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Loch Etive
In many ways more like a Norwegian fjord than a Scottish loch, Loch Etive is nearly landlocked. But a narrow neck not far from Oban permits its outlet to the Atlantic, making Etive officially a sea loch.
Carved out of the former volcanic landscape by glaciers during the Ice Age, Loch Etive extends southwest from Europe’s only seawater falls (the Falls of Lora) at Connel Bridge (a small version of the famed Forth Bridge) deep into the Highlands two-thirds of the way to Glen Coe. Indeed, the glacier carved a valley—Glen Etive—all the way to Glen Coe. Glen Etive can be hiked all the way from Glen Coe to the loch’s outlet at Connel Bridge.
It’s the upper 15 miles of Loch Etive that are really fascinating; and, although there are no roads through this dramatic valley, you don’t have to be a long-distance hiker to explore this foreboding Scottish landscape as a cruise boat tours Loch Etive from Easter into October. From the loch you can see herds of deer grazing along the shore, a soaring eagle and colonies of seals on rocky islets in the loch.
Loch Etive Cruises give visitors a chance to see for themselves this little known loch. The mountain landscape rears up on either side - 1126m-high Ben Cruachan to the east and beyond Glen Kinglass this eastern side of the loch is dominated by Ben Starav, reaching a height of 1078m.
But more impressive by far is Beinn Trilleachan. Overshadowing the west side of upper Loch Etive, this is a "mere" 839m in height. But it sweeps up from the edge of the loch so dramatically it looks far taller. And the impression of height is enhanced by the rocky nature of its upper slopes. The highlight here is the Trilleachan Slabs: flat slabs of rock on which, if you remembered your binoculars, you can often see climbers finding the hard way up the mountain.
The north end of Loch Etive is dominated by the view up Glen Etive to the twin mountains of Buachaille Etive Mor and, to its west, Buachaille Etive Beag. The north ends of these twin ridges dominate the upper parts of Glen Coe, but from the south they appear as twin green cones.
Whether you are looking for mountains, seals, deer or simply the whole Loch Etive experience, you won’t be disappointed by this wonderful place.
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