Walkhighlands

Out a week past Sunday near Dalmally with the local outdoors squad. On the road just after 7am, arriving at our destination two hours later (including a quick "cold" stop at Crianlarich), the start point for the day was from the B8077 near Drishaig before climbing steeply onto the east ridge of Monadh Driseig...


...taking a break in the col for a perfectly observed silence at 11am and a quick snack stop, before heading up to the summit of the Corbett, Beinn a’Bhuiridh.

View SW from the summit of Beinn a'Bhuiridh (around Noon)


View NW from Beinn a'Bhuiridh summit (over Cruachan Dam and Ben)


We then descended steeply to the Lairig Torran, where we had a lunch stop, before heading over Stob Garbh to the highpoint of the day Stob Diamh at a leisurely pace. The descent took us over Sron an Isean and down it’s South-East ridge.

Stob Diamh summit with Ben Cruachan in the background


There was snow from about 800m with significant accumulations on higher E/SE aspects. No new snow during the day and cloud mostly well above the summits. Freezing above about 750m and a light NW/W wind. The ground was firm above about 850m and ice was forming at higher levels. On the drive up Ben Lawers and Ben Lui looked to be holding plenty of snow high up.

Ben Lui


View along the ridge


Descent perspective to the ridge


NB. There are new vehicle tracks up Coire Glas and Coire Chreachainn and that the footbridge shown in Coire Chreachainn on the 1:25,000 map is now no longer servicable.

An excellent day out in good conditions, a gentle introduction to Winter, with good views to Ben Lui, Arran, Mull and the Etive and Glen Coe hills.

Glen Etive


The landlord, just making sure we were getting orf his land...

Thanks for this report! It's always good to see pictures of this range.

Some cracking photos, BV

Some cracking photos there I really must get back to these hills one day

Thanks, Rudolph. First time on this range and I agree, it's beautiful and hope to return in the not too distant future to do a few more.

Cheers, AB.

PeteR wrote:Some cracking photos there I really must get back to these hills one day

PeteR, when I was up there I was remembering that your video-TR in the snow, wasn't that the Cruachan horseshoe?, last winter maybe?

Good stuff BV - you've just reminded me that I also need to go back some time as I saw nothing the day I was up here -cheers

great pics , especially like the one, glen etive

rockhopper wrote:Good stuff BV - you've just reminded me that I also need to go back some time as I saw nothing the day I was up here -cheers

Thanks, Rockhopper. Not one of your epics but an uncomplicated route, in good, clear weather and a variety of underfoot conditions. Taken at a leisurely pace which really allows you to soak up the surroundings, plenty to catch the eye up there on a clear day.

tomyboy73 wrote:great pics , especially like the one, glen etive

Cheers tb73, my wee ageing pentax optio s4i didn't really do it justice. There's a boat breaking the flat calm of Loch Etive (where it meets Glen Noe) and had a better camera in the bottom of my rucksack but was too lazy to dig it out.