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Grateful for the day off - but no way was I going to sit in to watch "The Wadding"
Good luck to the couple however - hope they enjoyed the day we paid for
Had thought of heading up to Crianlarich or Bridge of Orchy but with the crawling traffic up the A82 I opted for Arrochar again
Beinn Ime (Butter Hill) is a hill I have climbed a few times but not for a number of years
Set off from the Cobbler car park - some people were almost doing cartwheels on finding that the ticket machine has disappeared - saving a quid
Usual warm work on the zig zags up to the dam - heard first cuckoo of year in woods just at top of path
Continued up to Bealach a'Mhaim where it suddenly became pretty cold in a strong breeze
The plod up the south slopes is not my favourite approach to Beinn Ime - but after being a bit inactive on the hills recently (bad back) was determined to push on to regain some fitness.
Reached the top soon enough and was happy to find a sheltered spot out of the wind to relax for a wee while
And nice it was sitting in the warm sunshine
My thoughts turned to the last time I was on Beinn Ime - 2002 with my late brother Charlie
Charlie wasn't a hillwalker - but we did climb a few together - alas this was the last hill day we shared
"Big Cha" on Beinn Ime
Another hillwalker (from Glasgow) who I had chatted to on the way up arrived at the top and we talked for wee while about hills, cycling and -------- Oh Aye the Royal Nuptials.
Took a couple of photos - hazy views however
- Beinn an Lochain
- A'Chrois and Ben Lomond
After twenty minutes or so it became a bit cool to sit so started down again in a now bitterly cold wind.
Was happy just to wander back down the path - very busy - and back to the car
Village Inn for a pint (Caledonian Double Twist)
A pleasant if somewhat poignant day