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Ben Vorlich

Ben Vorlich


Postby Tinley » Sat May 28, 2011 10:06 pm

Route description: Ben Vorlich via Loch Sloy

Munros included on this walk: Ben Vorlich (Loch Lomond)

Date walked: 28/05/2011

Time taken: 4 hours

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We set off from the car park in Inveruglas about 0830hrs. It was mixed weather but the rain stayed off at the start which helped!

It’s just a short walk south on the path adjacent to the A82 before making a right turn through the gate and under the railway viaduct on the tarred roadway. A few km later reached a junction with a bridge over the river to the left but we continued straight on towards Loch Sloy dam and the path to Ben Vorlich.

Now, this is the famous "where the fcuks the path" path. I have read a fair bit about this and actually met fellow Munro baggers today that didn't find the path until further up towards the ridge. I was determined to find it!

As we continued towards the dam, the dam structure is so large it looks nearer than it actually is and perhaps makes you doubt where this famous cairn is that marks the start of the path up Ben Vorlich. We did stop to consult the map to confirm where we were and it did appear we were nearer the dam than we were, and thus hadn't passed the path yet.

If you look at the right hand side of the dam there is an overhead power line pylon very close to it. The path is pretty much inbetween the 3rd and 4th pylon from the dam. A cairn was present on the right side of the path (heading towards the dam) but believe it may at times be flattened by the sheep kicking it over. In anycase, there would be a bundle of rocks lying by the tarmac path.

Pretty unevetnfull climb except for experiencing sunshine, rain, wind and strong gusts, sleet and very sore on the face horizontal hailstones!

The very top was almost hands and knees stuff as the wind pelted me, remembering to continue on past the trig point onto the true summit (cairn).

Probably the worst report in WH history but wanted to try and help inform Munroists.
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Tinley
 
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Re: Ben Vorlich

Postby Lowlight » Sun May 29, 2011 12:00 am

Thanks for the info. I was having a look down from Ben Vane wondering where the path was.
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Re: Ben Vorlich

Postby webbie88 » Sun May 29, 2011 3:34 pm

i done the exact same thing yesterday as well :lol: u did happen to lose a walking pole yesterday though did u?
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Re: Ben Vorlich

Postby Tinley » Sun May 29, 2011 6:57 pm

Hi webbie88,

No I never lost anything.

I left the car at 0830 and was on the summit about 11am. did we pass?
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Re: Ben Vorlich

Postby Alastair S » Sun May 29, 2011 10:20 pm

'Tis a small flattened cairn indeed. Very easy to miss. But this is one of the occasions when a suitably prepared GPS is a blessing. I had the WH route loaded into my ViewRanger so confidently guided my fellow walkers to the correct innocuous pile of rocks. The pylon tip is a good one though because OS maps do mark just where each pylon is (which not everyone realises).
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Re: Ben Vorlich

Postby webbie88 » Mon May 30, 2011 5:41 am

Tinley wrote:Hi webbie88,

No I never lost anything.

I left the car at 0830 and was on the summit about 11am. did we pass?


i left the car park about a hour later and summited for about 1300 so yes ad say we passed some were. i was in the group of 3younger boys :lol:
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Re: Ben Vorlich

Postby neilmci » Mon May 30, 2011 9:49 am

I made the mistake of climbing up the right hand side of the stream where as the tru path is on the lft hand side from memory. The one on the left hand side disappears into sheep tracks and goes no where.

On my way back down I met some guys who were on a walkign / climbing trip to scotland and had climbed directly up from the dam itself and were mighty **** off when I showed them the path they had missed.

The "direct route" looks like it involves some steep ground and lots of weaving around to avoid the rocks and crags and is certainly one to avoid!
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Re: Ben Vorlich

Postby Tinley » Mon May 30, 2011 1:42 pm

webbie88 wrote:
Tinley wrote:Hi webbie88,

No I never lost anything.

I left the car at 0830 and was on the summit about 11am. did we pass?


i left the car park about a hour later and summited for about 1300 so yes ad say we passed some were. i was in the group of 3younger boys :lol:



Aha! I remember, I was jogging down on my own wearing the bright tangerine jacket when we met and stopped for a blether.

All the best to the youger boys! lol! :lol:
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