Beinn Bhan April 29th 2012
Posted: Wed Apr 24, 2013 9:59 pm
I was imagining doing this walk for quite a while before I eventually revisited Ben Bhan. First went there in 1994 from the summit of Bealach na Ba and remember on that occasion feeling awe struck by the drops to the east after the kind of bland approach from the west. I also have a recollection of the descent south being very easy or maybe it just felt that way because of how rough the walk from the west is.
This time round I opted for a straight up and down of the south ridge. I could only find a decent parking spot slightly west of the bottom of the south ridge, near the bridge and a turn off to a track that doesn't go anywhere.
The first kilometre was over rough ground but after getting past the steep ground on the west flank the going became very easy. For the first couple kilometres the south ridge is really broad with a few crags that can be easily bypassed. I tended to go along the east edge of the ridge as that gave the easiest looking route. Probably around the 500m mark I joined a path that led all the way up to the summit. Not sure how easy that is to identify lower down but I guess it must start at the road. I certainly lost it on the way back down but you can't miss it if you get to that 500m level.
On reaching the first distinctive summit area some striking views open up both looking south west to Loch Kishorn and north east over the first of the ridges that runs out to the east. This will draw you on and up. There is then a steepening and narrowing of the ridge that leads up northwards to a sort of plateau or escarpment with the huge corries to the east and more gentle slopes to the west.
On your first visit there your breath will be taken away. Why doesn't this hill have as much celebrity as its bigger siblings further east? No idea. I expect the scrambles from the east must be excellent. I will have to try those one day.
I had a great time then just strolling around the edge of the corries with the sunlight glinting on the lochans below. There's good 400m or 500m near vertical drop most of the way round.
I can't do the place justice in words but I'd certainly recommend it to someone who, like I was, is just pondering or contemplating a walk up and down that south ridge.
- Bhan 1
- Bhan 2
- Bhan 4
Both the, so called, smaller hills in the area have very fine Eastern aspects and each has a Cioch ridge. The one on Bhan gives a grand wee scramble on to the the summit area...in dry weather.... although the one on Chaorachain is much more than a scramble.