Bidean nam Bian

About Bidean nam Bian

Hidden behind the iconic ‘Three Sisters’ of Glen Coe, this complex massif is the highest point in Argyll. It offers a rugged, alpine experience, requiring a steep ascent through the Lost Valley or the ridges of Stob Coire nan Lochan to reach a sprawling, rock-shattered summit of immense scale.

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• •Derived from the Scottish Gaelic Bidean nam Beann, the name is most commonly translated as the 'Peak of the Mountains.' However, some linguists suggest a link to the Gaelic word 'bian,' meaning 'pelts' or 'skins,' which may refer to the mountain’s historical importance as a hunting ground for deer.
• •While the 'Three Sisters of Glencoe'—Gearr Aonach, Aonach Dubh, and Beinn Fhada—are the stars of most photographs taken from the A82 road, they are actually just the northern spurs of the Bidean nam Bian massif. The true summit remains concealed from the glen floor by these massive buttresses.
• •The mountain cradles Coire Gabhail, known as the 'Lost Valley.' This high, flat-bottomed hanging valley was famously used by the Clan Macdonald of Glencoe to hide rustled cattle; its entrance is effectively hidden from the main glen by a chaotic jumble of massive boulders left by a prehistoric rockfall.
• •During the 1692 Massacre of Glencoe, many members of the Macdonald clan attempted to escape the government soldiers by fleeing into the high, steep corries of Bidean nam Bian. Many of those who avoided the musket perished from exposure in the high passes while trying to reach safety in Glen Etive.
• •The summit offers a spectacular perspective on the local geography, looking directly across the depths of Glen Coe to the sharp, narrow ridge of the Aonach Eagach. To the south, the view opens up over the 'Great Wilderness' toward the remote peaks of Ben Starav and the Black Mount.
• •The standard descent via the Bealach Dearg involves a notoriously steep chute of loose red scree. It is essentially a vertical sand-dune that allows for a very rapid—if somewhat undignified—descent, provided you don't mind finishing the walk with half a pound of grit in each boot.
• •For those looking to extend the day, the neighbouring Munro of Stob Coire Sgreamhach is easily reached via the Bealach Dearg. It provides a dizzying, direct view down the full length of Glen Etive that many find even more dramatic than the view from the main summit.