Wet wet wet on Cruach Ardrain

[GrahamC72]

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The forecast was mixed, cloud rising to 900m through the morning but the likelihood of showers increasing from around lunchtime. I was feeling good after having a day off from the hills on Thurs, enjoying instead 18 holes around Killin Golf club. I decided that I would drive around to Inverlochlarig and attempt Bhein Tulaichean, giving the option of a quick up and down if the weather closed in, or adding Cruach Ardrain if the conditions held up.

Looking up to Beinn Tulaichean from the car park

I was getting my boots on when another car pulled up in the little car park. A family group had similar plans to mine. The stroll along the road to the farmhouse at Inverlochlarig was pleasant, and then the route led over a stile, and along the side of the river. After joining and following a farm road for a short distance, I was on the open, pathless hillside, with only a group who had had an earlier start as a point of reference on the wet hillside.

The highlight of the 1st part of the ascent were the views to the surrounding hills, and back down the valley.

Stob a Choin from the approach

Loch Doine and Loch Voil from the approach

Stob Binnein poking through

The conditions underfoot were pretty dreadful, wet and boggy until the south end of the summit ridge was reached at 900m. A rudimentary path had appeared from around 700m and a short shower brought the clouds down around 800m, shortly after which I caught the couple of early starters.

The walk improved considerably on reaching the ridge, along with some breaks in the clouds permitting snapshots of the other hills, and views into the valley. After short stop on the summit of Bheinn Tulaichean, I had made mind up to go on to Cruach Ardrain, and perfectly on queue, the larger munro appeared through the breaking clouds. You have to love it when this happens!?

Beinn Tulaichean summit selfie

Cruach Ardrain emerges from the clouds

The good path along the ridge was easy to follow and by now there was a decent view of the valleys in most directions, though the summits of the major hills were obscured by cloud. But not Cruach Ardrain, which was reached after another short sharp shower in the increasing breeze. From the summit my key thought was that those attempting the Crianlarich 7, must be superfit given the huge amount of ascent and descent clearly needed to link to either the Ben More Stob Binnein ridge or to Bheinn a Chroin and beyond to the west!

Cruach Ardrain summit selfie

Stob Garbh

Ben More & Stob Binnein

After a sandwich and nice chat with a father and son pair sheltering from the cool breeze behind the summit rocks, and the obligatory photos, I retraced my steps back towards the bealach between the two Munro’s, passing the early starter couple.
There is a phrase, if you can’t say anything nice, then don’t say anything at all. This applies to the descent from the bealach at 825m to the farm road around 350m. There were some good views back to Cruach Ardrain that curiously stayed clear of cloud when Bhein Tulaiachean remained continually shrouded.

Looking back up to Cruach Ardrain

Conditions improving on the two big munros

The farm track was a good and fast way to get back to Inverlochlarig and the car with impressive views of the mountains and waterfalls to the south. While returning along the farm track I was considering whether there is any way to get dry shod, to the excellent upper part of Cruach Ardrain.

Cruach Ardrain still clear from the farm track

4 hours and 30 minutes for the round. I could feel my fitness improving. Maybe its time for bigger plans.