Walkhighlands

From the Inveruglas car park, the walk up the tarmac track towards Coiregrogain was very pleasant, and it was not raining! Normally I’m not a huge fan of walking on tarmac in walking boots. I find it a bit hard on the feet, especially when the feet have become used to soft, peaty ground. Not having to watch my step now, I could stare at Ben Vane and look on the map to locate its characteristics, without the risk of disappearing in a peat bog, tripping over loose stones or knocking my toes on the rock. Just behind me there were three other walkers.



The bit towards and after the first ‘hump’ was very boggy, however I made good progress. Over the years (on walks through the Pennines and Northwest Scotland) I have become quite good at reading bog!
Once on the real ascent it started drizzling. The way up with the huge crags ahead looked steep and daunting. But I told myself that I only would have to deal with that the moment I arrived there. It was still far ahead.



I looked down and saw that the other three walkers were making their way up the first hump. When I looked back next, they were making their way down again to return to Coiregrogain ( I assume)! And a bit further to my left, suddenly a walker had appeared out of nothing! He must have ran up, because I didn’t see him when I started off.





By now the real work had begun (and the rain too). It was steep, it was rocky, it was craggy, but somehow there was always a way through and up. Only at one point I had to stop and think how to tackle the next move: a high step at shoulder height. The alternative would have been up along a huge wet rock slab at quite a steep angle without any proper ridges to get your boots stuck in, and I didn’t fancy that at all.
I managed to scramble up and mused that it would be ‘interesting’ going down the same way. From then it was relatively easy going to the summit. It had stopped raining and the views from the summit were good.





The other walker was going on to Ben Ime and Beinn Narnain. Ben Vorlich, my next target for the day, looked really close.



On the way down I managed to avoid the high step, but of course was now faced with the huge-wet-rock-slab-at-quite-a-steep-angle. It wasn’t too bad actually, sitting and gently shuffling down on my backside.
I had decided to climb up Ben Vorlich from the road leading to the Loch Sloy dam, as walking most of the way back and then going via Ben Vorlich’s south ridge just seemed demoralising. According to some walk reports it is not that obvious where the path leaves the road. I had the grid reference for the path and simply counted the electricity pylons in between Coiregrogain and where I had marked the path on the map. This way I knew when to start looking properly.



The way up was steep and endless but without any difficulties. The first third of the path is quite wet in places and it sometimes disappears in the bog. After that the path becomes quite good. But it is a long climb.



With the sun out now it was getting hot. After what seemed like ages I reached the summit ridge and half an hour later I was on the summit. There I met a couple who had walked up from Ardlui. That must have been a massive walk! The views from the summit were absolutely stunning.









It was a shame to have to turn back, but I had a long and hard way down ahead of me.



Back at Inveruglas I was really tired. It had been a long and wonderful day.

Respect! That looks like a lot of climbing and descending in one day. We're looking at doing these hills later this summer but maybe not both together like you did.
Great pics and a good report.

Thanks Paul and Antonia! Yes, these are steep hills, but if you take it easy it is very much do-able.

Ben Vane knocked the stuffing out of me and I wouldn't have dreamed of going up Ben Vorlich right away. Thats a great effort and I hope when I do eventually attempt Ben Vorlich that I find the path as easily as you did.

Epic stuff again Paula! Not only do I admire your physical endurance but your mental strength is pretty awesome too!! Hope you've been treating yourself to lots of goodies at the end of each day

I liked your photos,they really captured the flavour of these two hills. A circular walk is possible by traversing Ben Vorlich first to the north end of Loch Sloy and using the forest track to come round and ascend Beinn Dubh and go on to Ben Vane, Ben Dubh is like a second top of Ben Vane. This is a long walk, just over 11 miles and 5500ft of ascent. I have done this walk on a number of occasions.

Fudgie wrote:Ben Vane knocked the stuffing out of me and I wouldn't have dreamed of going up Ben Vorlich right away. Thats a great effort and I hope when I do eventually attempt Ben Vorlich that I find the path as easily as you did.

Thanks Fudgie! I was pretty tired afterwards and I'm sure it was the ascent and descent of Ben Vorlich that did it!
But is was all worth it because the views are great. Hope you will enjoy it as much as I did.

Well done , two good walks but i take my hat off to you for completing them both on one day. I have recently done Ben Vane and Vorlich on seperate occasions and was knackered after just doing one. The views are stunning well worth the walks . Found both hills pretty steep but rewarding. Again well done.

Good effort there and some cracking pics too. I did Vorlich the day before from Ardlui and it was a trek and a half like. Need to get a report up for it.

pollyh33 wrote:Epic stuff again Paula! Not only do I admire your physical endurance but your mental strength is pretty awesome too!! Hope you've been treating yourself to lots of goodies at the end of each day

Thanks Polly, you're flattering me! I just call it stubborness...
I was eating for Scotland and got to get rid of that now!

spiderman wrote:I liked your photos,they really captured the flavour of these two hills. A circular walk is possible by traversing Ben Vorlich first to the north end of Loch Sloy and using the forest track to come round and ascend Beinn Dubh and go on to Ben Vane, Ben Dubh is like a second top of Ben Vane. This is a long walk, just over 11 miles and 5500ft of ascent. I have done this walk on a number of occasions.

Thanks Spiderman! Your version sounds like quite a trek... I am looking forward to a report and some pictures!

spudz77 wrote:Well done , two good walks but i take my hat off to you for completing them both on one day. I have recently done Ben Vane and Vorlich on seperate occasions and was knackered after just doing one. The views are stunning well worth the walks . Found both hills pretty steep but rewarding. Again well done.

Thanks Spudz! I read that you did Ben Vane on a warm day. It was my luck that it was cool and wet on that day for Ben Vane. The sun only came out when I was going up Ben Vorlich and that did make it harder!

kev_russ wrote:Good effort there and some cracking pics too. I did Vorlich the day before from Ardlui and it was a trek and a half like. Need to get a report up for it.

Thanks Kev! Just read your report, sounds like a great trip!

After reading this report I did the same route yesterday and I can confirm that it is very hard work! Descending 700m from Ben Vane before starting up Ben Vorlich really takes it out of your legs. The views down to Loch Sloy, over to Loch Lomond and back towards Ben Ime, Ben Narnain and The Cobbler were well worth it though. I slept though my alarm and started later than I intended and having to get back to Glasgow at a certain time meant I did the route in 5.5hrs but I can't say I would do it again! Thanks for the report - knowing what to expect definitely made the walk easier.

Jeeeeeezo. Respect to the lady.