Ben Arthur in the Evening

[weaselmaster]

For some reason it hadn't occurred to me before that we might head off after work midweek and do a nearby hill whilst the long evening light is still with us. As it's going to be a truncated weekend for me due to work reasons and no hills at all for Allison due to family commitments it seemed obvious to sneak up and do Ben Arthur on a lovely summery evening. I'd been up the Cobbler before, December 12 with my old dog, but hadn't threaded the needle, just trembled a bit looking at it that day. So it was definitely worth another trip. I was feeling slightly anxious about the summiting, but reckoned with dry rock it should be straightforward enough.

Top down in the car and blazing sunshine on the drive up. Got to Succoth around 5.20 and headed off up the zigzags, both kitted out in shorts. Oh it was hot and sticky, with a profusion of flies and winged ants. Got a grand view of teh rocky outline of the mountain from here - last time I was up it was all hidden in clag. Reached the edge of the trees and stopped at a suitable spot to wolf down some food, during which time we were passed by a group of 4 brightly dressed guys who looked like climbers. Setting off again we took the path to the L by the dam and headed up An t-sron, thousands of daddy long-legs milling through the long grass. As we gained height the sun fell behind the bulk of the hill and cooler shadow covered us.

First view
P1020837 by 23weasels, on Flickr

Arrochar & Ben Lomond
P1020838 by 23weasels, on Flickr

Beinn Luibhean
P1020839 by 23weasels, on Flickr

P1020841 by 23weasels, on Flickr

P1020842 by 23weasels, on Flickr

We came to the base of the summit rock-mass and I took a faint path heading up to the R. Then reached what appeared to be a wee scramble - crampon scratches suggested this was one way up. Whilst scouting for a route up I slipped and fell - not far, maybe only about 8 feet, but enough to jar my hip and neck and give me quite a fright. Although I've had various slips and stumbles before I don't think I've even fallen on rock before. I felt a bit anxious now about the rest of the ascent - it really wasn't what I needed for my confidence. A horrible fear gripped me that I'd chicken out of threading the needle and then would be unwilling to do any more scrambly things in future. Knowing that I just needed to get on with the matter in hand and tackle the original plan safely, I nodded to Allison to keep going, but this time taking the proper path down to our left - in fact the faint path I'd chosen led up to the South Top, which is not somewhere we'd really planned to be A surly raven grokked then floated off towards Narnain.

Scene of my fall
P1020844 by 23weasels, on Flickr

Up the easier path
P1020845 by 23weasels, on Flickr

South Top
P1020848 by 23weasels, on Flickr

Up to the central area, Argyll's Eyeglass before us. Great views of Beinn Ime and Luibhean, Ben Lomond pointy in the distance. Get going, I said to myself. Allison went through first and I was pleasantly surprised to note the ledge was broad on the other side. It was actually easy enough getting to the summit, and we grinned away in the sunshine. The climbers we'd seen earlier had reached the South summit and waved over. We took some snaps then headed down - this a little more challenging than ascending given the sloping nature of the rock - I would not fancy coming down in wet conditions. After safely returning through the eye of the needle, we headed over to the North top which provided some superb views of the mountain. We could see the climbers heading up the central summit from the south top.

P1020849 by 23weasels, on Flickr

Argyll's Eyeglass
P1020851 by 23weasels, on Flickr

P1020852 by 23weasels, on Flickr

P1020853 by 23weasels, on Flickr

Made it!
P1020854 by 23weasels, on Flickr

Climbers on the S Top in distance
P1020857 by 23weasels, on Flickr

Back at the window
P1020858 by 23weasels, on Flickr

N Top
P1020861 by 23weasels, on Flickr

N Top, view to Ben Lomond
P1020865 by 23weasels, on Flickr

S & Central Tops
P1020866 by 23weasels, on Flickr

Climbers doing their thing
P1020869 by 23weasels, on Flickr

Beinn Ime
P1020870 by 23weasels, on Flickr

Back down the eastern path to the good track between Arthur & Narnain. A beautiful evening now the heat of the sun had diminished. We passed a couple putting up a tent up past the Narnian Boulders and I envied them their evening out under that sky. Back to the car, a quick pint in the Village Inn before a glorious drive back down the road. Definitely something to do again before the nights start shortening.

P1020875 by 23weasels, on Flickr

Ben Arthur & the Narnian Boulders
P1020879 by 23weasels, on Flickr

Lomond
P1020881 by 23weasels, on Flickr

Dam
P1020882 by 23weasels, on Flickr

Back to Succoth
P1020885 by 23weasels, on Flickr

[AnnieMacD]

What a fantastic evening you got - weather is forecast to be awful again this weekend (in the NW at any rate). That photo of you sitting in the 'window' is fantastic - and the one of Allison looking over to Ben Lomond. Beautiful evening light.

Great that you are none the worse for your slip.

[basscadet]

Glad you were none the worse for your slip.
I didn't realise the needle waas so infamous before I did it - found out afterwards that it was supposed to be tricky
Good idea for some evening walking.. my new job doesn't leave me much evening which is pants - Well jealous

[ceaser]

great wee hill , I did it as an afterthought after doing Narnain and Ime , threaded the needle , but unfortunately I was alone , so no pictures of me on top of it .....gives me an excuse to go back and do it again though I suppose

[GillC]

Fab you guys,,gotta love that hill,,,i must be hitting double figures for that one,,in all conditions lol
Great pics too