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Majestic BEN LUI (Bike and Hike adventure)

PostPosted: Sun Sep 15, 2013 9:17 pm
by Bod
Glencoe plans for this weekend were all up in the air, Curved Ridge on Saturday got postponed and a revisit to the Aonach Eagach Ridge with friends postponed also on Sunday due to a worrying forecast. But something had to happen, and with Valerie assuring me of good weather for the first part of Saturday my long awaited Ben Lui plan was established once again :wink: :D :D

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Always lovely to be welcomed into the glens by the locals. And what a beautiful morning
Ben Lui peaking round the corner there.....taken whilst riding my bike after carefully passing the bull! :)
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Wow! I never imagined we would get such a clear view of Lui today....One of the most stunning munros taken from across the River Cononish now 3km or so up the track.
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A most memorable part of our day approaching via the long glen now past Cononish Farm. Valerie now in complete agreement with my route. We would be climbing Ben Lui, Beinn a'Chleibh and Ben Oss descending again to the base of Ben Lui from Ben Oss to collect the bikes again.
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My oh my! Our walking circuit was to start and finish from the very base of Ben Lui picking up our three remaining munros in the area. At this moment in time though I was more than happy just to witness Ben Lui on such a glorious morning
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Bikes now parked up in a grassy hollow we're off, sticks will be out soon, and maybe a nibble or two....munch, munch. Coire Gaothach now behind me and such a welcome sight, not a hint of a let-down...Argyll at it's best! Stob Garbh on the right would be our approach to the summit, though I teased Valerie that perhaps we could take in a sramble or two on Stob an Tighe Aird on the left. Perhaps one for another day when the other two munros are not part of the plan, and we could play on Lui all day :) :) :)
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The footpath follows the north side of the moutain stream stream. Valerie and I spend just over two hours thoroughly enjoying the climb to the summit of Ben Lui. Much discussion (at least when I could catch up .. lol) and personal thoughts too appreciating the good things in life. Up out of the corrie and onto the ridge. This is the place to be (hats, gloves and jackets on now...). Ben Lui looms and lears down on us....but what a glorious sight :)
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The lower rise of Stob Garbh with our approach road far below...with the roof of Cononish Farm by the forest.
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My kind of path! I love these steep zones :)
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Not a bad place to be on a Saturday morning, great for mind, body and soul :)
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Ben Lui appears through the mists again :)
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Misty, chilly but not too windy and here we are on summit area of Ben Lui. Been looking at this one for may a year, great to now be on top. Look at that edge, MAGIC with the summit just appearing in the mist beyond :)
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Ben Lui denies us a clear summit, but still simply wonderful. Interesting too, picking out the path for Beinn a'Chleibh as we observed several people heading accidentally for the Ben Oss path ....
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Beinn a'Cheibh viewed from the path descending Ben Lui, heading southwest, a much lower neighbouring munro. Valerie there making fast progress :)
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Love ma high lochans :)
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Beinn a'Chleibh a lovely summit area of 4 cairns (visited them all) offering great views towards Loch Awe and Ben Cruachan :)
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Traversing around the southwest flanks of Ben Lui heading for the Ben Oss bealach on the southeast of Ben Lui....picked a fine line :)
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Ben Oss rises around the shoulder of Ben Lui....we now require to go down and round climbing up and over the mountain. At this point looked fairly mighty - Valerie begins to fear cycling back down the glen in the dark. Ben Oss eta still 4.00pm ish.
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Final stages reaching Ben Oss, still evaluating descent options to the bikes located at the track end below Ben Lui? I was favouring a careful direct drop after passing over the summit of Ben Oss.
A fine view here looking down towards Loch Lomond and Ben Lomond :)
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Here she is, caught up with my wee wife again on top of Ben Oss :)
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Beinn Dubhchraig and Loch Oss to the East with Ben More behind that rising above Crainlarich. Nice to see Beinn Dubhchraig, once had a very thick claggy experience on there :)
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Now to find the safest route down to the bikes, not a regular route, but one carefully planned and selected today. Watching every step very carefully, not a spot for any slips and falls ...
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The bikes are located down there at the end of the track on the opposite side of the valley... we had looked carefully at this slope from Ben Lui and given close attention to the contours on the map. Time on our side too, so a satisfying route choice :)
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The only tree in these upper glens and a beautiful one at that! Ben Chuirn (Corbett) in the background :)
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Coire Laoigh at the top of the glen, Alt Coire Laoigh inbetween Benn Oss and Ben Lui, our plan B route off the mountians...
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Myself and Ben Lui again from below her magnificent Coire, bikes just 5 mins away. Last steps before the sticks go away again and get replaced by nobbly tyres to guide us home from these tough hills before darkness falls :) :) :)


Job done and we'll be back :D :D :D :D :D

Re: Majestic BEN LUI (Bike and Hike adventure)

