Meall Sgallachd from Glen Ogle

[U059361]

Participants: Isabel and Joe
Weather: Overcast, low cloud but sightings of sun through it
Route: new quad bike track then open hillside
Wildlife: Pair of buzzards
Special Interest: Old railway
Weather didn't look like it would be good high up, so we decided to go lower and try a new hill to us.
Parked the car at top of Glen Ogle on layby on the left hand side of road next to old railway. We walked over the railway bridge (just because we could) and picked up the quad bike track climbing up the hillside beside the forestry plantation. Took us up almost to end of trees before it cut across the hillside away from where we wanted to climb up the hill, so left it and walked beyond the end of the trees. There are crags here and we want to be above them so we picked a route just above the trees. A coffee here to get us ready to rough it. Went to the right of a big dome of rock and trees (we came back down on other side, it would be easier) and worked our way up the crags. Mostly heather with plenty of wet moss too but nothing to stop us getting up to the side of the hill.

Looking back down to Lochan Lairig Cheile at top of Glen Ogle from the top edge of crags

Had our lunch before ascending the last bit as it had taken us a while to work our way up through unfamiliar hillside. Once up on the north facing slope, stuck reasonably close to edge to make navigation easier. Cloud coming and going at this level. We got to the top and had a look round. Waited in wind and cloud in hope it might clear. It did attempt it a few times but then came down hard.

Small cairn at top in the cloud

Looking down into Glen Kendrum from top (a brief look)

The lochan coming off the top (just managed to take it before it disappeared)

So we eventually walked back down. With some idea of route, we took half the time to get back down. Of course it cleared from top as we got back. But it was a good adventure given the weather.

The hill, the crags, the dome on the right and the last tree of plantation