Beinn Each, a nice winter test

[Beaner001]

We had booked a cottage at Crieff Hydro for the week and I was allowed one day for hillwalking. Laura my wife has done a few Munros with me, however she does not like ascents and prefers low level walking/running so I tend to be with mates, my dad or solo when I go hill walking. I had been studying the weather for the whole week so as to pick the best day. Thursday I felt would give the best chance of cloud free summits and my aim had been to do a couple of the Crianlarich Munros but the weather looked too unpredictable for long spells so I chose a cracking wee Corbett that would hopefully mean I was not on the hill very long given the recent snow fall.

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I left the cottage and was at the layby before the farm at Ardchullerie on the banks of Loch Lubnaig within 30 mins. Walked up the road and passed the shed on the left taking me on a wee path up through the trees.

Pleading up behind the shed with the double doors

There were signs stating small scale forestry work was going on but the weather had obviously knocked that on the head. It looked like I was going to be alone on the hill today.

Heading up through the dense forestry

Meeting the main forestry track

Cross a stream and keep going up through the trees and you pop out on the landrover track. Turn left along the track and keep heading up the Glen through a big gate where you leave the forestry behind.

Coming up to the set of gates where you leave the forestry behind

Sign after going through the gates

Tree covered Hillside North of Glen Ample, looking majestic in the snow

Track heading up Glen Ample

Eventually you come to a sign that indicates the way forward to Loch Earn, Back to Loch Lubnaig and off right to the hill path. I took the hill path through some reeds and onto the open hill side where I spotted around a hundred deer. What a sight it was seeing them make short work of the terrain when it took me all my effort to get ten feet.

Deer in the distance

There must be a hundred of them going up over the hillside

The snow was hellish deep in places and as soon as the gradient steepened it was slippy and I wished I had taken my micro spikes. Luckily I had changed over to the four season boots which had good grip. It was tiring making slow progress in the snow and we took a stop to let a snow storm pass as moving in it was hard.

Waiting on a snow storm passing

Lochy

Looking back over to the North of Glen Ample

Once it passed we made our way higher, picking the best line over the hill where the drifts were not too deep, a couple of times I sunk in up to waist. I had borrowed one of my dad’s walking poles and this greatly helped my cause. I had to take a stop and empty snow and ice out of my boot after plunging into a wee stream the snow had camouflaged. A number of stops were taken to remove all the snow balls off the dogs hair, this must have been a tad annoying for them but they never complained or showed signs of distress. Shortly after this the skies opened up a bit and I saw the summit ahead, I found the path here again and it was an easy stroll up to the tiny summit cairn. A few photos and we were on our way as the wind was really chilly.

Dogs on the small summit cairn

Another Snow ball removal stop

Another Snow ball removal stop

We followed the path all the way this time and it was easier on the knees going down in the soft snow.

Looking back to Loch Lubnaig and over to Ben Ledi

Follow the fence posts down

Snow getting deep in places

Ben Ledi with sun breaking through

The sign we turned right at onto the open hillside earlier

Forestry North of Glen Ample

And Again

We reached the landrover track and were back in the car just as another snow storm hit. I think the testing conditions made this Corbett a bit more exciting than it may have otherwise been but I’d much rather be out in the hills than not and this one fit the bill for the conditions and time available. Really enjoyed myself. Dogs obviously did too

[Collaciotach]

Nice one ..the dogs look just grand

[litljortindan]

Amazing picture of the deer. Sounds like a minor epic with the waist deep snow, hidden stream and dogs' ears looking like wind socks in one of the pics. Yes, sometimes you just have to go walking if it's what you like to do.

[Huff_n_Puff]

Oh, nice one there - looks a great day out and the dogs looked to be having a ball

(Seriously though had to censor that last pic - we'd have had a rebellion here if B&B had got sight of a dog asleep on an armchair )

[Beaner001]

Nice one ..the dogs look just grand

Great wee hill Colla to get up if your passing and don't have much time. Cheers

Amazing picture of the deer. Sounds like a minor epic with the waist deep snow, hidden stream and dogs' ears looking like wind socks in one of the pics. Yes, sometimes you just have to go walking if it's what you like to do.

First time I've seen that many deer and when they took off up the hill it was a wonderful sight. Gotta grab opportunities to get out on the hills with both hands when they appear

Oh, nice one there - looks a great day out and the dogs looked to be having a ball

(Seriously though had to censor that last pic - we'd have had a rebellion here if B&B had got sight of a dog asleep on an armchair )

Haha, yes Lochy got a reprieve coz he was on his holidays, he probably ended up with back ache after that sleeping position

[Sarah86]

Looks a great day out and your dogs look like they a had a wonderful time out in the snow.