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The weather had been playing the game again, so with a few days left in my holiday balance, I had taken this Wednesday off to do some more Munros.
Left house at 0530 and met with slow moving traffic up west side of Loch Lomond. Usual disregard to highway etiquette as an HGV had formed a long chain of slow moving traffic all the way to Crianlarich roundabout. Road conditions were fine that aside, although the turn off to Bridge of Balgie is a single track road which was surprisingly in very good condition. Plenty passing places - perched precariously, at times - and the occasional slow down for sheep when necessary. From this point though, it’s a road where I spent more than half of my time in 3rd gear due to the road’s undulations and windy nature. About a mile before the car park, a closed gate had to be opened then closed to allow access and comply with the estate’s request.
I had studied the two in question and using the times as a metric, I made my mind up to do Stuchd an Lochain first. It takes longer and is steeper and by my reckoning the more energy sapping between that and Meall Buidhe so best do that first to make second half less demanding.
As I reversed into the parking space an information board greets you about stalking info. It advises you to stick to the path which is also designated in the Walkhighlands map for the duration of the stalking season. As I walked to the dam, the distinct reddish brown colours of highland cattle were on the start to Meall Buidhe. I had hoped that by the time I got back they’d be gone, while they’re placid animals, I’d rather not walk by them.
A cairn denotes the climb up the lower slopes and the path is obvious and can’t really go wrong. It’s okay but plenty of lose stones til you top out Creag an Fheadain.
- Stuchd an Lochain
From here the path improves and the views opened up. It was chilly as the wind from the east was chilly and gusty.
- Ben Nevis
I had my hat and gloves on for the first time this autumn and I enjoyed the walk from this point to Stuchd an Lochain.
- Summit cairn
I took shelter at the summit and enjoyed a couple of well-fired rolls my girlfriend made me the night before. As I made my way back, it was time to put my sunglasses on as was walking into direct sunlight. A case of taking the same path down I came up.
- Heading back down
It had taken just under 3hours to get back to my start point. I could’ve stocked up again at the car but still had plenty of supplies to keep me going for Meall Buidhe.
I was happy to see the cows from earlier were no longer there. I don’t know if the farmer got them or that but through sense of sight and smell, fresh evidence of them being present in recent times remained!
- Path before ascent to Meall Buidhe
Another cairn marks your ascent onto the open hillside. This path was inconsistent a lot until you get to Meall Buidhe’s southern top.
- Looking across to Stuchd an Lochain
It comes and goes and you can see boot marks where people have tried to steer around the worst of it. When the top comes into view, it’s riven with peat hags. I didn’t realise the severity of it until coming back down where it dominates the landscape for a bit as shown.
- Photo from way back down
While wet in places, the warm weather had dried out parts of it.
The views from the southern top were immense and a few cairns lead the way onto Meall Buidhe’s summit.
- Meall Buidhe summit (centre)
Having done well over 100munros by this point I could identify many I had done surrounding me.
- Looking across to Glencoe
I would’ve stayed longer but had things on that night so retraced my steps back down to the car park where by early afternoon a few other people had arrived here. It had taken two and a half hours to do Meall Buidhe.
All in I was five and a half hours. Stuch’d an Lochain had a better path for most, is less boggy, takes longer. Meall Buidhe had better views walking to the summit but was a lot boggier. The two combined well enough to give me a great day out.
