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Ben Vorlich (Loch Lomond) from Ardlui

Ben Vorlich (Loch Lomond) from Ardlui


Postby ExpatEddie » Tue Apr 22, 2014 1:06 pm

Munros included on this walk: Ben Vorlich (Loch Lomond)

Date walked: 18/04/2014

Time taken: 7.5 hours

Distance: 11 km

Ascent: 1000m

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We verge parked opposite the farm entrance just north of the field gate and made our way easily following the signs and way markers. Once through the gate after the tunnel follow the track and when it runs parallel with the railway head up to the right towards a rocky point. On the way up we walked to the left and over a fence which had the power off. There is a gate but we went too high. Once behind that rocky point we crossed the ridge line and overlooked Coire Creagach. We contoured up the side of the ridge to Little Hills, keeping high to avoid the gullies. (We didn’t tackle the ridge to Little Hills to avoid the scrambling down as well as up and the many false summits.) Our route was quite wet underfoot and the ridge walk might have avoided that but too late now to argue about it.

Our target was the gulley to the west of Little Hills (808m) and then onto Vorlich proper. At this point a near vertical rock face can be seen and about 20m to the left is a ‘stepped’ grass bank climbing up. We took this and over the top to reach the final slope up to the trig point.

The trig point has a cairn with it but this is the south peak. The true summit is about 200m north with another cairn and an outcrop overlooking the drop to Loch Sloy. Continue on northwards to reach the north peak and the way off the hill. We made the mistake of going too much to the right on the shoulder and ended up too close to the near vertical drop into the Coire. Turning to the west of north we found a route off around the many rocky outcrops although at one point we had a 2m vertical drop (easily managed) which is on the well identified path once we found it.

Coming across into the Coire is quite boggy but since it had been relatively dry did not present too much of a hazard. We found that by walking near but not on the quad bike track most of the wet areas could be avoided. Around NN306140 between 2 obvious burns there are 2 dams to control the use of the water. The left one is easily crossed and has a path that leads down through the lower parts of the Coire and through the woods bring us out at the gate and railway tunnel.

On the upper parts of the hill there are snowfields which we crossed ensuring that if anyone slipped the downward route would end up where we were heading. But all were quite easily managed and can only get better with this present warm spell.


Track_2014-04-18 180517.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts



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First sighting of Vorlich from beside the farm


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Looking back over Loch Lomond


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Approaching the fence with the first promontory to the right


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Above the South-west of Coire Creagach


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Waterfall near the top of the Coire


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In the bealach between Little Hills and Vorlich looking at Ben Lomond


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At the south peak with the other Arrochar Alps behinds us


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looking south to Loch and Ben Lomond


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At the big drop beside the main summit


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From the north peak looking back over the main summit


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Traversing a snowfield coming off the north peak


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One of the local wildife
Last edited by ExpatEddie on Wed Apr 30, 2014 7:07 am, edited 1 time in total.
ExpatEddie
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Posts: 422
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Location: Scottish Borders

Re: Ben Vorlich (Loch Lomond) from Ardlui

Postby Alteknacker » Thu Apr 24, 2014 11:23 pm

Nice pics. You had a lovely day for it. I envy you!

3300m ascent? Did you go up and down twice??
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Alteknacker
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Re: Ben Vorlich (Loch Lomond) from Ardlui

Postby rockhopper » Thu Apr 24, 2014 11:32 pm

Nice day for it and an interesting route - a bit different from the norm - cheers :)

Alteknacker wrote:3300m ascent? Did you go up and down twice??
:lol: :lol: see these new fangled metres things, better off with good old feet and inches :lol: :wink:
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Re: Ben Vorlich (Loch Lomond) from Ardlui

Postby ExpatEddie » Wed Apr 30, 2014 7:19 am

Alteknacker wrote:Nice pics. You had a lovely day for it. I envy you!

3300m ascent? Did you go up and down twice??


Thanks for being eagled eyed. Corrrected the figure to 1000m. I am allowed senior moments - so I keep telling her indoors :)

rockhopper wrote:Nice day for it and an interesting route - a bit different from the norm - cheers :)

Alteknacker wrote:3300m ascent? Did you go up and down twice??
:lol: :lol: see these new fangled metres things, better off with good old feet and inches :lol: :wink:


I like feet too (especially the 2 I walk on :lol: ). Doesn't an ascent of 3300 feet sound more impressive than 1000 metres and everyone can relate to a 10 mile walk than try to figure out 16 kilometres.

Thanks for your comments guys; this is a nice way to remember good days out.
ExpatEddie
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Posts: 422
Munros:72   Corbetts:12
Fionas:23   Donalds:89+47
Sub 2000:26   
Joined: Aug 10, 2012
Location: Scottish Borders

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