The Ben Challum bog fest

[BeinnStob]

Our day on Kirsten's strava

At 11:06, me and Kirsten set off from Tyndrum for Ben Challum. The morning up to that point had been disorganised for me, as I had failed to buy food for the day and then got out of bed half an hour before the bus from Glasgow Buchanan was set to leave. Thus a prompt breakfast and snack hoard had been in order when we initially arrived. The day's weather forecasts on Met Office promised rain and clouds followed by a slightly lighter afternoon. That was very much apparent as rain was falling on us as we began.

Walking along the West Highland Way

Crianlarich hills in the distance

Following along the fenceline

We followed the A82 until it crossed paths with the West Highland Way, taking the latter route through Auchtertyre and to the main path uphill to Ben Challum. From there, we were quick to switch from the established track to a very boggy path that had been reinforced by July's trend of rain. My boot's waterproof layer was not enough to keep my feet dry for long. Regardless, we ascended up the gradual slope of Ben Challum's south side. Enduring further bogs and waves of rain.

Bog

Bog

...and more bog.

The next part of the ascent

The two of us reached the steeper part of the ascent shortly after 13:00 where conditions were at least drier. We got to the south top at 13:39, where we were barely above the cloudline for now. As we passed along the short ridge towards the summit, though, the clouds began clearing up a bit. When Kirsten and I made it to the summit at 13:53, the clouds began clearing for us periodically, providing views that extended to the Crianlarich hills, the Lawers range, and the Bridge of Orchy hills.

The south top

Clouds clearing the ridge

The summit

Glen Lochay and the distant Lawers range

After a lunch break, me and Kirsten began back for Tyndrum at 14:09. While the day was getting slightly sunnier, that wasn't going to dry up the bogs, which we had no choice but to traverse across all over again. Nevertheless we got back to the West Highland Way at about 15:30 and took that path and the A82 back to Tyndrum. The two of us reached the bus stop at around 16:15, in time for the half past bus back down south.

Crossing the railway

Return to Tyndrum

[Colin1951]

Boggy indeed! Challum is a great viewpoint though. A much nicer way up is to go up the Glen to its west, past the farm, then sneak up on it via its rocky north west ridge. That way you get a traverse, and you’ve only got the bogs to deal with once. (And indeed you can sidle off west from the South Summit and regain your approach track at a sheep fank)

[BeinnStob]

Boggy indeed! Challum is a great viewpoint though. A much nicer way up is to go up the Glen to its west, past the farm, then sneak up on it via its rocky north west ridge. That way you get a traverse, and you’ve only got the bogs to deal with once. (And indeed you can sidle off west from the South Summit and regain your approach track at a sheep fank)

Oh nice. I could've definitely gotten a better plan in had I put some more thought into it. My original booked bus back was at half 8 so I had swathes of time realistically to adjust things. Certainly an approach I'll try and do for another quick munro day if the conditions aren't promising.