Ben Challum at the end of a dry spell is...dry!

[litljortindan]

In March I was put off an ascent of Ben Challum by virtue of the closed layby at Kirkton and instead climbed Meall a' Bhuiridh that day, a walk that did not agree with my left knee. Since then I've been looking to do knee friendly walks and, of course, Ben Challum was near the top of the list because of its fairly gentle gradients, albeit reputedly boggy gentle gradients.
I'd like to be able to claim that I masterminded a way to mitigate the bogginess but I was just lucky to find that a few dry days has been all that was needed to make the normal route a relatively dry route.

The Kirkton layby is still closed so I parked at Auchtertyre instead, with the intention of heading south from there to Kirkton. I did briefly consider IainMacG's suggested route via Bealach Glas-Leathaid but didn't feel up to a steepish ascent so prepared myself for bog hell at a slow pace.

I set off from Aychtertyre at 6.30am and made my way along the West Highland Way, soon spotting the graveyard yew trees and then the railway bridge. Then I thought I was to be in for the hard work of one splodge up, two down etc. However, I waited and waited for those problems to arise and all I got was fairly dry underfoot conditions until about the 600m contour where the gradient reduces to about one in ten for a kilometre and I did then find it useful to cross the fence a couple of times.

On the way up to the 600m contour there were good but hazy views of the hills around with some inversion cloud to the north west and Ben More prominent to the south. And as I ascended the next 400m to the summit ridge I was treated to sight of cloud drifting past below the western slopes of Ben Challum, a real highlight of the walk.

Didn't bother with the first top but instead immediately diverted onto the Challum arete where all of a sudden there was a gusty wind but nothing too strong. Looked some distance to the main summit but in fact it didn't take long at all to get there. Before reaching the cairn though I diverted around the summit area and then out along the north ridge for a short distance just to take in the views. When I got to the summit cairn I made a quick call home to say when I'd likely return and soon after started my descent which was fine apart from the occasional knee twinge.

Overall a good walk and if you can't wait for frozen ground or don't fancy the north ridge then waiting for the end of a dry spell may be an option for this hill unless you actually enjoy boggy ground.


Looking west from near the Auchtertyre car park.


I head south east along the West Highland Way for half a mile to join the Kirkton route. Glad to see the landmark graveyard trees.


I spot the railway bridge from some distance away, happy that I won't get in a muddle trying to find it. I then manage to stride past the narrow path to the bridge but it doesn't take me too long to realise my error.

Before crossing I look back to see interesting mist adorning some of the hillsides to the west:








There's also a good view south east along the railway line.


Onto the hillside and I am braced for bog but it doesn't materialise until after the 600m contour and even then it is wholly avoidable.


There's some nice morning light once the sun gets going.


Ben Lui. I was there thirty four years ago via quite a steep and direct route followed by a terrible walk back along beside the railway line and a night in a railway hut.


The plantation beside the path is a lot prettier than shape on the map might suggest. Not sure if this is part of the rewilding effort but anything to counter those old Forestry Commission efforts has surely got to be a good thing.


The first stile of death. One of the stiles has a nearby low point that you can just about step over which is what I chose to do.




Beyond the stiles it is an easy and surprisingly dry ascent following the line of the fence.


Looking back in a north westerly direction the mist still mesmerises.


And then some of that low cloud starts blowing across Ben Challum's western slopes.






On a hazy day it was good to get this cloud enlivening things.


Summit ridge beckons.






There is a stretch of flatter ground after the 600m contour where it is necessary to switch back and forth across the fence but happily all of the bog is avoidable. After that pretty much bone dryish.


At the start of the summit ridge I bypass the first top and head straight for the arete.


Quite a gusty wind here.


Looking along the north ridge.


Taken from a short detour north.


Looping back to the summit.


At the summit cairn.




Looking along Glen Lyon from near the summit.


Ben More from the summit cairn.


On the way back.




View north over last October's Corbett Beinn Chaorach.




An easy descent.


And quite dry.