Ben Starav

Rising steeply from the head of Loch Etive, this formidable Munro is defined by its massive, sprawling granite ridges and rugged, boulder-strewn slopes. It offers one of the most physically demanding ascents in Argyll, rewarding climbers with a truly alpine feel and spectacular coastal views across the sea lochs.

• •The name is derived from the Scottish Gaelic Beinn Starabh, which is generally translated as 'Mountain of the Rustling.' This likely refers to the sound of loose stones and scree shifting on its steep upper slopes.
• •Its geology is dominated by granite, which creates a rough, blocky terrain more typical of the Cairngorms or the Northwest Highlands than its immediate neighbours in the southern Grampians.
• •From the summit, you can look directly down the long reach of Loch Etive towards the Atlantic; on a clear day, the distinctive silhouettes of the Paps of Jura are often visible on the southwestern horizon.
• •It is frequently climbed as part of a multi-Munro circuit, connecting via a high col to Glas Bheinn Mhòr, though the initial 1,000-metre climb from the glen floor makes this a notoriously strenuous outing.
• •The mountain's primary descent route is a masterclass in friction, providing a thorough test of how much your knees actually like you as you negotiate 800 metres of unrelenting granite slopes back to the River Etive.