Ben Narnairn - there is a hard way and an easy way to bag it

[Keithmcdevitt]

There’s a hard way and an easy way to bag Narnairn. That should be stated clearly somewhere for those like me who do limited research

There is also a clue, the hard way has a hard entrance to find intended to keep you away from it so take heid and take the easy route from the east and not the west unless you are a nutter!!!

So with little planning and a day off during the week I decided I wanted to do my first Munro doubler and would take Cookie my Jack Russell with me for company.

I had already bagged Ben Vane and Vorlich so it was back to the Arrochar Alps for me to tame Ben Narnairn and Bein Ime.

Plenty had done it and the limited research said it was doable by dogs so I downloaded the gpx file onto my OS Maps apps, checked the weather, generally and on the target tops ( decent day with some rain patches) and off we went.

Arriving at the Succoth car park at 9am I checked the OS Maps app for the route and noted and that the route selected was unusually straight for quite a distance. I wondered if this was right, paths tend to meander up mountains not go straight.

I also remembered the guide said that that you needed to have sharp eyes to identify the start of the path up the west side just not far from the start of the forest track.

I clearly missed it several times. On checking my OSMap route it was pointing into the forest hillside at what was a burn ( stream). Not a path of any description I had ever known. It was also very overgrown but that’s where the route was sending us.

Unsure and unconvinced we headed in and up the burn which may have been flowing with more water than usual given the recent rain after a long dry spell.

I had to duck down and push through the foliageto get in. I thought I might be stepping into Narnia and I would not have been surprised if I had seen Mr Tumnus. I didn’t and neither did I see a path of any description just the bouldered burn zig zagging upward at pace.

The gpx file route suggested this was the path but I had my doubts. And as for dog friendly not really for those with little legs. We trudged onward and upward. Little Cookie struggled now and then as her little legs were not match fit for some of the large boulders.

Eventually we popped out onto a forest road and I thought we might be directed to follow it upwards. Alas a check of the OSMap app again said straight across and keep climbing that flipping boulder burn.

I checked and better checked the route but it insisted this was the ‘path’ … check the definition of path folks, this doesnt meet it.

Anyhoo eventually have humfed Cookie up many boulders, a semblance of a path was found indicating that others had indeed trod this route ( I refuse to use path at this stage)

Eventually we came out the woods into a clearing and a more defined path that did fit the Oxford dictionary definition appeared, as did the sight of what I thought might be the summit rising high above us,

It turned out, as we clambered upwards, this summit was a false one but having rounded the top the real summit came into view.

Now that was decent scramble. Cookies heart was in it alas once again little legs were just too short to mange most of it. I had to humf her up, section by section and scramble up behind her.

We made it to the top, Narnairn bagged. It was great view for about 5 mins then the wind picked up and the heavens opened up and include some hail for good measure.

We took shelter behind a big rock and had some well deserved lunch.

With the worst of the rain gone we headed across the bouldered plateau to look for the path down the other side. Now this is where I had to trust the gpx file as there was no visible path up on the plateau which is quite big. Despite doubting it all the way up the app direction took us down the other side and not off the edge. A bit of a scramble over a large boulder section and then onto a clear path.

The rain cleared and the wind left with the rain to bother climbers on Ben Vane and Vorlich. The Cobbler and Bein Ime stretched impressively before us. The route down was decent and it it became clear to me that this was evidently the easy route up Narnairn, no scrambling, no chucking the dog, no walking up non paths.

It also became clear that despite being higher IME looked like a walk in the park, a smooth gentle rise up a wide slope with proper paths that met the definition and expectation of a pathway.

We strolled up and claimed IME with no need to throw Cookie even once. The route back between the Cobbler and around Narnairn was gentle scenic and enjoyable with the sun out too boot.

Back at the car Cookie clearly tired fell asleep within seconds.

Now remember the Hard to find entrance to Narnairn is hard to find for a reason. Don’t hunt for it. Go the easy route there is more to see. 🙂