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Ben Vorlich (Loch Sloy)

Ben Vorlich (Loch Sloy)


Postby matt0129081 » Sun Mar 27, 2011 6:57 pm

Route description: Ben Vorlich via Loch Sloy

Munros included on this walk: Ben Vorlich (Loch Lomond)

Date walked: 26/03/2011

Time taken: 5 hours

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On Friday night my girlfriend discovered white Russians and so that this walk happened was somewhat of a surprise. As it was the white Russian discovery was a benefit because it meant we got up late and did not start walking until 1240, however judging by the things people were saying as they came down the afternoon was the best part of the day. My new boots were standing up very well to the tarmac road around the base of Ben Vorlich, but my girlfriend wasn't. There were numerous sheep along the way and she insists they have 'dead eyes' and are liable to butting people. I insisted they are domesticated and perfectly harmless, but as she cautiously passed one that was eating particularly close to the road I shouted "quick run" in her ear. Much hilarilty ensued as I tried to persuade her to continue and I promised to make no more sheep jokes baaaa this one (this wasn't good at the time and it is no better in writing, but it was at this point I realise I have finally become my father).

We kept along the path until we reached the small cairn that signals where to begin the ascent up the grassy slope. I know a few people have missed this and it is just after a river and a pylon is attached to a rock and this may be a useful marker to look for. As we began to climb we met a man who commented we were brave starting to climb now and that it may be dark before we got back down. A bit worried we continued upwards, we had torches, but coming down that slope in the dark would not be fun. It was only 1330 so I thought we had a lot of time. We promptly lost the path and continued straight up the steep grassy and in places soggy slope. After two months off this grassy slope was really making my thighs burn, but the views down towards the dam were nice.

Photo Mar 27, 18 08 06.jpg


We reached a welcome flatter part that was soggy because of the burn that ran down the hill. At this point picked up the path again. The inital steep grassy ridge was a bit of a killer and depressing, but from here up to the ridge was much better. The path was steep and eroded in places requiring a hand or two to get over a few rocks, but I like walking these taciturn paths that thread through the crags. The air was still and loch sloy was like a mirror.

Photo Mar 27, 18 08 57.jpg


I had in my mind that Ben Vorlich was going to be a relentless grassy slope straight to the top and so wasn't particularly looking forward to it. I was very wrong because the path is winding with interesting crags to jump and the views of the surrounding mountains are far better than from the other viewpoints in the region. I particulalry liked the view of the curve of the beleach between Nanairn and Ime flanked by the two rocky bulks of Ben Vane and a'Chrois.

Photo Mar 27, 18 09 22.jpg


On the ridge there was the odd patch of snow, but it was very soft what little there was was easy to walk on. After the effort of getting to the ridge the actual summit seems to take a while to get to and we were very pleased to see the summit cairn appear from around the summit with the trig point. We were the last people up there that day I think and it was beutifully peaceful if a little cold and well worth the effort.

Photo Mar 27, 18 08 35.jpg


The walk back down was much faster, but by the time we reached the tarmac road again (fortunately still in daylight) my quads were a bit jelly like and shaking with every step down (a two month break and no football because of a hamstring injury sure leaves me out of shape), but despite this we still shifted pretty fast when back on the flat (where my girlfriend insisted the sheep were now hiding behind rocks ready to pounce) and were back at the tourist information center by 1740. I've only climbed 9, but this is one of the top three I think, it felt a tough walk, but rewarded the effort. Next week double figures with Mount Keen.
matt0129081
 
Posts: 15
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Re: Ben Vorlich (Loch Sloy)

Postby ChrisW » Sun Mar 27, 2011 7:20 pm

Brilliant, great report and cracking pics..... and as for this

I promised to make no more sheep jokes baaaa this one (this wasn't good at the time and it is no better in writing, but it was at this point I realise I have finally become my father).



I genuinely laughed out loud (not for the sheep joke....though it wasn't so baaaaaad, but for the "finally became my father") :lol: :lol:
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Re: Ben Vorlich (Loch Sloy)

Postby chickadee » Sun Mar 27, 2011 7:26 pm

Oh that looks beautiful, love your photos.
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Re: Ben Vorlich (Loch Sloy)

Postby matt0129081 » Sun Mar 27, 2011 7:57 pm

I dread to think what I must look like dancing now

Thank you for liking the photos chickadee.
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Re: Ben Vorlich (Loch Sloy)

Postby JGKES » Sun Mar 27, 2011 9:54 pm

I'd be interested to have more info' on your starting point because I attempted this hill on a fine day in August 1999 only to give it up as a bad job.I consulted a book, The Munros by Donald Bennet, but found him vague on route descriptions plus his maps were next to useless.I started near Inveruglas, one of his suggested routes,but the OS map showed no paths,and it became a matter of following a compass bearing.The going was terrible,tussocks and heather and little rock outcrops,and it seemed to go on forever.Then what appeared to be a very indeterminate ridge turned up,all nobbly,no path,tough grass,nothing to suggest a route to a peak so we packed it in and bashed it back to Loch Lomond.Very frustrating.The next day,not wanting to go back to England with nothing in the bag,we did another peak which Bennet described as a short and easy climb.This was Beinn Tulaichean in Balquhidder.Short and easy it is not:it's long and tiresome,although admittedly not difficult to pick a route(pathless).Some of these Scottish guide-book writers can be very blase about what they class as "easy".I finally did Ben Vorlich in 2005-only it was the Loch Earn Vorlich with nice clear path,though steep at the end.Anyway I enjoyed your report and the pics showed me what I missed.The 5 hours for your walk encourages me to perhaps try it again.Bennet describes the Lomond Vorlich as accessible,but I class it on my experience as a toughie.
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Re: Ben Vorlich (Loch Sloy)

Postby matt0129081 » Sun Mar 27, 2011 10:48 pm

We did start at Inveruglas and just followed the route described on this site. If you follow the path down the road from the car park past the hydro station then you come to a gated road which takes you all the way round to the other side of the hill. From there a path starts up the hill at a small cairn just past the firs river on the OS map (though no path is marked). It is about 296103. The path is hard to follow at the lower section, but becomes well defined after a small flatter section (roughly 299105).

I have a book which also suggests going straight up the ridge at its Southern most point, but it looked tough to pick your way up and once up on the ridge without a path I think it would be arduous going along it.
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Re: Ben Vorlich (Loch Sloy)

Postby AJMullen » Wed Mar 30, 2011 8:53 pm

Cracking report, this one I've had an eye on well this as well as Ben Cruachan (fancy this one first). Was up Ben Lomond yesterday and stopped on the way back for lunch looking directly over to the power station and the start of the walk. The pics of Ben Narnain and Ben Ime are stunning. Tried to do the Cobbler earlier in the year but never made the top. Fancy doing all three in the good weather.
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