Ben Lui
Posted: Fri Jul 12, 2013 1:45 pmBen Lui
Or
A Pensioners Day Out!
I was very apprehensive about this mountain after reading the various accounts of river/rail crossings and boggy forest tracks! So I decided to wait for a dry spell, and got my wish with Andy winning Wimbledon! Thursday July 11th saw me a little hesitant, but booted and ready to go, and taking a leaf out of Pollyh33’s book I tagged along (behind) a group of four young lads and a dog (who were off to bag 4 Munro’s), and watched where they crossed the river and railway. Easy peasy, phew first two hurdles managed in two minutes! The lads and dog disappeared off, and I sauntered through the trees with a cool breeze and bird song for company.
The bogs were soon in evidence and one huge area which took me along time to circumnavigate, lived up to my fears. On the way down I found an excellent by pass on the north side of the track, sadly couldn’t see it on way up. However I managed to find the little cairn where the tracks diverge and after a few more bogs emerged at the gate in the deer fence. I decided to head up the grass to Walk Highland’s “more interesting” NE ridge, this was hard going but there is a faint track to follow most of the way up the slope. By now the sun was high and it was very hot (26c), but eventually I made the summit at just about the same time as a young couple who had walked up from Tyndrum (yikes!), we chatted away and it transpired that Tom and Esther are both musicians - pianists at the RCS – so as I am also a musician we had a good time talking shop! I have txd Robert D!
I should have realised that a long stop at the top = cramp on way down. So decided against doing Beinn a’Chleibh (apart from anything else it was still roasting hot) and followed the not very obvious track down the corrie to the deer fence, and retraced my tired footsteps (avoiding the big-bog!) back to the car park. Was well pleased with my day and shall return to visit my missed top.
Or
A Pensioners Day Out!
I was very apprehensive about this mountain after reading the various accounts of river/rail crossings and boggy forest tracks! So I decided to wait for a dry spell, and got my wish with Andy winning Wimbledon! Thursday July 11th saw me a little hesitant, but booted and ready to go, and taking a leaf out of Pollyh33’s book I tagged along (behind) a group of four young lads and a dog (who were off to bag 4 Munro’s), and watched where they crossed the river and railway. Easy peasy, phew first two hurdles managed in two minutes! The lads and dog disappeared off, and I sauntered through the trees with a cool breeze and bird song for company.
The bogs were soon in evidence and one huge area which took me along time to circumnavigate, lived up to my fears. On the way down I found an excellent by pass on the north side of the track, sadly couldn’t see it on way up. However I managed to find the little cairn where the tracks diverge and after a few more bogs emerged at the gate in the deer fence. I decided to head up the grass to Walk Highland’s “more interesting” NE ridge, this was hard going but there is a faint track to follow most of the way up the slope. By now the sun was high and it was very hot (26c), but eventually I made the summit at just about the same time as a young couple who had walked up from Tyndrum (yikes!), we chatted away and it transpired that Tom and Esther are both musicians - pianists at the RCS – so as I am also a musician we had a good time talking shop! I have txd Robert D!
I should have realised that a long stop at the top = cramp on way down. So decided against doing Beinn a’Chleibh (apart from anything else it was still roasting hot) and followed the not very obvious track down the corrie to the deer fence, and retraced my tired footsteps (avoiding the big-bog!) back to the car park. Was well pleased with my day and shall return to visit my missed top.
