Ben Challum - No bogfest for us!
Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2012 6:43 pmAfter a break visiting friends and family we were in the mood to get back onto the hills and the weather had at last decided to play its part after a miserable couple of weeks of rain and gales. We set out for Tyndrum as we were going to camp the night before and give us more time for a leisurely walk. Also snow was still around and even into June we were promised a wee odd shower which for us was fine as they were mainly meant for the Cairngorms. We had intended to walk up Meal Glas from Glen Dochart as we had done Sgiath chuill in April from Glen Lochay. However, after 2 dalmations report of His turning back from the wintry ridge on Ben Challum I was nosy to find out why that had happened. All would become clear!
So we parked up on the layby nearly opposite the road down to Kirkton and made our way towards the farm crossing the River Fillan and met up with a party of 4 guys who were walking the West Highland Way and were raising a lot of money for charity.
You will have to excuse me but I can’t remember the name of the person involved or the charity but they were keen to raise aload of money for their cause. Our brief walk together came to an end when they walked on towards the Wigwams and coffee shop further along the route and we started to gain a bit of height after passing the two cemeteries, one of which was very old and the remains of the old priory from ancient times apparently in remembrance of St. Fillan.
The way became clear as firstly we crossed the railway paying attention to the warning notices which then leads any walkers to follow the deer fence and right enough we took that advice and led us to the first stile. It was mentioned in someone else report of the stile being a bit of a hazard and right enough it was a wee bit exposed when you got over the top of the first stile that led to a wee shake when on the top step!
(Incidentally there was a small gap in the bottom of the fence that Ruby could get through – thank you to whoever made that happen!) Once that was gotten over it was follow the deer fence until we would reach the bottom of the stiffer climb up to the first cairn.
Already we could see Ben More and Stob Binnein and the Strathfillan range which grew more impressive as we followed the path up the southern end of Ben Challum. Ben Lui also was splendid dominating the skyline.
After a break for something to eat we met up with four people the furthest had come from Portsmouth!. They were on a walking holiday and were so pleased to get a decent day out on the hills. We mentioned The Real Food Cafe and as it happens we saw them later that evening at Tyndrum where they had organised their fish & chips take away!
So onwards we pressed until we were at the first cairn but soon went passed that until we saw the wee ridge and the steep descent on either side that must have been scary in the winter conditions and personally I think that the right choice was made that day(even more so since we have re-read 2 Dalmatians report.) We were able to quickly go past the wee ridge and from there it was an easy walk up to the Cairn.
We had made good time going up and even better time going down ,as the ‘bogfest’ that seemed to be mentioned in a lot of reports had dried up considerably and made it into an easy walk back to the car and back to Tyndrum for a well deserved fish supper and a bottle of Schiehallion!
So we parked up on the layby nearly opposite the road down to Kirkton and made our way towards the farm crossing the River Fillan and met up with a party of 4 guys who were walking the West Highland Way and were raising a lot of money for charity.
- bridge over river Fillan
You will have to excuse me but I can’t remember the name of the person involved or the charity but they were keen to raise aload of money for their cause. Our brief walk together came to an end when they walked on towards the Wigwams and coffee shop further along the route and we started to gain a bit of height after passing the two cemeteries, one of which was very old and the remains of the old priory from ancient times apparently in remembrance of St. Fillan.
- Old cemetary
- Old Railway Halt
The way became clear as firstly we crossed the railway paying attention to the warning notices which then leads any walkers to follow the deer fence and right enough we took that advice and led us to the first stile. It was mentioned in someone else report of the stile being a bit of a hazard and right enough it was a wee bit exposed when you got over the top of the first stile that led to a wee shake when on the top step!
- Su on the way up!
- Su & Ruby at the first stile!
(Incidentally there was a small gap in the bottom of the fence that Ruby could get through – thank you to whoever made that happen!) Once that was gotten over it was follow the deer fence until we would reach the bottom of the stiffer climb up to the first cairn.
Already we could see Ben More and Stob Binnein and the Strathfillan range which grew more impressive as we followed the path up the southern end of Ben Challum. Ben Lui also was splendid dominating the skyline.
- Ben More & Stob Binnein
After a break for something to eat we met up with four people the furthest had come from Portsmouth!. They were on a walking holiday and were so pleased to get a decent day out on the hills. We mentioned The Real Food Cafe and as it happens we saw them later that evening at Tyndrum where they had organised their fish & chips take away!
- Walk up the South end to get to the first cairn
- Strathfillan range
- Su & Ruby with Ben More & Stob Binnein in the background
- Ruby being Ruby
- Passing the first cairn
- It's over there!
So onwards we pressed until we were at the first cairn but soon went passed that until we saw the wee ridge and the steep descent on either side that must have been scary in the winter conditions and personally I think that the right choice was made that day(even more so since we have re-read 2 Dalmatians report.) We were able to quickly go past the wee ridge and from there it was an easy walk up to the Cairn.
- The Ridge that should be treated with respect especially in winter
- Su, Ruby & yours truly at the cairn
We had made good time going up and even better time going down ,as the ‘bogfest’ that seemed to be mentioned in a lot of reports had dried up considerably and made it into an easy walk back to the car and back to Tyndrum for a well deserved fish supper and a bottle of Schiehallion!