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On the look out for a Corbett to climb, with a thrown in Munro for good measure, I stumbled across a few reports including Black Panthers which talked about the Dalmally Horseshoe. The route would combine a Corbett and one of the Cruachan Munros. Upon closer inspection, it would also allow me to climb Stob Diamh from a complete different angle than I did 10 years ago, which was an added plus.
The route I took the last time to climb Stob Diamh, before continuing towards Cruachan
The route for today- Stob Diamh from the east
With a plan made, I left the house Saturday morning just after 7am. I knew there was a 'enough for one car' car park and some lay-by close by. Fingers crossed I would get a space! Surprisingly the single car park was still empty and I managed to squeeze my car into the bushes when I arrived around half nine.
Setting off I was completely alone minus a couple of Canadian geese, who made sure their annoyance, of me walking towards them, could be heard miles away. Honk Honk back to you too!
About a kilometer into my walk I passed a gate and shortly after a small granite quarry the climb up hill began. The start was interesting, as I managed to find remains of old buildings and paths along the way (love a bit of history)
Ahead the hills were still hiding undertone a blanket of clouds.
However soon the ground started to get steep. Slogging along the non existing path, I saw a sheep. Nothing unusual, but it was not moving and getting closer I wondered if it was giving birth... Just something about the position it was in.
When I reached the sheep I discovered the sad fact that it died giving birth. The wee babies head was out, but both mother and lamp were dead. I guessed it must have happened the night before.
- RIP
Thoughts about the dead ewe and lamb went through my head while I continued up the steep hill sweating buckets.
I was relieved when I reached the first high point with views towards Kilchurn castle and Loch Awe.
However that was only the start of the long ridge ahead. I continued up the hill until I reached the flattish area and cairn called Monadh Driseig. An odd place for a cairn, but it was a welcome place to rest for a while and have a bite to eat.
- From the cairn with Loch Awe behind me
From the cairn the summit of Beinn a Bhuiridh was yet again rising steeply. I stuck to the edge, mainly to savor the steep cliffs, but had to do some detours around a few gullies. I was relieved when I reached the first summit, however the real summit was still another 400 meters away.
- Still a bit to go
- Stob Diamh in the distance
- Ben Cruachan in the distance
- Views from the summit area
With the final summit finally bagged after 3 h (stops included) I was keen to get going. The downhill climb was what I had expected...very steep, but sticking to the grassy slopes made it bearable and not too bad at the end.
- The Corbett Beinn a Bhuiridh looking back
Lairig Torran marked the offical path up the Munro Stob Diamh and from a world of peace and tranquility I was suddenly on a mountain highway. It was so odd seeing suddenly so many people! And OMG how easy was this Munro in comparison to the Corbett I just climbed.
Don't get me wrong, it's still a lot of uphill, but the path made it so much easier. I passed many people, most on the way down and after a few summits I finally stood on Stob Diamh, nearly 10 years after I first climbed it.
- Last summit before Stob Diamh
- Stob Diamhs summit and cairn
Enjoying the views and a lengthily break I chatted to another couple for a while until I made my way towards the last summit of Sron an Isean. A clear path made the walk very easy and as soon as I left the summit, I had the mountain to myself again.
- Sron an Isean
- The hills climbed looking back
- Towards Stob Diamh and Cruachan
The walk back was simply blissful.The track along the spine of the mountain dropped gently for a good 2 km before it was time to tackle the last sheepish 300 meters in height.
- The gentle walk back
- The last steep 300 meters...don't you think too the 3 rocks look like sheep?
Based on my map, two bridges would make the crossing of the burn further down easy. However the first bridge would have been a challenge to cross. I opted instead to cross the burn, which was far easier!
- A bridge no more
On the other side I aimed for the second bridge, which in comparison to the other one, was great. Once on the other side I was back at the track and simply had to return to the car.
- Much better