Double Figures with Ben Vane
Posted: Sun Jun 12, 2011 7:42 pm
I wanted to pick something a bit special to get me into double figures in the Munro stakes. After doing Ben Vorlich back in April my mind kept drifting back to Ben Vane. Just the shape of it, when I first saw it, it just relly appealed to me.
So I set off the back of 8 this morning from the Inveruglas car park next to Sloy power station. Weather reports had said cloud free summits were greater than 90%. Somebody was telling a porkie !
As I had done previously with Ben Vorlich I doubled back down the A82, past Sloy Power station until a Land rover track takes you through a locked gate and under a railway bridge.
Again I followed the track and got my first look at Ben Vane, shrouded in mist !!
I continued on past the power station and when you see a track leave the main path over a bridge you follow this route.
I then followed onward checking Viewranger to see when I should leave the track for the path onto the hill. I didnt really need to as you cant miss all the footprints !! Just after leaving the track you need to cross a burn and enter a bogfest !!
It is certainly a steep little hill and quite relentless !!
After the boggy section a well defined path opens up and is quite easy to follow. I took my first breather at the cave.
The views from the cave are quite good. I got a view of Loch Lomond, Loch Arklet and a glimpse of Loch Katrine.
I continued up the steep path and got a look at Loch Sloy dam.
Onwards and upwards.
Then came a few scrambles !!
Views were still good at this stage although I could see the summit was covered
Then came another scramble
I continued up the path then came to a rather vertical wall !! As I was standing pondering it a chap on his way down told me the summit was just over the top. So I took a deep breath and went up.
And then I was on the summit and in the inside of a cloud !!
I didnt hang around for long and made my way back down. The views on the way down got better as the cloud cleared.
Getting into double figures in 6 months is good going for me as I have a young family and getting "me" time is at a premium !! Im delighted !!
So I set off the back of 8 this morning from the Inveruglas car park next to Sloy power station. Weather reports had said cloud free summits were greater than 90%. Somebody was telling a porkie !
As I had done previously with Ben Vorlich I doubled back down the A82, past Sloy Power station until a Land rover track takes you through a locked gate and under a railway bridge.
Again I followed the track and got my first look at Ben Vane, shrouded in mist !!
I continued on past the power station and when you see a track leave the main path over a bridge you follow this route.
I then followed onward checking Viewranger to see when I should leave the track for the path onto the hill. I didnt really need to as you cant miss all the footprints !! Just after leaving the track you need to cross a burn and enter a bogfest !!
It is certainly a steep little hill and quite relentless !!
After the boggy section a well defined path opens up and is quite easy to follow. I took my first breather at the cave.
The views from the cave are quite good. I got a view of Loch Lomond, Loch Arklet and a glimpse of Loch Katrine.
I continued up the steep path and got a look at Loch Sloy dam.
Onwards and upwards.
Then came a few scrambles !!
Views were still good at this stage although I could see the summit was covered
Then came another scramble
I continued up the path then came to a rather vertical wall !! As I was standing pondering it a chap on his way down told me the summit was just over the top. So I took a deep breath and went up.
And then I was on the summit and in the inside of a cloud !!
I didnt hang around for long and made my way back down. The views on the way down got better as the cloud cleared.
Getting into double figures in 6 months is good going for me as I have a young family and getting "me" time is at a premium !! Im delighted !!