Glen Lyon Horseshoe beaten by two stents
Posted: Tue Jul 16, 2013 3:29 pmPreamble to title - Looking back to last year its hard to imagine that I was unable to walk a 200 meters without having to stop and rest. I was suffering from acute Angina and it was gradually stopping me hillwalking and doing other things. However in August last I had Stents fitted to one of my heart arteries by some great guys at the ERI, and I feel like a new man. Since then I have managed to get back to Hillwalking with a vengeance. ref my previous trip reports. ps. Hence my Walkhighlands nickname.... Second Chance. However up till now I have tried to curtail my Munro activities to the easier and shorter climbs - yesterday this all changed I managed to get round the Glen Lyon Horseshoe without any difficulty and what a great day I had.
Weather and conditions. - Light cloud, sometimes dropping below summits. Sunny intervals. Light winds, but very strong on summits. Ground conditions very dry and dusty. Temp was mild but you needed a light windstopper jacket etc.
Arrived at the Invervar car park at around 8:30 am and quickly got booted up on my way the forest trail. I was following the Walkhighlands guide and doing the horseshoe in a clockwise route. The pull up the forest trail and up to the iron bridge was ok and introduced me to what I would see lots of on this walk - Rocks and Stones by the barrow load !!!!! This in places made difficult and tricky walking if you wanted to prevent a sprain or worse.
The approach and ascent of Carn Gorm is mostly grassy and a fair slog (3373ft). Once on top the wind was so strong it would have knocked you over if not careful.
Leaving the summit you are presented with a splendid view of the remaining 3 Munros still to climb and laid out before you.
The walk to Meall Garbh is straight forward and easy with some great views of Loch Rannoch. I spotted a Skylark sitting on a big stone, a vary rare sight indeed. The summit of Meall Garbh resembles a scrapyard with all the old metal posts lying around and forming part of the summit cairn. Not impressed !
Pressing on and half way there the clouds parted and the views improved. The Lawers Group looked impressive as did Carn Gorm and Meall Garbh.
As you approach Carn Mairg the views of Schiehallion improve, and I must admit from this angle its the best position ever. The whale shape and perfect pointed top are a match with any views of Buachaille Etive More -Stob Dearg any day.
The approach to Carn Mairg takes an avoidable route around a very large cluster of boulders that were left by the ice age glaciers. Once on top the views would have been great but the clouds decided to descend again and snubbed me out.
I chose to take the path from the summit middle that takes the direct route down into the Bealach below. Okay ... but very steep and rocky. If doing this again I would choose a easier/ less demanding route.
The walk across the bealach to Meall na Alghean is easy and so was the climb. Not so easy was finding the path off the hill that takes you back Invervar ??
Once located on the path it was just a case of following it back to the car park.
I reckon I could have shaved an hour of this trip, but why go hillwalking if you can't stop and stare at the awesome sights and sounds that our hobby provides for us. Hope you enjoy the report/photos as much as I did doing the walk and writing it up.
Weather and conditions. - Light cloud, sometimes dropping below summits. Sunny intervals. Light winds, but very strong on summits. Ground conditions very dry and dusty. Temp was mild but you needed a light windstopper jacket etc.
Arrived at the Invervar car park at around 8:30 am and quickly got booted up on my way the forest trail. I was following the Walkhighlands guide and doing the horseshoe in a clockwise route. The pull up the forest trail and up to the iron bridge was ok and introduced me to what I would see lots of on this walk - Rocks and Stones by the barrow load !!!!! This in places made difficult and tricky walking if you wanted to prevent a sprain or worse.
The approach and ascent of Carn Gorm is mostly grassy and a fair slog (3373ft). Once on top the wind was so strong it would have knocked you over if not careful.
- Glen Lyon on Carn Gorm approach
Leaving the summit you are presented with a splendid view of the remaining 3 Munros still to climb and laid out before you.
- Panorama of Meall Garbh, Carn Mairg, and Meall na Alghean
The walk to Meall Garbh is straight forward and easy with some great views of Loch Rannoch. I spotted a Skylark sitting on a big stone, a vary rare sight indeed. The summit of Meall Garbh resembles a scrapyard with all the old metal posts lying around and forming part of the summit cairn. Not impressed !
Pressing on and half way there the clouds parted and the views improved. The Lawers Group looked impressive as did Carn Gorm and Meall Garbh.
- The Lawers Group from Meall a' Bharr
- Panorama of Lawers group, Carn Gorm, and Meall Garbh
As you approach Carn Mairg the views of Schiehallion improve, and I must admit from this angle its the best position ever. The whale shape and perfect pointed top are a match with any views of Buachaille Etive More -Stob Dearg any day.
- Schiehallion from Carn Mairg
The approach to Carn Mairg takes an avoidable route around a very large cluster of boulders that were left by the ice age glaciers. Once on top the views would have been great but the clouds decided to descend again and snubbed me out.
I chose to take the path from the summit middle that takes the direct route down into the Bealach below. Okay ... but very steep and rocky. If doing this again I would choose a easier/ less demanding route.
The walk across the bealach to Meall na Alghean is easy and so was the climb. Not so easy was finding the path off the hill that takes you back Invervar ??
- Looking back from Meall na Alghean to Carn Gorm, Meall Garbh, and Carn Mairg
Once located on the path it was just a case of following it back to the car park.
I reckon I could have shaved an hour of this trip, but why go hillwalking if you can't stop and stare at the awesome sights and sounds that our hobby provides for us. Hope you enjoy the report/photos as much as I did doing the walk and writing it up.
Lovely pics too,,I did this in very windy/claggy conditions a couple of years ago.
