Ben Vorlich via Loch Sloy - First solo Munro

[Del246]

Ben Vorlich via Loch Sloy – First solo Munro

I set off this morning arriving at Inveruglas at the back of 10. I parked in the Tourist Information/cafe car park, which is free on The banks of Loch Lomond.

Setting off from the car park

I then set off towards Ben Vorlich at 1030. I walked along the footpath next to the A82 following the sign for Loch Sloy and hills. I passed the Sloy power station.

Sloy Power Station

Soon I came to the access road leading up to Loch Sloy and passed through the locked gate. I followed this pathway. As this was my first solo Munro I had tried to do my homework so that I did not require the services of a rescue helicopter! I continued along this path and Ben Vane came into view. I thought it looked quite impressive.

Ben Vane

A couple of things I learned from books and the internet is that there are several routes up and down Ben Vorlich ! I decided to go for the one where you head towards the dam for Loch Sloy, however on reading the reports it seemed the initial path towards Ben Vorlich is hard to find. I soon found out. I continued towards the dam searching for the pathway on the right but missed it. I was beginning to wonder if going solo was such a good idea.

Loch Sloy dam coming into view

A couple of hundred yards short of the dam I just picked a spot and started heading up. The hill here was very steep and with the sun/heat was hard going.

Steep start !!

Knowing that I missed the path I headed up diagonally to the right searching for the pathway. After about 40 minutes heading up I eventually found it.
Once on the path I just followed it upwards. I then got some nice vies of the dam and Loch Sloy. With the heat the upwards hike was draining although I was well prepared with my camel back and extra water bottles ( I finished them all !! ).

Loch Sloy dam

After what seemed an age the steep path levelled off and the last section towards the summit and trig was quite easy going.

Loch Sloy

I eventually reached the trig.

Trig

After a well deserved rest at the top my views were obscured due to the haze.Although I could make out the Arrochar Alps.

Arrochar Alps through the haze

I then made my way back down the steep pathway.

On this trip I met several other walkers. On speaking to them everyone of us seemed to of used different routes!! Getting back to my car I realised a couple of things. Firstly I was pleased with myself that I proved I could do a Munro on my own and secondly I think I prefer walking in the cold/snow. That heat was torture!!

[ChrisW]

Great report Del, I've seen a few on this beast where people have missed the path and taken the route you did as a result so you are far from alone, congrats on making it. Pity about the haze but you still got some excellent shots, and you got up and down without the use of a rescue helicopter

[rockhopper]

Well done on your first solo It's a great feeling and once you have the confidence there'll be no stopping you.

Had a similar approach problem as you - walk up the road, get a bearing for the summit then turn sharp right and go up steeply - couldn't find a path either but that can be half the fun of it


PS hope you walked along to the cairn and didn't stop at the trig point....

[Del246]

Thanks guys. Yes, I did not stop at the trig as I had been told it was not the true summit. I don't know why there is not even a small marker post at the start of the pathway.

[pruney84]

Hey Del congrats on your first solo, views still looked good even though it was hazy! This was my first solo aswell and still my only solo munro to date, thoroughly enjoyed it though!

[Del246]

Thanks Pruney. Have you done Ben Chonzie. Thinking of making that solo number 2 !!

[Rossco]

Good stuff, need to keep my eye out for the path if it's common to miss it. Although I quite fancy cycling up to the dam from Succoth which I've done a few times then up and down Vorlich and an easy cycle back down.

[2dalmatians]

Well done on getting that first solo climb. I tackled this one last summer and had exactly the same problem finding the path - complete nightmare, though the little cairn is clearly visible on the way back down... Once i got on the path I really enjoyed the climb. Ben Chozie is a good one for 2nd choice or Ben Vane as you know where that one is too! Good luck whatever you decide

[pruney84]

Thanks Pruney. Have you done Ben Chonzie. Thinking of making that solo number 2 !!

Hey Del, yeah i have done Chonzie. didn't do it solo but it would be a good solo walk i think!

[tomyboy73]

Thanks guys. Yes, I did not stop at the trig as I had been told it was not the true summit. I don't know why there is not even a small marker post at the start of the pathway.

well done Del, i`v done this munro twice since september and walked past the start on both occasions, the first time i just headed up, the second time i walked up and down the road till i found it, and rebuilt the mini cairn at the side of the road, obviously the sheep keep kicking it down

[Del246]

Yip, somebody/something keeps kicking the cairn down for the start of the path ! Any suggestions on easier to follow routes on Munros that I can tackle on my own. My mate who I normally go with has changed jobs and our days off now that tie up are very few.

[Del246]

Or any Corbetts too !!!!

[tomyboy73]

Yip, somebody/something keeps kicking the cairn down for the start of the path ! Any suggestions on easier to follow routes on Munros that I can tackle on my own. My mate who I normally go with has changed jobs and our days off now that tie up are very few.

i just use walkhighlands, read some reports, check out the guides and off i go. if it wasn`t for this site i would be stuck on 3 or 4 munros and not have a clue about corbetts or grahams

[niblue]

Mount Keen is a good solo choice as there are no routefinding issues. Dreish and Mayar would also be good choices.

[Del246]

Thanks for all the feedback. After reading quite a few reports im going to give Ben Ledi a go tomorrow.