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I was really looking forward to this walk , the weather report was to be favourable & as per other reports for the same day / same area it was grand . I was up nice & early 5am
& away at 545am via Tillicoultry to pick up Steven. We stopped in at Mc D `s in Balloch at 7am for a coffee ,arriving at Loch Long soon after.
There were 2 other cars in the car park , a quick hi to some guys getting prepped & we off just after 8am. There was a wee nip in the air , although you knew things would soon improve & heat up .We crossed the road taking the main route marked for The Cobbler , after a wee bit of zig zagging up we turned right once we hit the rough track , continuing along untill we saw the post indicating where to turn left , up along the course of the old concrete foundation pylon blocks , this was a bit wet but nothing too drastic. Looking back over Loch Long to Arrochar a mist / har / low cloud formed over the water.
Starting in early light.
As we climbed steadily a trully fabulous cloud inversion covered practically all of the area below us. I took many wonderful pictures , a few posted on here . Ben Lomond looked pretty awesome .
Although still earlyish the sun was soon pounding away , despite being late on in the year it was now warm , no doubt the hard work climbing added to the heat.So jackets & fleeces off now , it was short sleeves for the present
The rocky area up beside the old pylon blocks gave way to boggy areas , quite wet at times & muddy too. But always gaining height with GREAT views all around now.
The Cobbler came into view , it was quite different seeing it close up & at height.
Approaching the Spearhead the route was easy to follow & offered no problems at all - even to Oskar who always enjoys his days out on the hills.
Towards the summitt of Narnain the clag closed in and it chilled a wee bit , so tops & jackets back on once more. At the trig we chatted to a guy who stormed up the pathway leading to the cobbler & then onto Narnain in 1 hr 20 mins !!!!!!
He took the photo below , then we parted , he said a large group 60 + ?? Of scouts were doing the Cobbler / Narnain so he hadn`t bothered going up the Cobbler due to the numbers. As we made towards the bealach it cleared quite a bit again & we could see Beinn Ime - it looked vast & far away .
Continuing we met various folk coming down from Ime , a lot of them commented that it was the wettest hill they`d been on. It was a bit wet but not too horrific. The climb up Beinn Ime seemed to go on forever , but the views were worth it , at the summit it was lunch / break time. Deep joy.
We sheltered in the summit "howf " saying hi to fellow climbers , including the young guy with his dad that Pigeon mentioned in his walk report. Break over we plodded back down to the bealach towards the Cobbler. I was determined to do it , however if i`d left it for another day i think my walking partner ( also Steven ) wouldn`t have complained.
This IS a big day out - in my opinion.
On leaving Beinn Ime the clag again came down , although it was to clear again later on . Down again to the bealach & up the excellent steps to the Cobbler .
I was feeling the pace now , but it was sunny & not cold still very much a fine day.The Cobbler was still quite busy & on topping out the mist again came down.I`d decided to climb up onto the stack, so over through the window , on the wee ledge and up i went. On reaching the top Steven took some photos & i toasted my success with a wee nip of something .
Ime from the Cobbler
and again
Narnain from Cobbler
Once off , Steven went up too & i also took his photo too. Time was now marching on , it had been a long ,full day.I finished the last of my coffee & we made our way down the steps to the very decent pathway.
light beginning to fade as we start out on the pathway down & out
Making our way out passing the huge Narnain Boulders. From the top of the Cobbler it took us 1 hr 40 mins to the car in the car park.The last photo shows the moon rising over Arrochar - the last 15 - 20 mins were walked in near dark , but we didn`t use head torches as we knew we hadn`t too far to go.
Back at the car park it was very quiet , the 3 hills had been very busy but most folk had since left for home , only 2 / 3 cars remained , with 1 group behind us who had been on Ime
Once changed at the car park , we nipped into the Ben Athur pub in Arrochar for a quick pint before heading home. Overall a great day out in good conditions