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Easter Sunday - the clocks have gone forward - it's cold and crisp. Time for an early drive up Glen Artney to have a walk up Uamh Bheag. On arrival, the car park was empty so geared up quickly and set off along the road to reach the bridge over the Water of Ruchill. Climbed a gate and strolled along the SE bank of the river on quite a reasonable track until reaching the Allt Ollach which was fairly easy to cross.
- Am Beannan from the Water of Ruchill
The cone of Am Beannan loomed ahead, looking steep and snow covered - interesting, I thought. I plodded up through quite deep soft snow and long tussocky grass to reach the steeper section of the ridge.
- The snowy tussocks and the ridge ahead
On the left was a rocky section glistening with ice, on the right, steep fairly hard (at times very hard) snow - so great fun to be had! Once over the top of Am Beannan, I thought it would be easier on hard snow - but not at all - it was more of an up-to-the-knee soft snow plod over to Meall Clachach and the cairn.
- On the summit plateau
- Looking over to Ben Vorlich and Stuc a' Chroin
- Looking back to Am Beannan
I did intend making a circuit but the going was very draining and my knee was beginning to ache (awaiting a surgery date as I write this!) so it was back down to the car by the route of ascent, which was 'interesting' down the steep slope of Am Beannan.
- Looking up the snowy ridge of Am Beannan