Beinn Challuim getting boggier all the time!

[mrssanta]

So we are coming down off the nose of Twistin Hill of an Casteil with another night to spend in the tent and time for another hill in the morning before going home. It was quite dry underfoot for the time of year so we thought it might be a good opportunity to climb a famously boggy hill and with the dreadful weather forecast a single was in order. what other hill to go for but Beinn Challuim?

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After a hearty tea at the Real Food Cafe (highly recommended, you can get a pint mug of tea!) we set off up the hill from Kirkton Farm to the sound of the cuckoo in the woods to our right and shafts of evening sun across the Cononish Glen.

Here are some hills I did earlier - looking over to the Crianlarich Hills

cononish glen

There are some attempts at allowing native woodland regeneration on the lower slopes; these don't seem to be going that well, but it didnt help that the gate was open and there were sheep in the woodland. We did a good turn and fastened the gate with the string that was provided. As requested, we informed the office on the way down and the very friendly man was a bit gloomy about the situation.

slighly alarming stile out of the attempted native woodland.

The bogs were really not too bad and we got to about the 630m contour before deciding it was a good time to pitch up for the night. (Actually I said I'm not going any further I have had enough for today!) we found a nice flat spot by a burn and managed to pitch the tent and get snugly into our sleeping bags before the rain started.

Ben Lui and the tent

The forecast was for high wind and rain overnight with gales in the morning, but where we were was quite nicely sheltered so apart from the rain blattering on the tent we were quite snug. Of course in the morning we had to get up! waterproofs on inside the tent and a quick brew up in the porch was in order.

we do this for fun!?!

We were up and away before 8am and were on the top of Beinn Challuim at two minutes to nine!! Not a day for hanging around really, but the wind was never dangerous. Navigation up this hill is pretty straightforward as there is a fence or old posts all the way to within a few hundred metres of the south top. A large cairn just before the south Top summit shows where to bear left to cross the cleft in the top and reach the summit ridge.

Rudolph on the summit with a view to the east

Me on the summit with a view to the West

I really enjoyed this wet and windy walk, it gave me memories of childhood expeditions across boggy moors in wellies and knee length waterproofs (plenty of growing room) with the sounds of "you'll feel better for this when you get home" and such like phrases ringing in my ears! Coming down the bogs was a completely different experience from going up, after all the rain of the night, and the burns had gone from wee trickles to torrents!
No more pictures of this walk I'm afraid but here is a picture of a 1927 car we met in Abington services on the way home.

PS they tell us Sunday was a lovely day in Yorkshire!

[Fife Flyer]

Nice report, I did Beinn Challum just over 10 years ago
Can't say I remember it being boggy & according to my log it was showery when I did it