free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
NB Photos taken on more than one occasion
I've climbed Ben Chonzie from Invergeldie and from Ballindalloch many times, but never from the other side, so having two friends staying - and thus a second car - we decided to try the traverse. We left a car at Ballindalloch - lots of easy parking - drove to Loch Turret and set out along the lochside track. this is a far far nicer approach to the hill, but it is quite a bit tougher . There are a lot of ups and downs so that by time you reach Lochan an Uaine (ca,. 90 minutes) you have ascended 368m but are only 70m above your starting point.
Starting out from the damTwo views along the lochsideI followed this reverse angle track several years ago en route to Auchnafree Hill: it ends abruptly in a grassy gully, but this is easily ascended to the "plateau"Another view up the loch The track crosses a number of side streamsLarge clumps of yellow mountain saxifrage were growing around themNearing then end of the lochLooking back down to it from the rising track beyondThe glen above the loch contains the largest most dramatic drumlins (moraines) that I have ever seen in Britain.
They stretch for a considerable way up the glen (and presumably further down under the loch which has been enlarged by the dam) as well as 50 metres or more up the hillside: and closing ones eyes it is easy to visualise the retreating glacier with its rotting ice and intertwining exit streams. The mounds would probably look more impressive in Winter - without the vegetation, but I took several photos of them
Impressive ice age moraines in the glenLooking back down to the lochMy original Munro book suggests that beyond the lochan you traverse diagonally back L up these slopes, but we followed the WH suggestion of heading North - up boggy slopes to the watershed There is a path marked on the WH gpx map, (heading L from here) but it was NOT on our Anquet one
so we continued North for a bit and then climbed the steep but easy slopes to Biorach a' Mheannain 755m where there is a good view of the final ascent
Ben Chonzie from Biorach a' MheannainWe descended to the col (Bealach na Gaoith) and followed the path to the summit to find it deserted - first time ever I think
The SummitSnow patches just below the cairnThey took a pic of me in the deserted summit cairn Down to Loch TurretSnow on the Cairngorms - nearly 70km away: Beinn a' Ghlo further R, and Schiehallion on the LLooking roughly NE down to the valley of the AlmondIt was a bit hazy to the W and we headed too far R before I spotted the cairn that marks the start of the descent to Ballindalloch - neccessitating a slight detour back LThe first 60m or so are quite steep and in deep heather (easier going down than up) But then we traversed easily across to Meall Reamhar and headed down L in front of it After a short descent on steep grass it was easy going to reach the delighful grassy path that leads all the way down to the finishBy the riverJourney's end - BallindallochPOSTSCRIPTI wasn't really happy with our route above the Lochan and Also wanting more pics of the moraines I set out again alone a couple of weeks later
This the head of the glen: the path marked on the WH gpx appears to traverses just below the scree slopes and up to the Bealach Na Gaoith on the LBut if you want to get to that bealach why not head directly for it from the lochan So I did; It looked a bit steep at the top, but nothing unsurmountable - until I was suddenly and quite literally sidetracked
Up to my left - but not visible from the lochan was a wide gully/rake that was not only easier angled and grassier than the route straight up, but also led much more directly towards the summit: - A no brainer really, so I traversed across and ascended it Looking directly down itAnother view including the aptly named Lochan an Uaine with with inward track and Loch Turret behindAnd another from higher up looking across the head of the glen.I had no plans to visit the top, so once I was on nearly level ground and could see the way on, I contoured round above Creag Lochain an Uaine to the bealach.
Two views on the traverse looking across to Biorach a' Mheannain: I descended slightly, crossed the bealach and made the short climb up to it From this point - my route above the lochanThe Ben Lawwers group dominate the view to the NWFrom the cairn a faint path headed down NE: I followed it for a bit but then peeled off R down the slopes we had ascended on the first visit
Looking across these slopes and down the glen Returning to the watershed at the top of the boggy bit, the grassy rake is very obviousA zoomed viewMy route from the end of the trackWhen I got home, I looked at a (slightly) more recent Munro book and it says " climb W through the grassy crags" - just what I did.
This is surely the best route from this side