Glen Coe and Glen Etive

Glen Coe and Glen Etive are some of the most stunning and moody places I've ever been to. Everytime I go there I'm awestruck by the magnificent beauty of this area. The light changes the entire landscape of this place and it can go from a mass of rainbows and golden rocks one minute to a mysterious foggy underworld the next. Glen Coe remains elusive at every turn and it seems an impossible task to catch its mood on camera.

Probably the most recognisable and famous part of this area is Buachaille Etive Mor. A triangular shaped mountain which marks the beginning of Glen Coe (according to me — not sure where it starts officially, sorry!). If you turn off down a single track road just as you approach Buachaille Etive Mor on the A82 (going North) you'll find yourself on a journey down a road that leads to nowhere. Nowhere but the most magical place in Scotland that I've seen, that is. Glen Etive.

The single-track road through Glen Etive winds its way through a series of mountains, following the path of a small stream and leads to Loch Etive. Here, there is no further you can go by car and you'll have to turn around again, but you won't want to leave. It's too pretty. All through this glen are red deer roaming freely across the road, along the stream and up the mountains. There are also grouse, if you're quick enough to spot them!

Back on the road to Glen Coe, you'll just know when you've reached the Pap of Glen Coe (pictured top left). It rises up seemingly out of nowhere, after a passage of flat bog land around Rannoch Moor, and the shape of the mountains reminds me of melting ice-cream scoops.

Narelle and Yves in Glen Coe

Loch Etive, Glen Coe

Glen Coe

Buachaille Etive Mor

Glen Etive