PostPosted: Sun Sep 15, 2013 9:40 pm
by hutchy1
a great report bod I did the 4 of them a couple of months back but walked in an out of connish which make it a long day but I loved these hills

Re: Majestic BEN LUI (Bike and Hike adventure)

PostPosted: Sun Sep 15, 2013 9:46 pm
by Bod

Ben Lui.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts


Re: Majestic BEN LUI (Bike and Hike adventure)

PostPosted: Sun Sep 15, 2013 9:49 pm
by Bod
hutchy1 wrote:a great report bod I did the 4 of them a couple of months back but walked in an out of connish which make it a long day but I loved these hills


Yes I agree, great hills hutchy1 :D

Re: Majestic BEN LUI (Bike and Hike adventure)

PostPosted: Sun Sep 15, 2013 11:09 pm
by PeteR
Nice one Bod and Valerie :D

Some great shots of Lui you got yourselves there :D

Lui is a magnificent mountain and certainly best appreciated from this long walk in :D (oh, but didn't you use a bike :lol: )

Re: Majestic BEN LUI (Bike and Hike adventure)

PostPosted: Mon Sep 16, 2013 7:21 am
by The Rodmiester
Well you two made the most of the Saturday! great stuff and on wonderful hills to boot :) What looks a fine approach apart from the locals you came across! Some great photographs but judging by your gear it got quite cold on top, Summer gone.

Re: Majestic BEN LUI (Bike and Hike adventure)

PostPosted: Mon Sep 16, 2013 6:17 pm
by HighlandSC
Great report.

:wink:

Re: Majestic BEN LUI (Bike and Hike adventure)

PostPosted: Mon Sep 16, 2013 7:35 pm
by Johnny Corbett
Thats a long day Bod and a good looking route to combine the three, well done. I cycled that with Kim a few years ago when we did the Corbett and Graham. :D

Re: Majestic BEN LUI (Bike and Hike adventure)

PostPosted: Mon Sep 16, 2013 9:28 pm
by Bod
PeteR wrote:Nice one Bod and Valerie :D

Some great shots of Lui you got yourselves there :D

Lui is a magnificent mountain and certainly best appreciated from this long walk in :D (oh, but didn't you use a bike :lol: )



Thanks Pete, aye the old pusher has made it out of the garage :wink: :D :D

Re: Majestic BEN LUI (Bike and Hike adventure)

PostPosted: Mon Sep 16, 2013 9:31 pm
by Bod
The Rodmiester wrote:Well you two made the most of the Saturday! great stuff and on wonderful hills to boot :) What looks a fine approach apart from the locals you came across! Some great photographs but judging by your gear it got quite cold on top, Summer gone.


Cheers Rod, summer sure is edging out very quickly now, in fact it's gone! Loved this day on Ben Lui, should have happened before now, but then it's amazing and exciting the order of your hills, you never quite know what's next :wink: :D :D

Re: Majestic BEN LUI (Bike and Hike adventure)

PostPosted: Mon Sep 16, 2013 10:52 pm
by jonny616
Fab you two although I'm saying nothing about the bikes :lol: :clap:

Re: Majestic BEN LUI (Bike and Hike adventure)

PostPosted: Mon Sep 16, 2013 11:41 pm
by Bod
Johnny Corbett wrote:Thats a long day Bod and a good looking route to combine the three, well done. I cycled that with Kim a few years ago when we did the Corbett and Graham. :D


Cheers Johnny, I was eyeing up the Corbett :wink: :wink: :D Must check the Graham out too now :D

Re: Majestic BEN LUI (Bike and Hike adventure)

PostPosted: Tue Sep 17, 2013 5:51 am
by soapy27
Braw report and photos ther Bod . :clap: Nice idea with the approach to avoid the boggy section through the woods too. I did it in winter so they were frozen solid :)

Re: Majestic BEN LUI (Bike and Hike adventure)

PostPosted: Tue Sep 17, 2013 6:36 pm
by Bod
soapy27 wrote:Braw report and photos ther Bod . :clap: Nice idea with the approach to avoid the boggy section through the woods too. I did it in winter so they were frozen solid :)


Aye soapy27 cheers, we had previously climbed Beinn Duhbchraig so this route fitted the bill perfectly in terms of how I had hoped to approach Ben Lui for a long time. Plus the added dimension of the bikes was great fun and a very satisfying experience in this glen :D :D :D

Re: Majestic BEN LUI (Bike and Hike adventure)

PostPosted: Tue Sep 17, 2013 8:19 pm
by DaveB1
So, that's what it looks like :o !! I walked the path and got as far the burn (Raging torrent!!) before the steep bit, two hours of pouring rain and Atlantic gale one Saturday about two months ago. The photos are wonderful and have only a) made me green with envy and b) determined to try again!. :D Great report, many thanks, Dave (PS. Glad to see the Bull is still friendly :lol: :lol: )