• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to footer

ZigZagonEarth

Plan unforgettable road trips!

  • FRANCE
    • CORSICA
    • NORMANDY
    • PARIS
  • EUROPE
    • ANDALUCIA
    • CANARY ISLANDS
    • CRETE
    • ICELAND
    • ICELAND WINTER
    • MADEIRA
    • MALLORCA
    • MENORCA
    • PORTUGAL
    • SANTORINI
    • SCOTLAND
    • SLOVENIA
  • REST OF WORLD
    • NEW ZEALAND
    • OMAN
  • TIPS
  • EBOOKS
  • SHOP
  • ABOUT
  • English
    • Dutch
    • Italian
    • Danish
    • Portuguese (Portugal)
    • Swedish

Photographing Buachaille Etive Mor (in Glencoe Scotland)

Last updated on November 22, 2023 by Claire Robinson - this article contains affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I get a small commission (more)

Located in the dramatic region of Glencoe, Buachaille Etive Mor is one of the most photographed mountains in Scotland.
The main reason: one side is shaped like a pyramid and displays beautiful colors all year-round.
Below are some indications of the best places to photograph Buachaille Etive Mor.

Before my tips + photos, here are my favorites for Scotland:

My favorite platform to rent a car in Scotland: DiscoverCars

The unmissable boat tour: Seal spotting on Loch Linnhe from Fort William

My favorite excursion from Edinburgh: Glenfinnan and Glencoe

My favorite places to stay:

  • Edinburgh: see best rated hotels – e.g. Balmoral Hotel
  • Glencoe: see best rated hotels – e.g. The Glencoe House Hotel
  • Portree: see best rated hotels – e.g. The Cuillin Hills Hotel
  • Inverness: see best rated hotels – e.g. Kingsmills Hotel
Buachaille Etive Mor Glencoe Scotland
Content
Buachaille Etive Mor – video
PLANNING TIPS – Buachaille Etive Mor (Glencoe, Scotland)
Buachaille Etive Mor from the road
From the side road to the Glencoe Mountain Resort
Photos of Buachaille Etive Mor from the drive to Glen Etive
Red deers at Kings House Hotel
The famous Glencoe mountain ridge from the West side
Where to stay near Buachaille Etive Mor Glencoe

Buachaille Etive Mor – video

Admiring the 1022-meter high Munro of Buachaille Etive Mòr is one of the top things to do in Glencoe. Even if you don’t plan for it, when you drive through the area your eyes will not be able to look elsewhere. It is like a magnet of beauty. I consider it one of the Must-Sees in Scotland.

Its name means the Great Herdsman of Etive as it stands at the entrance to one of the best roads in Scotland: Glen Etive and its river.

Let’s start with a short video to give you a feeling of the place and the mountain:

PLANNING TIPS – Buachaille Etive Mor (Glencoe, Scotland)

Getting to Buachaille Etive Mor

  • Located in the heart of the Glencoe protected area
  • 15-minute drive East on A82 from the town of Glencoe
  • 2h drive from Glasgow, 2h30 from Edinburgh

All the best views on the drive through Glencoe (with GPS coordinates) are included in my travel guides. They help you easily plan your Scotland itinerary: 

Plan your dream trip to Scotland with my guides!
  • 15 easy-to-plan maps
  • 170+ pre-selected locations
  • GPS coordinates 
  • Useful planning tips
  • 170+ large photos 
Discover it
  • 8 easy-to-plan maps
  • 60+ pre-selected locations
  • Useful planning tips
  • 115+ large photos 
  • GPS coordinates 
Discover it

Visit Tips

  • The mountain is visible from road A82 which goes through Glencoe
  • See each paragraph below for the GPS coordinates of all the places from where I photographed it
  • Toilets at the Glencoe Ski Resort and at the Kings House Hotel

Hiking Buachaille Etive

  • Buachaille Etive Mor can be hiked. It is one of the famous Scottish Munroes
  • It takes 6 to 9 hours and is very steep.
  • However, I am not a big hiker, so I will refer you to another website for that. Check here for more details about the hike

Buachaille Etive Mor from the road

As you drive westbound on A82 through Glen Coe, the one mountain that stands out is Etive Mor. Its sight is mesmerizing. But don’t forget to still focus on your driving!!! I was lucky that was not the case and could watch its details becoming sharper as we approached.

Buachaille Etive Mor - from the road

As you turn on A82, there is a moment when you hold your breath as Etive Mor appears in the distance: 

Buachaille Etive Mor - from the distance 1
Buachaille Etive Mor - from the distance 2
Need to rent a car in Scotland?

My tips:

  • Compare prices on my favorite platform:  Discovercars.com – one of the best rated comparison sites!
  • Prefer a compact car for the single-lane roads
  • Consider their full coverage option – it for peace of mind! 
  • Book early to have a large choice of vehicles!

