'Great' Friday on Ben Chonzie

[howzat]

Predictions of some glorious weather over the Easter break were too tempting to ignore. So on the eve of a planned trip from Edinburgh to stay with the wife’s sister in Blairgowrie for Easter I hatched a plan that involved persuading the wife to make a small(ish) detour to Glen Lednock so I could bag Ben Chonzie while she had a look around Crieff with her other sister before making our way onwards to Blairgowrie for the long weekend.

So I found myself waving goodbye to the wife and setting off up Glen Lednock under cloudless skies around 09:45 on Good Friday for my first outing of the season. I followed the easy going track up past a small dam on the Invergeldie Burn where it became steeper and rougher.


Start of the track from the car park, passing in front of the 2 white cottages & through a gate


Track continues up the side of the cottages


Onwards and gently upwards at first


Past a small dam before becoming rougher & steeper

It only took about an hours effort (the fleece soon had to be discarded as it was already pretty warm with no wind at all) before the track ended on the crest of the hill where a small cairn marked the turn off along a grassy path. This soon led to a line of rusty fence posts that were easily followed along a very broad easy going grassy ridge all the way to the summit which I reached a little under 1hr 40 mins after setting off. The views afforded in all directions were great particularly across to the snow capped Munros running from Loch Tay to Crianlarich and beyond.


Looking back views opening up as height gained


Cairn marking the turn off onto a grassy path


Fence posts marking the way to the summit


Looking back as height gained


Summit shelter now in view


Made in a little under 1hr 40 mins

Being such a glorious day there were a few groups of other walkers around and after a good blather, a bite to eat while taking in the views, I set off back down after about 30 minutes. I made this a very leisurely stroll back down, taking quite a few photos and speaking to one or two of the steady stream of walkers I passed on their way up before arriving back at the car park about 3.5hrs after setting off.










Back onto the track downwards

I didn’t have to wait long before the wife arrived back from visiting the coffee shops of Crieff with a tasty sausage roll and ice cold lemon drink for me. OK this may not be the most inspiring of Munro’s but with weather like this they all have great views! Next week its Knoydart so fingers crossed for the nice weather to continue.

[The Rodmiester]

A fine walk in good conditions with superb views from the summit, all in all a good day out , bring on Knoydart, I'm there the week after you, which one of us is going to be lucky?

[mr_ash_37]

Nice report and helpful as I am due to do this soon. Cheers and well done

[Sarah86]

Can't blame you for wanting a stop off, what glorious weather we had at the weekend. I am hoping finally get to Ben Chonzie in the next month or two as it isn't far from me but had been putting it off due to the snow. What a great day you had for it, super views.