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Thick fog on the drive up from Stirling.
The skies cleared just before Callander and into the bright early morning sun.
I tried to get up Benvane two years ago, it was not a good day.
After turning left at Balquidder I drove over the Stronvar bridge and then turned left again.
This was the wrong road and by the time I had worked this out it had turned into a narrow and very icy rough forest track.
I was afraid to try and turn the car round in case I slipped of the road / track.
After a very nervous three or so miles of driving I arrived back at Strathyre, rejoined the A84 and went back to Balquidder and made sure I found the correct road to Balimore farm.
I didn't make the top of Benvane that day, got as far as the small lochan halfway up and gave up because of the deep snow.
It just wasn't meant to be.
Anyway, no snow or ice today, just wall to wall sunshine.
Glen Buckie, Balquhidder in the mist by
robert irvine, on Flickr
Stob Binnein left, Ben More right by
robert irvine, on Flickr
Stob Binnein by
robert irvine, on Flickr
Glen Buckie by
robert irvine, on Flickr
Nice walk up, steep bit at the start, then a gentler rise up past the lochan, couple of boggy bits to scoot around and then a final steep bit before the summit.
There is a fence line to follow from about 600m almost right up to the summit.
Sat for a while at the top, it was lovely out of the breeze.
Lovely views north and west.
Benvane summit cairn, Ben Vorlich and Stuc a Chroin behind by
robert irvine, on Flickr
Towards Arrochar, Ben Lomond centre left by
robert irvine, on Flickr
Benvane summit cairn, Crianlarich hills behind by
robert irvine, on Flickr
Ben Venue centre, Ben Lomond right by
robert irvine, on Flickr
Ben Vorlich, Stuc a Chroin and Beinn Each. Loch Lubnaig below by
robert irvine, on Flickr
View to Strathyre and beyond by
robert irvine, on Flickr
Glen Buckie to Balquhidder, Meall Ghaordaidh far left, Tarmachan ridge far right by
robert irvine, on Flickr
Ben Vorlich, Stuc a Chroin and Beinn Each by
robert irvine, on Flickr
Meall Corranaich, Beinn Ghlas and Ben Lawers by
robert irvine, on Flickr
Tarmachan ridge by
robert irvine, on Flickr
Stob Binnein and Ben More by
robert irvine, on Flickr
Glen Buckie, Meall Ghaordaidh right by
robert irvine, on Flickr
There was a thick bank of low cloud to the east and southeast.
The tops of the Ochil hills were visible and Dumyat was like an island in the sea.
Forth Valley in fog, Dumyat like an island by
robert irvine, on Flickr
Dumyat close up by
robert irvine, on Flickr
Looked across to Ben Ledi, it was a busy summit.
Ben Ledi summit crowd by
robert irvine, on Flickr
Met a man and his daughter at the summit, along with their two dogs.
Descended by the same route and met another couple almost at the bottom, it was not a busy hill.
Cracking short walk made better by the weather.
Drove back home towards Stirling and back into the cloud.