See all my tips

See available cars

From the side road to the Glencoe Mountain Resort

As you turn to drive the road up to the Glencoe Ski resort, stop at the intersection near the road signs. Below is a river with orange rocks that make a perfect foreground.

Not only is Buachaille Etive Mor stunning, but the surrounding scenery complements it very well.

Buachaille Etive Mor - from the Ski resort road 1
Buachaille Etive Mor - from the Ski resort road 2
Buachaille Etive Mor - from the Ski resort road 4
Buachaille Etive Mor - from the Ski resort road 5
Buachaille Etive Mor - from the Ski resort road 6
I don’t drink coffee

But I also like other drinks and sweets!
Do you like the free content you find on my blog? All my tips and practical information, without intrusive advertising…

Claire, I pay you a coffee!

Photos of Buachaille Etive Mor from the drive to Glen Etive

The most famous stop on A82 to photograph Etive Mor is the beginning of the road to Glen Etive. There you are quite close to the mountain. However, you will be surrounded by other people photographing it and people might end up on your shots…

If you have time, I strongly recommend doing the Glen Etive drive. It is one of the best drives in Scotland. But you need at least 3 hours to enjoy it and relax a little at Loch Etive.

Buachaille Etive Mor - from the Glen Etive road 1
Buachaille Etive Mor - from the Glen Etive road 2
Buachaille Etive Mor - from the Glen Etive road 3

Red deers at Kings House Hotel

After all that, you might want to get a coffee or lunch. Nearby is the Kings House Hotel. Even if you don’t want anything, they have a group of red deers just at the front of the hotel which are being fed regularly. Quite an enjoyable sight with the mountains behind

Buachaille Etive Mor - from the Kings House Hotel with deers 1
Buachaille Etive Mor - from the Kings House Hotel with red deers 2
Buachaille Etive Mor - from the Kings House Hotel with red deers 3
Buachaille Etive Mor - from the Kings House Hotel with red deers 4
Buachaille Etive Mor - from the Kings House Hotel  6

The famous Glencoe mountain ridge from the West side

The best side of the mountain is the one facing East as it looks like a pyramid. Once you drive past it, you can stop at the carpark for Buachaille Etive Beag (another pyramid shaped mountain but not as pretty). And from there you can see the Side facing West of Buachaille Etive Mor.

Buachaille Etive Mor - west side from Buachaille Etive Beag

Where to stay near Buachaille Etive Mor Glencoe

If you want to stay nearby to be able to photograph the mountain under various conditions, head to the small town of Glencoe only 15min away.
Check out accommodation options in Glencoe.

Where to stay in Scotland?

My favorites:

  • Edinburgh to explore the fascinating city – see best-rated accommodations
  • Portree to explore the isle of Skye – see best rated accommodations
  • Glencoe to take time in the magnificent valley – see best rated accommodations
  • Ullapool for the West coast on the North 500 – see best rated accommodations
  • Thurso for the North coast + ferry – see best rated accommodations
  • Kirkwall to explore the Orkneys – see best rated accommodations
  • Inverness for the Speyside whiskies – see best rated accommodations
See our article on where to stay
Accommodation in Scotland

Other highlights to discover in the region of Glencoe 

  • The drive on A82 through Glencoe Valley – read article
  • Glen Etive and Loch Etive – read article
  • The short walk of Glencoe Lochan – read article
  • The tour of the Loch Leven – read article
  • Hike around or on the Munros
  • Go fishing

And keep track of your own trip!

Scotland road trip Journal

Want to see more of SCOTLAND?

PREVIOUS: 

A82 through GLEN COE SCOTLAND

NEXT: 

GLEN ETIVE AND LOCH ETIVE

Travel Scotland Destination Guide

Inspired? Share it on your favorite platform!

Footer

  • English
  • Nederlands
  • Italiano
  • Dansk
  • Português
  • Svenska

Par Claire Robinson
Region Lovers SARL
76600 Le Havre
FRANCE
VAT FR21845103191

CONTACT ME

Search

Follow ZigZag on Facebook

Follow ZigZag on Pinterest

Website in French: ZigZagvoyages.fr

Website in German: ZigZagreisen.de

Website in Spanish: ZigZagviajes.com

And discover the French regions:

Normandielovers.fr
LoireLovers.fr
CorsicaLovers.fr
Provencelovers.fr

 

Privacy / Terms of Use / Disclosure Policies / Refund policy

Become an affiliate for the ZigZag road trip guides

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. ZigZagOnEarth.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com, Amazon.uk and Amazon.ca

Copyright © 2025 ZigZag On Earth · Log in

If you continue browsing this site you agree with the use of cookies in this website.OkRead more