Beinn Tulaichean & Cruach Ardrain

[markthespark]

Away from Linlithgow by 6.30 to beat the traffic and was in the car park at Inverlochlarig by 8.
Booted and suited and away by 8.30, in what can only be described as a sunny morning, but " frosty enough to snap a dog off a lamp-post" I headed down the track towards the farm, across the bridge and up the track into Inverlochlarig Glen.
Before reaching the second gate, I spurred left and started to climb up Beinn Tulaichean, which would be a bog-fest in normal conditions, but with the hard frost, it made for easier foot steps on the slope.
Upwards and onwards, over the top fence and into the snow line and eventually reached the shoulder plateau

Beinn Tulaichean From Shoulder Plateau

Had some of the clearest views I've been lucky to have

Loch Voil & Loch Doine

Stob Binnein & Ben More

Ben Vorlich & Stuc a Chroin

Picked my way up to the Beinn Tulaichean summit plateau ( luckily following a previous walkers foot falls) and made my way across to the cairn. It was cold, but not a breathe of wind at that time. Quick cuppa coffee and a few pickys.

Stob Binnein & Ben More Again

Beinn Tulaichean Cairn

Then down into the bealach and onwards to Cruach Ardrain. Noticed a few sets of crampon spikes, but the snow was soft and still had plenty of grip, so kept mine in the bergen....
Made it up to the top to be greeted with more fantastic views as far as the eye could see.....the view was so clear, it was like you could reach out and touch whichever peak you wanted

An Caisteal from Cruach Ardrain

Cruach Ardrain Cairn

Ben More & Stob Binnein From Cruach Ardrain Cairn

Even looking down the glen towards Crainlarich and beyond

Crainlarich & Tyndrum

Soaked in the scenery for another 20 minutes and then headed back down via the bealach between the 2 peaks. Great joy yomping down through the snow but then back to reality once below the snow line
The ground was still firm under foot cos of the frosty conditions ( probably a squelcher normally) and eventually back onto the farm track leading back down Inverlochlarig Glen to the farm and then back to the car.
Timed it well , as on the drive out of the glen, the heavens opened and that would have been a poor ending to another magic day in the hills.

Ciao for now

Sparky.

[Bod]

Nice one, what a cracker of a day too! Love these two when we were up last year in mixed conditions. Took the reverse route to yours. Fine either way
(great to meet up last friday night ...)

[heatheronthehills]

Wow, looks like you had a fantastic day. Makes all the difference when the boggy bits are frosted up and when there is no wind on the summits, just perfect Lovely photos.

[skuk007]

Looks like you had a great day Mark. Looks pretty nippy even though you said there was no wind as such.
I like the pics of Ben More and Stob Binnein with the winter coats one.

Did you do this on your own?

[markthespark]

Looks like you had a great day Mark. Looks pretty nippy even though you said there was no wind as such.
I like the pics of Ben More and Stob Binnein with the winter coats one.

Did you do this on your own?

Started the Beinn Tulaichean section on my own, but noted a couple behind me as I climbed the final ridge to the summit plateau, so as I had a brew at the cairn, they caught up,( hence the picky) and then they headed away in front of me to Cruach Ardrain.

[markthespark]

Wow, looks like you had a fantastic day. Makes all the difference when the boggy bits are frosted up and when there is no wind on the summits, just perfect Lovely photos.

Thanks for that, I've been really lucky with the weather I've had on the hills, but when I'm at home, I can generally pick a day with a good forecast before I decide to head out

[rockhopper]

views look great, mark, and certainly an excellent way to avoid the bogs - cheers

[markthespark]

Nice one, what a cracker of a day too! Love these two when we were up last year in mixed conditions. Took the reverse route to yours. Fine either way
(great to meet up last friday night ...)

Probably the best pair of hills that I've tackled so far conditions were spot on, overhead and underfoot.
Aye, was good to meet up last week......was gutted that I never got a chance to walk on the Saturday ( self inflicted condition...lol.) or party-on in the Clachaig at night maybe next time

[Malckyb]

Its a great walk....looks fab in the snow too.