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Weather forecast 110mph winds so I didn't want to rely on being able to get up a hill, although still wanted a fairly long day out. This walk on WH looked just the job. Very windy setting out from Arrochar, great walk along the path north through Glen Loin despite the pylons - just ignore them they can't take away the beauty of the area anyway.
Clouds keeping just above the tops so good view of A'Chrois on the left - it looks fine and would be worth a visit. Ben Vane, also looking good, then comes into view as you start the drop down toward Coiregrogain. From there, a view up to the Loch Sloy dam and Ben Vorlich. On the road for a bit then turn left down the track to the foot of Ben Vane. I had decided to give Ben Vane a go, see what happens. A bit boggy at first, then onto a small plateau before the steeper part begins. Had a bite to eat.
Moved on up out of the partial shelter of a boulder/bank and the wing was getting real strong. It seemed to get worse even with each metre climbed. A huge blast ripped up dead grass and swirled a cloud of it about around me. There didn't look to be much shelter from the wind higher up, it was only going to be stronger so I canned the climb. A shame, but expected and I still has a long way to go. Back down to the plateau where I then followed a faint path further to the west than the start point. This drops down to the track again and in fact is a better path than the one taken at the start.
Heading west, the track ascends up the glen, nicely sandwiched between the good-looking Ben Vane and A'Chrois, Beinn Ime ahead. Wind still strong but bearable at this lower level. Past the dam and waterfall then a turn to the south between the trees, before reaching a stram crossing and a sharp turn back to the east. A good view up to the end of the glen with the rise to the Bealach A'Mhaim. From here, above the trees, the good-looking knobbled ridges of Ime and Vane looked almost like mirror images. This is the way I want to climb between them when I visit them both in the future. Certainly not to Ime by the boring slog from the bealach!
I had another bite to eat then thought I'd better get a move on. No more photos as just mostly through the trees from here. About an hour before I got back to the car it started to pour down so waterproofs on (lucky it had stayed dry up to now). Once out of the trees on the final 1km I was heading SW into the teeth of the gale, after a few mins I found that the wind was forcing the rain through the Paramo faster than it could deal with it. A great day.
