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Stob Dubh (Buachaille Etive Beag)
Yes, I know Buachaille Etive Mor is bigger. Yes, I know Buachaille Etive Mor impresses anyone approaching Glen Coe from the south, with its formidable conical shape and especially its frontal position. It's an essential part of Glen Coe. But the big herdsman is not an easy Munro to climb. Its smaller brother is (well, for a Munro it is). Moreover, 'smaller' is rather relative, because really, it's not that big a difference. They are lying right next to one another and are rather similar in shape. And on top of the smaller sibling you are offered some spectacular views of the surrounding scenery (weather allowed of course). So don't look down upon Buachaille Etive Beag. Look up, climb it and enjoy the views.
Glen Coe has several parking spaces. You need to start at the car park opposite the 'Beehive' cairn. 
But that may not be easy to find. It's easier to count the car parks and pick the right one like that. It's the same one that will guide you to Glen Etive, which is another fine walk. For those allergic to height but in need of fine views, walk through the Lairig Eilde glen up to a vantage point (you can't miss it), where you can get magnificent views of Glen Etive.
Buachaille Etive Beag has two Munros. The first one you see is Stob Coire Raineach which is connected by a bealach with Stob Dubh. Don't confuse this Stob Dubh with a Corbett directly south of Buachaille Etive Beag, which is listed as 'Stob Dubh (Beinn Ceitlein)'. Hence the fact that it is always written in full: Stob Dubh (Buachaille Etive Beag). The picture on the left is Stob Coire Raineach taken from the bealach.
Start the walk from the car park. At first you share the path to Glen Etive, but when it forks, keep to the left, following which you will head straight for the middle of Buachaille Etive Beag. The small herdsman has steep sides on both sides of each glen, but this side has a renovated path with stone steps all the way up the bealach. It's still steep, with big and irregular steps, but it's a decent path (and some of us do insist on paths).
On top of the bealach, go to the right. As you may see from the first picture on top (or posted below again), or the one to the right, there is a bump in-between the two Munros: point 902. The picture is towards Stob Dubh, the one to the right towards Stob Coire Raineach.
Just one additional thing. This image may give the impression that the ridge towards the summit is scarily narrow. It is not. Looks can be deceptive, especially from a distance. There is a comfortably wide path all the way. The last few metres do not have a path anymore, but really, it's not a scramble. It's pretty straightforward.
When we climbed Stob Dubh however, we saw absolutely nothing until we were at the top. Thick clouds prevented us from seeing anything: not Stob Dubh, not Buachaille Etive Mor, Stob Coire Sgreamach (to the west), Aonach Eagach (to the north), nothing. Which may have been a mixed blessing, because the 'scary' ridge was not visible either. Trust me: it's not as narrow as it looks.
So do persist, and when you reach the cairn, add a few metres to the climb, because the best views are seen from the back of Stob Dubh. As you can see, there's a trail where boots have preceded yours.
I admit I had to pick my moments. The climbers before me had been rewarded with no views. The view towards the west never really revealed itself, but I got stunning views of what Glen Coe and Glen Etive have to offer.
Buachaille Etive Mor.
The two siblings.
Buachaille Etive Beag with Aonach Eagach in the background.
Point 902 and Stob Coire Raineach.
Glen Etive.
Tell me this is not worth it.
Oh, just one more thing. You meet all kinds of people on Buachaille Etive Beag. We met a young boy (about 10) whose father took him on his first ever Munro. We met Munro-baggers quickly and slightly dismissively ticking off another Munro on the list (one of whom mentioned the 'tourist jungle'). We met people who had no idea where they were and what they were doing. They just parked the car and thought it was a good idea to ramble a bit.
For myself, standing on the bealach I felt fit enough to tackle the other Munro, but was barred from doing so by my other half. About an hour later, I realised she had been more than right. It is big steps taking you down the Munro, and if you are blessed with weak knees, a weak back and short in stature, those stairs take their toll. I was laughing with fatigue by the time we had reached the car park. Still, that was one grand day out. And we can do the other one the next time we're around.
Done 27 August 2017.
