Page 1 of 1

Ben More and Stob Binnein

PostPosted: Sun Sep 06, 2009 1:41 pm
by sloosh
On the drive there the weather looked promising and seemed as if it might go with the forecast from the MWIS (bit of rain in the morning, clearing by mid-morning and cloud bases lifting above munro tops).

Got to the side of the road where several other cars were parked and marvelled at how it only began raining when I got there. Still, I thought, the cloud will be lifting and the rain clearing so I'll get on with it. Pulled on the waterproofs and set off across the ditch and up the landrover track, soon pulling through the gate a few hundred metres up which was my cue to get ready to head off up the side of Ben More itself.

looking-back-from-track.jpg

way-back.jpg


Picked a spot to tackle the fearsomely steep looking hillside and hoped there would be a path of some sort but it really was a hit-the-hillside type walk with no path for that section. Waded upwards and onwards through the boggy terrain and long grass and was glad I'd pulled on the waterproofs. I'd picked a big rock waaay up the hillside to walk towards and eventually reached it. Checked the Satmap and had a chuckle because I was bang on the route I'd downloaded from WalkHighlands so I guessed Paul must've aimed for the same rock. :lol:

looking-back-to-track.jpg


glimpse-of-the-view.jpg


A few wee breaks in the cloud let me have a look at all the wonderful scenery I'd been missing climbing this rather steep hillside before I pressed on and somehow located a path. Then it was up parallel to the dry-stane dyke, and up... and up... it never seemed to end! A wee break in the cloud gave me a glimpse of where the top was (probably).

oh-dear-god-is-the-the-top.jpg


After a bit I reached the top, sat for a while and enjoyed the imagined views through the hill fog. So much for the cloud clearing the summits. Ah well.

stunning-views-at-the-top.jpg


stob-binnein.jpg


Pressed on towards Stob Binnein and was able to get a wee preview of what was in front of me as I descended out of the fog and down towards the bealach 1,000 feet below the summit of Ben More. Soon I was puffing my way up Stob Binnein and after about 40 - 50 minutes or so I was at the top of my second munro of the day and once again enjoying the imagined views through the hill fog.

Cracked myself up when I spotted a rock that looked like it had a face... it was a 'rock face' heh. Ah, the perils of walking alone.

rock-face2.jpg


Back down to the bealach and sheltered from the wind and now persistent rain behind the giant boulder. Was bursting for a wee so picked a spot at the side of the big boulder away from the shelter side of it. It was mid-afternoon, thick hill fog and no-one would be coming up the bealach side at this late hour so wasn't bothered about being particularly discreet. Went a shade of beetroot when a pretty female walker and her partner appeared and greeted me with a big grin a minute or two later having come up the bealach! Didn't know where to look. :oops:

Boy! It was muddy! And steep! Before long I encountered some cows. Passed the first one without difficulty then screamed like a wee girl and slipped on my bum when the next two startled as I was walking past them. Ahem*. Squelched my way down to the boggy path and eventually came to the old, very rickety bridge that signalled the landrover track where it was a straight walk back to the car.

Re: Ben More and Stob Binnein

PostPosted: Sun Sep 06, 2009 2:39 pm
by monarchming
Hey sloosh and I had the same problem in finding a path on Ben More asI have done it and Stob Binnein 3 times.Going by your report I have climbed it the same way until I came across the path much to my friends relief as it can be heavy going!They are 2 big mountains and it's a pity you never got much of a view from them though your pics are good.

Re: Ben More and Stob Binnein

PostPosted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 10:56 am
by sloosh
Hey monarchming. :)

Thanks.

Yeah, it seems to be pathless until you get about halfway up where one mysteriously appears as if by magic. I'm with your friend on that though - very glad it was there! It's funny, you don't realise how much easier a wee path can make walking up a hill until you do it without one.

Re: Ben More and Stob Binnein

PostPosted: Fri Sep 11, 2009 12:39 am
by mountain coward
I think a path makes it psychologically much easier too!