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Well my Munro bagging days finally got started on 11/09/09. I had been looking forward to it ever since my wife had bought me the Cameron McNeish book. Having to drive up from near Bristol I decided to plump for the closest set of hills around Loch Lomond.
First up was Ben Vorlich. I set off from Bristol at 05:00 and arrived at Inveruglas Visitor Centre at 12:30, quite nervous as I hadn't really done any off-path routes before so wasn't sure what to expect. The weather was sunny and very clear so I was thankfully quite confident of not getting lost on my first hill.
As I walked up the footpath from the main road, to the spot I had decided to make my ascent, I kept looking at Ben Vane to my left trying to spot a route through the crags near the top. This was one for tomorrow!
- Ben Vane with Beinne Ime
It took 50 minutes to get from the Visitor Centre to the spot where I was leaving the path (NN29526, NN10324). I had decided to go straight up the steep Western slope, not too far from the Sloy dam.
- Starting point
I didn't realise until I came down later that the place I started was just past a path regularly used by walkers going up this way. That'll teach me for lookng at Ben Vane too much.
The going was very hard work due to the steepness and lack of a path so I stopped regularly to catch my breath and snap some pictures. I think I have seen a lot of pictures of the dam from the slope but couldn't resist taking one of my own.
- Sloy Dam
I found a path half way up the slope so followed it for a little while until it appeared to be heading for the crags near the ridge. I wasn't keen on doing crags on my first hill so veered off the path instead heading for a small flat area to the right of the crags. It was incredibly steep but with regular stops I eventually got to the flat spot and took a picture of where I had come up.
The walk to the summit from here wasn't too bad and I picked up a path again. It was still very clear so there were great views back to Loch Lomond.
- Looking back to Loch Lomond
The path eventually leads to the trig point, and the summit cairn (NN29512, NN12467, 3097ft) which is 4 minutes past the trig point.
- Trig Point to Cairn
- Cairn to Trig Point
I only met two other people, near the top, all day, I was expecting more because of the great weather. Maybe they had all gone up earlier and were now back down enjoying a rereshing drink in a bar somewhere!
Great views from the top. I could clearly see tomorrow's route taking in three Munros, and I could see the infamous 'Cobbler' in the distance aswell.
- Tomorrows hills
After a quick rest, and some fresh air for my feet, I set off back down. I decided to follow the ridge path to see where it actually went. It went to the crags I had seen on the way up, but then it disappeared. I could see the slope back down so decided to carry on through the crags, as it would be quicker, and they didn't seem so fightening now.
I saw a couple of walkers coming up the slope, and they appeared to be on a path, so I headed for them. I followed this path all the way down the slope to the tarmac (NN29538, NN10302), stopping to take a picture looking back up where I had come from.
Back on the tarmac, I soon realised where I had missed the start of the path mentioned earlier. It was now 17:15 and my feet ached.
I was, however, very pleased to have completed my first Munro. Texted my wife to let her know. Can't wait for tomorrow now.