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Ben Donich

PostPosted: Thu Jul 21, 2011 12:03 am
by Lightfoot
Glasgow Fair, finally dried out from Saturday's drenching in Glen Lyon. The BBC weather map says least chance of showers out west so off to check out Arrochar. Hill fog on Beinn an Lochan so Ben Donich it is. I'm off on a reccie to find interesting hills for my 5 year old now he has climbed Ben Lomond, and there's meant to be a wee scramble and rocks on this route.
hill path start.jpg
Nice signpost

Very easy start up a clear path to an excellent gate. This had me puzzled but I guess the animals around here are just used to letting themselves through.
apprentice gate.jpg
Close that gate.. ..

So one other walker (each other possibly ruining our peaceful solo walk!) - but impressed to hear he is out testing out his new plumbing, turns out to be coronary arteries not a prostate job, relief all round.
There's a nice intermittently damp path climbing up and over a few bumps
on and upwards.jpg

then finally you get to the little step down into a fascinating crack in the ridge. This is really like a giant foot has landed splintering the rocks into pieces.
rock step.jpg
easy scramble down

there's great views through the cracks to hills beyond
peeping through.jpg

climbing out of this fascinating area takes you up towards the summit, just a few more false bumps on the way
rock step from aboe.jpg
Rock step from above

The summit plateau path does peter out towards the top - so I checked back to see that a bearing back towards Beinn Ime would pick up the path to the east of the plateau edge
Right at the top the evil cairn builders know no bounds
needless cairn.jpg
Cairns a growing

It's worth looking at the massive slope above the A83 that all came crashing down a while back. There's a puny bit of fence across the run off of one stream but have to say on the drive back i headed across as quick as legally possible.
cobbler narnain and ime.jpg

Heading down by now the crowds had surfaced from their leisurely breakfast, and a little over 2 hours later back into the cool forest
Every walk report needs an orchid
orchid photo.jpg
Orchid hiding in the verge

but today the foxgloves are superb, claiming back the felled forest and looking much prettier
foxgloves.jpg
Foxglove

Dodging the landslip prone A83 and suicidal motorcyclists back to a deserted fair-bound Glasgow - a great way to spend a spare 4-5 hours out of town.

Re: Ben Donich

PostPosted: Thu Jul 21, 2011 5:21 pm
by lomondwalkers
Great wee hill Donich. That crack in the ridge adds a nice wee bit of character to the walk :D

Re: Ben Donich

PostPosted: Fri Oct 28, 2011 5:13 pm
by smiffysmc
Thinking of doing this Corbett this weekend (my 1st). It shows a rock area,is this easy to negotiate as i've never done any climbing before.?

Cheers for any info.

Re: Ben Donich

PostPosted: Fri Oct 28, 2011 9:45 pm
by Del246
Good report and pics. This is now on my ever increasing to do list !!