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With a 2 month break from hillwalking due to Christmas, a holiday to Kenya and bad weather I was more than ready to go hillwalking again. Looking at the map of Munros I needed something easy...and after reading some reports for Beinn Bhuidhe, I decided that this would be great for a first Munro. It looked pretty straight foreward and hopefully would be ok in the snow.
Sunday morning I literally bounced out of bed as I hardly could wait to climb a mountain again. I guess for a non hillwalker it is hard to understand the enthusiasm a hillwalker can have (specially at 6am on Sunday morning), because while I was cheerfully chatting away about hills, weather, snow etc in the car while we drove up north, he just sat next to me with a worried look of ...What did I let myself into!
The day turned out to be as beautiful as the weather forecast had promised and driving past the car park of the Cobbler I spotted about 20 cars...at 8.30am on Sunday morning!!
While I pointed to the cars I said...you see
there are maniacs out like us
We drove on and arriving at the car park at the top of Glen Fyne. And hurray no other cars - I love to arrive first!
Changing into boots and getting the kit ready we set off and soon passed the Brewery (great place to have one)
The first 7km lead us through really pretty countryside and I loved the highland cattle which looked pretty next to the road. The path was pretty easy and would have been great to cycle.
![Beinn Bhuidhe (2).jpg]()
- Highland cattle
As I completely forgot to print out a map (due to being too busy at work on Friday) I decided that with the help of my new GPS (even though it didnt had the detailed map on it) I would be ok if I just drew a basic copy of the path...
![Beinn Bhuidhe (6).jpg]()
- The sophisticated map - what can possible go wrong if you have one of the most detailed maps on the planet....
![Beinn Bhuidhe (14).jpg]()
- The end of the path
After 1.40h we arrived at the white cottage which was the end point of the easy path and made our way up the rather steep hill. Within the first 20 min sweat was pouring off us and I kept on thinking...strange that there is no path???
Well there was a very faint path, but I clearly had expected something else. When we stopped for a break I looked down the hill to my left and next to the burn was was the path. I chuckled to myself, quite happy that yet again I managed to miss the path even with the help of a GPS system (and my wonderful map) But as we path was there and I liked the path up I wasnt worried at all...it was fun!
![Beinn Bhuidhe (15).jpg]()
- The path on the other side..
Marco on the other hand looked close to dying on my approach up
But being brave he didnt even complained once and didnt even bat an eye lit when I showed him the path on the other side. After all the only thing we had to do was to continue up. Checking out the path on the other side
I was also pretty glad that we didnt found it, as it was on the lee side of the mountain and covered in deep snow, while we happily walked on grass...
![Beinn Bhuidhe (17).jpg]()
- The lee side of the mountain inclusing the path was covered in sbow while we were still away from it
![Beinn Bhuidhe (20).jpg]()
- The waterfall
After the initial steep first bit, the walking got easier and we reached the snow. After the first bits of ice started to appear I put on my crampons and handed my ice axe to Marco, who neither had crampons or an ice axe.
Something which had worried me, but I hoped that he would be ok with the ice axe. Even though the ground was frozen over in some areas, it was still possible to walk without crampons. Well so would any experienced hillwalker have thought, but for someone who never had done anything like that it was pretty scary which I could emphasize with.
![Beinn Bhuidhe (25).jpg]()
- I guess that was a fox
We continued up the mountain and at times I took over the task to dig out steps for him with my ice axe (least I could do) Bouncing happily up the mountain he followed me clearly not as happy as I was with a look on his face which was a mix between..."What did I let myself into" "Fear" and "If I survive this, I am going to kill you after" I dont think my cheerful 'You will be fine' helped that much.
But he still consisted that he was fine...although he admitted after that there were bits when he really feared for his life. But in my opinion he did great for someone who hillwalked in such a long time and never done any hiking in winter.
After the final stretch of a thick bed of snow, we reached the top and had wonderful views, but as a front of dark clouds was approaching. we only took some summit pictures and made our way down again.
The way down proved easier than I expected and by that time we met 2 other hillwalkers - the first ones of the day. All Marco was able to say was...God more mad people like us'
By that time the clag had come down and it had started to rain slightly. Luckily the front passed within half an hour and it cleared up again. By that time Marco had forgiven me and started talking to me again
The walk down was pretty easy and we had both decided to go back down the same way we came up, as the other side looked even worse and it was easy to follow out footsteps down back to the while collage.
The last 7km back to the car seemed to go on forever, but after a total of 7:45h we were back and ready to go for a well earned pint.
Despite all he is still keen to come along again,although he still does not get it how anyone could do this every second weekend...
