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Like hundreds of posts we are relishing travelling outside our own "area", Fife is nice but not very big and no REAL hills. One thing for sure (hopefully) Tumps are a thing of the past, so everyone behave yourselves and the freedom will continue.
This was the very first day that our illustrious leader was allowing us to travel anywhere in Scotland, so we had a decision to make - firstly avoid the popular hills as they would be heaving, secondly leave fairly early to ensure we would get a parking space and finally check previous photo's of Parminder to make sure we would recognise him.
Checked my blog and the last BIG hill we climbed was in September so we were a bit apprehensive and excited, would we be able to manage etc etc.
Beinn Mhanach was selected for a number of reasons, we have had a dry spell and hopefully the river crossings (lot's of them) wouldn't be a problem, the ascent figures weren't too scary for a first Munro and a nice long walk in would get the legs going. Parking is a problem at Mhanach as there is no car park and there is room for about 6 cars at the side of the road, luckily we got the last space. We have also been informed by a reliable source that there will be no parking at the road side between Tyndrum & Ballachullish. In my opinion that is even more dangerous as that would involve walkers walking at the side of the road on a busy fast moving traffic road.
We agreed to meet at our local Park & Ride at 7am with a view to being parked before 9am. The traffic heading NW was fairly steady and spotted a couple of campervans, as usual there are still plenty of road works ongoing and there were actually workmen in attendance at the previous landslip at Glen Ogle, so hopefully the traffic lights will be removed within a year or so.
Parking, busy
The big lump on the left that dominates the walk to the viaduct
The start of the long walk, nice tarmac surface
We didn't knock the bins over
A great sight for us, hardly any water in the river
First of the river crossings
River crossing demonstration
The viaduct, our target Beinnn Mhanach in the distance
The first of 2 cattle grids
Underneath the single track viaduct looking towards Bridge of Orchy
Looking back
Beinn Mhanach in the distance, getting a wee bit nearer
2nd river crossing
This is where sticks are useful, assisting with balancing
Parminder trying not to get his NEW boots wet
Nearly across
3rd crossing, Parminder doesn't need to worry about his boots here
4th crossing
We had managed to catch up with a father and daughter from Lanarkshire and their dog
5th crossing if there was more water
6th crossing
Technically the 7th crossing
Look carefully, 4 females heading uphill, we would meet them near the top
This would be our lunch spot after the descent, Loch Lyon appearing for the first time
This would impressive after a spot of rain
George's photo
Parminder reliably informed us they used those same structures in the coal mines
Barely a trickle
Loch Lyon and south ish
One thing hasn't changed during lockdown - Parminder still tags along at the rear
One of the many stops purely to take photo's, looking back down the glen
Nice gully - with no water in it
George probably photo'ing the lump next to Mhanach
Looking back down the glen from slightly higher up, managed to capture the cloud on the hillside!
Head down and loving every minute
Great shot down the glen, the road is just this side of the trees
The long slog is nearly over, the cairn is now in sight
Another of George's, Parminder introducing his NEW boots to the white stuff
We are all happy now as we are on the large rounded summit
The best I could come up with
Great shot George, the elusive camera - cobwebs and dust were flying everywhere
Looking north across the only bit of snow, looked like a cornice but it wasn't
Our lunch spot
Lunch time at the bottom, George trying & failing to get a selfie, needs more practice
Photo in between my rolls
Relaxing, the good news was it was just about all downhill from here
Finally, someone got this wrong, didn't notice it on the way in
And that concludes our adventure back amongst the proper hills. It was really good to welcome Parminder back into the fold and his opinions haven't mellowed during lockdown - still makes us laugh. Next on the menu is Aonach Beag from Glen Nevis as we didn't manage to reach it after Aonach More due to the snow/ice/wind.
