Etive has natural pools throughout the glen — the most accessible are around the first few kilometres from the A82 junction. The Etive Mor waterfall area (about 5km down the glen) has excellent deep pools. Further in, near Invercharnan farm, there are sheltered pools used by locals. Park at any of the informal laybys and explore on foot. Water temperature peaks at about 15°C in July.
- Is Glen Etive road suitable for normal cars?
- The single-track road is passable by standard cars but it is genuinely narrow in places and extends 18km to a dead end at Loch Etive. Passing places are frequent but you must be comfortable reversing on a single-track road. Campervans and motorhomes can be difficult to pass. The road is sometimes used for cycling events — check for closures.
- What film was shot in Glen Etive?
- Glen Etive appeared prominently in the James Bond film Skyfall (2012) — the glen featured in the sequence where Bond drives the Aston Martin DB5 north to the Skyfall Lodge, which was a fictional location built on the moor. The distinctive Buachaille Etive Mor is clearly visible in the film. The glen is also featured in The Dark Isle (2014) and various BBC Scotland productions.
- Is wild camping permitted in Glen Etive?
- Yes — Glen Etive falls under the Scottish Outdoor Access Code and wild camping is permitted on unenclosed land away from the road and properties. The glen is one of the most popular wild camping destinations in the southern Highlands because of the scenery and isolation. Please follow Leave No Trace principles: no open fires on the riverbanks, carry all waste out, and move camp every 1–2 nights.