Beinn Uird

[colinwatson]

At last - a bright day! Up and away early, to arrive at Rowardennan around 8.30 on a very cold, crisp morning.

Rowardennan pier

Paid my three quid to park the car. It's a pity that after all of the campaigning for National Parks, all we seem to have are parking charges and draconian bye laws banning wild camping.........

Set off up the Ben Lomond path - it was quite strange to have such a popular path to myself. As usual, it took me 15 minutes to get into my stride, but I was rewarded with great views right from the start.

Looking north, past Ptarmigan

Once out of the forest, I was in the sunshine and could watch a pair of buzzards.

Looking north to the Cobbler

Inverbeg and Glen Douglas

I left the Ben Lomond path at the junction with the path leading to the Trossachs. This path is a figment of the cartographer's imagination! Hoiwever, it was quite easy going to follow the line of it towards Moin Each. The cold weather made the underfoot conditions much easier than they might otherwise have been. I then began to make my way over Elrig to the north ridge of Beinn Uird.

Ben Lomond from Elrig

As I made my way uphill, the views to the north were opening out impressively.

The Arrochar Alps

It's a very gentle slope all of the way to the summit and once there the 360 degree panorama was brilliant.

The Crianlarich hills from the summit

Conic hill and the bottom of Loch Lomond

View to the north

To give a circular walk, I descended by the west side of the hill to the track that leads to Blairvockie Farm. I hadn't stayed too long at the top as there was a bitingly cold north west wind. As I made my way down, the views to the south end of Loch Lomond really opened out.

The islands at the south of Loch Lomond

As on the ascent, I was glad that the cold conditions made the ground firm - I think that this would be a very frustrating hill on a wet summer day!

The Dubh Lochan and Loch Lomond

The going became even easier once I gained the track.

The south end of Loch Lomond from the track.

I was able to end the walk on the section of the West Highland Way running parallel to the road.

Another lovely day out - good to see the sun at last!

[Alteknacker]

As you say: nice to see the sun out! But it does look like it was pretty cold...