Meall Ghaordaidh and some bluebells
Posted: Thu May 17, 2012 12:04 amMeall Ghaordaidh had been my Munro No.24 back on a driech day in 1999, whilst staying with the clan in Fortingall.
Now I was looking for a relatively friendly hill to reintroduce Mrs. Ranger back to the mountains after a couple of years off during which 10 month old Ranger junior had entered the world. He was in the care of my family whilst we had a leisurely day on the hill.
Heading off from Newburgh (fife) after 9am, starting the walk late in the morning, and ambling up and down taking our time, it was a refreshing change from the long, demanding days I'd been accustomed to whilst tackling West Highlands Munros from distant Aberdeen. Relaxing Munros.....
The weather started fine, with the fluffy white clouds getting plumper and eventually squally showers blowing in from the west. Two ice axes were taken, for ballast as much as anything else
, but the snow was wet and mushy by the time we got up there.
We followed a path up but found it was taking us to far to the right, and I recalled getting a bit lost back in '99, climbing into the mists and traversing too far to the east of the summit, becoming disoriented before heading up the east ridge to the top. No excuse for the same mistake again, we cut across to the left at the rocky steepening to find a more well defined route through the small crags. Views to the Ben Alder, Cairngorms fantastic, the Nevis range concealed in shower clouds this time - maybe one for a third visit
Two Feasts from the coop in Killin to round the day off in classic style
Now I was looking for a relatively friendly hill to reintroduce Mrs. Ranger back to the mountains after a couple of years off during which 10 month old Ranger junior had entered the world. He was in the care of my family whilst we had a leisurely day on the hill.
Heading off from Newburgh (fife) after 9am, starting the walk late in the morning, and ambling up and down taking our time, it was a refreshing change from the long, demanding days I'd been accustomed to whilst tackling West Highlands Munros from distant Aberdeen. Relaxing Munros.....
- Bluebell woods near Comrie on the drive through
- Photo friendly Loch Earn
- Was on my stomach to get this 'waves crashing' shot!
The weather started fine, with the fluffy white clouds getting plumper and eventually squally showers blowing in from the west. Two ice axes were taken, for ballast as much as anything else
, but the snow was wet and mushy by the time we got up there.- Creag Mhor seen along Glen Lochay from the path
- Ben More Stob Binnein
- The Easains beyond Stuchd an Lochain
We followed a path up but found it was taking us to far to the right, and I recalled getting a bit lost back in '99, climbing into the mists and traversing too far to the east of the summit, becoming disoriented before heading up the east ridge to the top. No excuse for the same mistake again, we cut across to the left at the rocky steepening to find a more well defined route through the small crags. Views to the Ben Alder, Cairngorms fantastic, the Nevis range concealed in shower clouds this time - maybe one for a third visit
- Loch Lyon to Bridge of Orchy Munros from the summit
- Ben Alder hills beyond Meall Buidhe
- Stuchd an Lochain dwarfs Glen Lyon
- High tops of the Cairngorms looking strangely close!
Two Feasts from the coop in Killin to round the day off in classic style
- Vorlich and Chroin
- Shower in front of Ben Challum
- Looking up Glen Lochay
Slammed on the breaks when I saw them from the road and u-turned to nip back and take a few. Glad I did