With the weather forecast clearly indicating that a walk in the mid west was on it seemed rude not to oblige. Up at 3am for the 4.5 hour drive down. Lots of bunnies lining the side of the A90 and lots of pigeons on the A85.
There followed an unusually pleasant drive along Loch Lomondside. Not much traffic early on a September morning.
Got to the start of my walk just after 8.30am, after a false start heading off up the side of the wrong burn. There are a couple of parking spots in the vicinity of the starting point of the path in from the west. A long time since I was last here so I got slightly muddled.
Not to worry, I was soon sauntering along the gently inclining path that follows the burn west east. Note, the north side of the burn is a hell of a lot easier walk than the south side! That much I did remember clearly from one previous visit...
I had a bit of a schedule to work to because I needed to get back Aberdeen for a game of football at 5.15pm. I had it all worked out though.
Funny how the legs don't always completely agree with schedules dreamed up by the head. I had decided to cut off south east earlier than planned (original plan being to follow the natural grassy concavity that leads up between the two tops) and the steepness provoked some complaining from feet and lungs. Frequent short stops did the trick though and got me to the south top at 11.30am. En route I criss crossed the north west ridge, choosing to contour rather than a direct approach, just to spread the effort a bit. Possibly need a new pair of boots though as I found the damp grass slidy as hell so the contouring didn't entirely work. Hence, I did cut directly up to the north west ridge around the half way point. Although quite short, this is a magnificent lead up to the south peak. At the south peak the sun was out and I scrambled up.
I made a slow descent to the bealach, taking time to admire and photograph the views. At the bealach the weather had turned, or rather a passing drizzle cloud had obscured the views. No matter, I headed up to the north top with some confidence that the cloud would clear. I was up there for only fifteen minutes when various summits started peaking through the gloom. Then with a gust of wind a view opened to the south peak. It was really spellbinding. However, a couple of other guys who had also waited fifteen minutes for the cloud to clear just immediately set off downwards once the clearance came. This I could not understand but each to his own. For me, the incentive to linger at the top was really strong with a fine natural display to be had of cloud and mist swirling about the peaks.
Once the cloud had cleared off completely it was time for me to do the same. I headed down my planned ascent route. Pretty fast and easy going on grassy hillside. On both ascent and descent I was also able to take advantage of lengthy spurs projecting into the glen at the burn side. I reckon the descent took just over an hour. Got back to the car at 1.27pm and made it to Goals in Aberdeen for 4.55pm.
- south top
- north top from south top
- south east ridge
- south east ridge close up
- zoom to road, Loch Long and Arrochar
- north peak
- north peak crag and path up from east below
- clearing from the west
- looking back to the south peak as the cloud clears
- more of the same
- and more...
- Ben Lomond and Arrochar
- Loch Long and the 706m top on the south east ridge
- peacock
