Ben Lawers

[Fcfraser]

...Stook on An Stuc!

Set off Bright and Sparky to "Bag" Five Munros on the Ben Lawers Ridge.......good intentions! We got parked easily in the large car park, at the old Visitor Centre, having first left a car at the Ben Lawers Hotel, which is permissble, if you buy a drink later...... oh all right then, if I have to!!!!

We gained the heady heights of Beinn Ghlas fairly quickly, having stopped to chat to the Shepherds taking in a huge amount of sheep to be shorn. Working their sheepdogs, it was well worth stopping and watching them coming from all directions rounding them up, in touch with the other Shephers by mobile phone (changed days I would imagine!) These guys do this for a living and are amazingly fit!

Off we went on our next hill of the day, being Ben Lawers itself, no real challenge here, easy path all the way, the mandatory photo shoot and lunch stop, sun shining, midges in abundance!

Next.... An Stuc... a dawdle! have to say wryly....LOL!

"Hey Mum!...I'm Stuc!!!!"

I have heard there was a bit of a scrambe off here. I wasn't prepared for quite how challenging this scramble was going to be! Not for the faint hearted, convinced we didn't chose the easiest route off here, and whilst we managed ok(ish) It was well outwith poor Troika's comfort zone! We took a whole HOUR to get him down, he whimpered like a pathetic pup! He was so scared, no pushing pulling, bribery with jelly babies....he was going nowhere!! Eventually it was brute force! I was sure if we walked on he would eventually work it out, but the thought of having to climb back up after walking away was too painful to bear!!

Doesnt Look so bad from afar!

By now, we had lost a lot of time, and we decided to abandon the other two. they will keep for another day. On hindsight, I feel An Stuc would have been much easier tackled, begining the traverse of the five munros from the Ben Lawers Hotel side....however, you live and learn!!

Lochan Nan Cat

[Lenore]

Your picture of Lochan nan Cat is gorgeous!

[Stuart Angus]

Yip, it's steep alright as I found out a couple of weeks ago but it doen't seems so bad from the bottom eh? I think it's just the first leap of faith that throws you. Glad the dogs ok