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After slowly recovering these past few months from a year of being very unwell, I have been more determined than ever to start ticking some of the beautiful mountains in Scotland off my list. Based on my current level of fitness I made a decision to ascend Ben Venue, it was a good decision.
We started around 11.15am leaving from the Ben Venue car park at Loch Achray, the weather was cool and dry. Looking at the board it wasnt too clear to me which route to take from the car park, so I used a little common sense, which was surprising for me, and decided to take the route which was closest to the mountain. After a little confusion we finally came across a sign for the mountain and from there were able to determine where we were on the map.
When we finally made our way through the wooded trail we made our way to the next part of the path, which views were not what I had expected, the landscape is covered in the rubbish left behind from deforestation.
Past the works of deforestation the trail twisted round to the right where we entered a beautiful valley, something a camera just wont pick up like our eyes do.
Then the real ascent began, a few quick snaps at the waterfall first though.
The climb up was difficult at first, I hadnt used my legs that way in a while and it was a little slippy but we pushed on and by 2.00 we made it to the summit. We sat down for 20 minutes or so and had a well needed bite to eat while gazing over the loch at Ben A'an, the views were far better shall we say, than the typical views of a Tuesday lunch.
By the time we finished up the mist started to come over the mountain which was our cue to head back down.
The way back down was sore on the knees, there was a burning feeling from my ankles up which I only took as a good thing as it meant by body was getting used to it again. The rain had started. A little slip caused a bump to my right knee which meant all my weight was being held by my left leg.
Minus the occasional fall and bruised right knee we made it back to the car park at 4.30, it was time for the 1.5 hour drive home, my legs didnt feel up to it especially approaching rush hour. The mountain wasnt easy but it was a good challenge for me and now I know Im able to do more, Ben Venue is now ticked off my list, it was rugged and boggy and had a lot of character to it, and was a great mountain for me to start off with and a great way to spend a Tuesday off work.
