A different world on Beinn Narnain
Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2012 10:13 pmFollowing bagging Ben Lomond on Saturday we headed for the Arrochar Alps on the Sunday morning to climb up Beinn Narnain.
It was fairly overcast with most of the cloud at about 600m as we set off, quickly finding the path up the line of the long gone hydro project. To say the route was a bit wet was an understatement as it resembled a stream for much of the way.
It hadn’t taken long but we already preferred this wet rough start to the climb than the sanitised path on Ben Lomond. It was steady away as we passed the traverse path and headed up towards the first easy scrambling section. It was very wet so we had to take care but encountered no real problems. For some unbeknown reason, rather than head right to the second scramble we followed just as distinct a path to the left that led us into a stinking bog. We ploughed onwards and upwards and following much squelching we found the path again to our great relief.
Shortly after this we ascended into cloud before traverseing the top of Cruach nam Miseag. The path that winds its way through the boulders clinging to the edge of the cliffs at times is excellent, full of interest even in poor visibility. Eventually the Spearhead loomed out of the mist looking very imposing indeed and we followed the simple gully to the right onto the summit plateau.
We wandered through the mist and got within about 10 yards before we actually saw the trig point and shelter. It’s probably the closest we’ve been to a top before we saw it.
We had a well earned lunch as it brightened slightly but quite simply we weren’t getting any summit views today. We headed down off the summit and across a small boulder field to be greeted by bright sunshine.
The Cobbler provided us with a spectacular sight as it played hide and seek with the cloud. At this point another slight navigational malfunction occurred as we were drawn towards the views and ended up dropping down the side of the hill and over some super slippy rocks one of which saw my better half do a very graceful unplanned bum slide.
Soon enough we reached the path through the valley and a quick return to the car. During this descent Grace was quite tired although her claims to be close to death were somewhat exaggerated.
We really enjoyed Beinn Narnian even with the mist. It’s a proper hill with a great rough ascent from Succoth, certainly a different world to the tourist route up Ben Lomond we did the previous day. The views we did get were truly spectacular and we’re all looking forward to another chance to visit the Arrochar Alps.
It was fairly overcast with most of the cloud at about 600m as we set off, quickly finding the path up the line of the long gone hydro project. To say the route was a bit wet was an understatement as it resembled a stream for much of the way.
- The stream...sorry path
It hadn’t taken long but we already preferred this wet rough start to the climb than the sanitised path on Ben Lomond. It was steady away as we passed the traverse path and headed up towards the first easy scrambling section. It was very wet so we had to take care but encountered no real problems. For some unbeknown reason, rather than head right to the second scramble we followed just as distinct a path to the left that led us into a stinking bog. We ploughed onwards and upwards and following much squelching we found the path again to our great relief.
- Looking down Loch Long
- Looking down to Arrochar
- Loch Long from higher up
Shortly after this we ascended into cloud before traverseing the top of Cruach nam Miseag. The path that winds its way through the boulders clinging to the edge of the cliffs at times is excellent, full of interest even in poor visibility. Eventually the Spearhead loomed out of the mist looking very imposing indeed and we followed the simple gully to the right onto the summit plateau.
- Misty mountain hop!
- Balancing act
We wandered through the mist and got within about 10 yards before we actually saw the trig point and shelter. It’s probably the closest we’ve been to a top before we saw it.
- Top of the Spearhead
- Family summit shot
We had a well earned lunch as it brightened slightly but quite simply we weren’t getting any summit views today. We headed down off the summit and across a small boulder field to be greeted by bright sunshine.
The Cobbler provided us with a spectacular sight as it played hide and seek with the cloud. At this point another slight navigational malfunction occurred as we were drawn towards the views and ended up dropping down the side of the hill and over some super slippy rocks one of which saw my better half do a very graceful unplanned bum slide.- Heading down
- The Cobbler emerges from the mist
- Sunshine on Bealach a' Mhaim
- Ptarmigan
Soon enough we reached the path through the valley and a quick return to the car. During this descent Grace was quite tired although her claims to be close to death were somewhat exaggerated.
- Looking back to the Cobbler
We really enjoyed Beinn Narnian even with the mist. It’s a proper hill with a great rough ascent from Succoth, certainly a different world to the tourist route up Ben Lomond we did the previous day. The views we did get were truly spectacular and we’re all looking forward to another chance to visit the Arrochar Alps.
glad you got some sunshine on the deadly descent 
