Less famous than its neighbour Glen Coe and easily missed when heading north across Rannoch Moor, Glen Etive initially found fame in the 1995 film Braveheart and, more recently, during an iconic scene in the 23rd James Bond film.
On the side of the road that meanders 14 miles from Glen Coe to Loch Etive Bond and M share a moment on the way to Bonds childhood home.
“Orphans always make the best recruits”
Although Skyfall has brought more attention to Glen Etive - with many coming to recreate the iconic image of James and M stood side by side - it is also held in high regard amongst kayakers.
The River Etive is considered to be one of the most challenging whitewater kayaking routes in Scotland. As it runs towards Loch Etive the river provides grade 4 rapids with a range of waterfalls and pools.
The river and its various tributary streams still remained slightly frozen in places, the cold grasp of winter still holding on despite the warmth of the winter sun.
It was however not the attraction of Skyfall or Braveheart that brought us here. Neither was it the river and her rapids nor the many mountains that encompassed us drawing out kayaker and walker alike.
Instead, we were here to see one of Scotland's most iconic animals. The majestic Red Deer.
“The more I see of deer, the more I admire them as mountaineers. They make their way into the heart of the roughest solitudes with smooth reserve of strength, through dense belts of brush and forest encumbered with fallen trees and boulder piles, across canyons, roaring streams, and snow-fields, ever showing forth beauty and courage. ”
