Ben Vorlich and Stuc a'Chroin
Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2011 10:01 pmHaving managed to organise a day off the plan was to head over to Dalmally and tackle Beinn Eunaich but a late spanner in the works meant I needed to be in Killearn in the afternoon . A quick search of the map produced this walk as the answer so after some late night walk report reading I made an early start and was parked up at the humpback bridge for 0800 .
The first stage was a nice wee wander up past Ardvorlich House and the birch and rowan woods above ,full of chaffinch and siskin,the views back over Loch Earn quickly vanishing in the mist .As height was gained Ben Vorlich appeared out of the clouds ,hopefully a promise of clear skies above .
The track continues gently uphill , crossing the burn at a shiny new dam , part of an estate hydro scheme .At this point the mist cleared to the north ,giving a fine view of the Ben Lawers group . The path here has been well repaired and makes for easy progress , although further up it becomes much more eroded .
As I neared the summit ridge there was no sign of any other walkers but I had the feeling I was being watched ,strange really.
The summit of Ben Vorlich was reached at 1000 but since the clouds had got there before me I didn't linger and headed off to the bealach to have a look at what Stuc a'Chroin had in store . I was a bit apprehensive about the seriousness of the steep rocky ascent ahead ,the peak certainly didn't look too welcoming and the disreputable looking raven that was now tagging along did nothing to cheer me up.
I followed the path left and then cut up into the boulder field , this briefly threatened to turn into a caving expedition but eventually I popped out on the other side and joined a path traversing steeply to the right . Although I had read a few descriptions of this route I wasn't too sure how exposed this would be ,as it turned out it was fine ,a few places requiring handholds but good fun really . That said heavy rain and wind would make this a different proposition but
the day was dry and I found myself on top in no time .
The short stroll along the ridge to the summit was lovely , accompanied by a family of noisy, but camera shy ring ouzel.
As cloud lifted great views back to Ben Vorlich and over to Beinn Each appeared.
It was time to head back along the ridge before heading NW to reach the top of the scree path back down to the bealach . After a short steep descent the path contours nicely around a shoulder to pick up the main tourist route back down the burn . Back at the bridge for 1330 for a caramel log . I thought this was a lovely walk , fairly easy going apart from the one steep part , didn't get many views but a great day out all the same. Oh... I nearly forgot these....
The first stage was a nice wee wander up past Ardvorlich House and the birch and rowan woods above ,full of chaffinch and siskin,the views back over Loch Earn quickly vanishing in the mist .As height was gained Ben Vorlich appeared out of the clouds ,hopefully a promise of clear skies above .
- Ben Vorlich appears
- Grass of Parnassus
The track continues gently uphill , crossing the burn at a shiny new dam , part of an estate hydro scheme .At this point the mist cleared to the north ,giving a fine view of the Ben Lawers group . The path here has been well repaired and makes for easy progress , although further up it becomes much more eroded .
- Shiny new dam
- Lawers and Co.
As I neared the summit ridge there was no sign of any other walkers but I had the feeling I was being watched ,strange really.
- Watching
The summit of Ben Vorlich was reached at 1000 but since the clouds had got there before me I didn't linger and headed off to the bealach to have a look at what Stuc a'Chroin had in store . I was a bit apprehensive about the seriousness of the steep rocky ascent ahead ,the peak certainly didn't look too welcoming and the disreputable looking raven that was now tagging along did nothing to cheer me up.
- looming
- Scruffy
I followed the path left and then cut up into the boulder field , this briefly threatened to turn into a caving expedition but eventually I popped out on the other side and joined a path traversing steeply to the right . Although I had read a few descriptions of this route I wasn't too sure how exposed this would be ,as it turned out it was fine ,a few places requiring handholds but good fun really . That said heavy rain and wind would make this a different proposition but
the day was dry and I found myself on top in no time .
- View back down
The short stroll along the ridge to the summit was lovely , accompanied by a family of noisy, but camera shy ring ouzel.
As cloud lifted great views back to Ben Vorlich and over to Beinn Each appeared.
- Back to Vorlich
- Beinn Each from Stuc a Chroin
It was time to head back along the ridge before heading NW to reach the top of the scree path back down to the bealach . After a short steep descent the path contours nicely around a shoulder to pick up the main tourist route back down the burn . Back at the bridge for 1330 for a caramel log . I thought this was a lovely walk , fairly easy going apart from the one steep part , didn't get many views but a great day out all the same. Oh... I nearly forgot these....
- Don't forget us
. I know I'm going to have to go back but its a slog to get up and over to Stuc a Chroin.