Windy day up Dalmally way

[Gavin99]

After three days going stir crazy looking out the window at the rain and wind , today's forecast had me scuttling away up to Dalmally to try this walk . I was parked up by the bridge nice and early and set off up the track at 0730 ,meeting some locals on the way.

The attachment 2011_0914test0005.JPG is no longer available

The first couple of miles are on a good track , as I got further up the wind kept freshening and I began to wonder whether getting up at half-five was such a good idea after all since the afternoon was meant to be better .

Friendly little guy

Although the wind was picking up the sun eventually peeked through , making the place a bit more cheery and before long it was time to leave the track and head up the southern ridge of Beinn a'Chochuill.

Sun on Stob Garbh

As I got higher the wind was strong and gusty and I was glad there wasn't any narrowness or scrambling lying in wait , although the burns were full the ground was fairly dry and the going was good.

Looking west to Lairig Noe

Eventually I arrived at the ridge and thankfully the wind eased a touch ,making the short climb up to the west a pleasure instead of the grind I was expecting in a gale . As the clouds scudded by views opened up to the north ,I would have loved to get the map out of its case and spread out to see exactly what I was looking at but that will have to wait for a calmer day .

Water

Ridge to B a'C

North to Beinn nan Lus

I had to stop and take a quick shot of me at the mystery boulder ( ? ) and on to the summit .

Glen Kinglass

Looking west to Loch Etive

North to Ben Starav

I was looking forward to seeing Ben Cruachan close up but was out of luck ,the clouds refusing to budge, so I headed off back east to the bealach . The walk between the two summits is a fine one and must be lovely on a clear day ,a gentle drop down to the bealach then a steep short climb up to Beinn Eunaich on grass and scree .

Across to Beinn Eunaich

Arriving at the summit the clouds lifted and I eventually got my views over to Ben Cruachan ,well worth the wait . After a quick bite and a few more photographs I headed south towards Stob Maol and the descent , at this stage feeling a bit battered by the wind and looking forward to a bit of shelter lower down .

Ben Cruachan

Route of ascent

Beinn Eunaich summit

The way down

Heading down the ridge I could see Kilchurn Castle had been cut off by flooding at the head of Loch Awe , the route down was pretty flooded as well, heading through peat hags before cutting off to drop steeply back down to the track , a fairly slippy and eroded section but over fairly quickly . Once down on the track a short stroll brought me back to the road . I didn't meet anyone up on the hill but once back at the van I could see a speck moving along the ridge , there were a couple of cars parked up so a few people were out and about . I thoroughly enjoyed the walk but by the time I got down I had definitely had enough of flapping and flailing in the wind . Ben Cruachan next maybe , on a calm day .

[Klaasloopt]

I like it. The windy weather shots look terrific, the filtered light, the dark tooth of Cruachan. Well earned reward for the early bird.