Ben Donich
Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2011 12:03 am
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.
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.
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
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.
there's great views through the cracks to hills beyond
climbing out of this fascinating area takes you up towards the summit, just a few more false bumps on the way
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
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.
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
but today the foxgloves are superb, claiming back the felled forest and looking much prettier
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.
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.
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
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.
there's great views through the cracks to hills beyond
climbing out of this fascinating area takes you up towards the summit, just a few more false bumps on the way
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
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.
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
but today the foxgloves are superb, claiming back the felled forest and looking much prettier
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.