free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
It seems like no time at all since the Nethy Bridge meet, and the expressions of sheer horror on the faces of Colleen and Barry (Tina Bonar) at being nominated to deal with the Autumn meet (we know the feeling
).
Tyndrum's excellent "By The Way" facility was quickly chosen and a fantastic job they did of organising the whole shebang, consisting of 48 WHers, a fabulous quiz by Graeme D and a pile of empties and recycling that could probably dam a substantial river.
In between all this nonsense, some hills were climbed. I headed through straight from work on Friday night. "Straight" is probably not the right word as i tried to take a shortcut to avoid going through Perth, which turned into a mind-numbing three hour drive, adding 20 miles to the normal journey length.
![iWKad22 (960x720).jpg]()
- Facepalm
Anyway, I eventually arrived on a rainy night. It's the third time this year I've stayed at the ByTheWay, and it's a fine, modern facility. After a few vodkas too many I gave up and went to bed, remembering eventually that I'd probably have to climb something in the morning.
The forecast duly obliged and the weather on Saturday was far better than previously expected. Myself, Graham, Scoob, Fi, Weaselmaster Al, Sick Kid and Robert were, along with half of the meet, heading for Bidean Nam Bian and Stob Coire Sgreamhach, though we planned to head up via Beinn Fhada. Anyway:
Saturday 8th November 2014
Stob Coire Sgreamhach and Bidean nam Bian via Beinn Fhada
12.2 Km | 1302m ascent | 7h 07m We parked up at the start point for the Lairig Eilde and set off on the usual path for the wee Buachaille, taking the early branch off to the right, which takes you quickly down to the Allt Lairig Eilde. After a couple of downpours in the preceding days, this became a rather more interesting river crossing. After a scout upstream failed to provide any better options for crossing, we bit the bullet and got over the dodgy and wet-looking stepping stones without incident, although Robert went a bit further upstream, braving the ice cold water by taking off boots and socks and had a bit of a slip. No harm done though and we set off up the steep initial grassy section of Beinn Fhada.
![Bidean-18.jpg]()
- Crossing the Allt Lairig Eilde
![Bidean-2.jpg]()
- Am Bodach, Coire an Ruigh and A'Chailleach
Steep grassy ascents are a slog at the best of times, but height was gained really quickly and the views were terrific.
![Bidean-4.jpg]()
- Stob Dubh and the Lairig Eilde
It wasn't long before we reached the rockier parts of the ridge, with a mini-scramble here and there. A lot of the ascent was wet grass and scree, so the rockier stuff was a welcome relief. Before long we reached the top of the ridge, with fantastic views all round, to the Aonach Eagach, Gearr Aonach and up ahead to the day's targets, which still had a layer of cloud hanging onto them for dear life.
![Bidean-6.jpg]()
- Glen Coe
After a short rest, we headed along the ridge, and a cracking ridge it is too. We had good views all round and up ahead the rocky prow of Sgreamhach looked intimidatingly cool.
![Bidean-7.jpg]()
- Lochan on Beinn Fhada
![Bidean-8.jpg]()
- Nice light on the ridge
There was also a fine view into hidden valley. We stopped for lunch shortly after Al had collected the day's first subsidiary top. We now had a clear view as far as Nevis, CMD and the Aonachs which all had a nice covering of snow. It was getting cold so we soon headed off to tackle the remainder of Beinn Fhada, then up to Sgreamhach.
![Bidean-9.jpg]()
- Back to the start of Beinn Fhada
![Bidean-10.jpg]()
- How do we get up there?
Getting up to the summit from a distance looks tricky, as you're faced with a massive rocky prow, but in reality isn't too bad. The path bypasses the prow, leading to a nice wee scramble, which gains height quickly. We were soon at the summit which commands great views, all round. Particularly across to the Mamores and back to Loch Etive.
![Bidean-11.jpg]()
- Stob Coire Sgreamhach Summit
![Bidean-12.jpg]()
- Loch Etive
After a very quick snack, and well aware of the time/daylight constraints, we set off for Bidean. The descent is quite straightforward, and although it looks like an unpleasant series of false summits, the re-ascent isn't too much of a grind.
![Bidean-13.jpg]()
- Route to Bidean
The summit was soon reached. Again a very brief stop. Al and Sick Kid nipped out to the Western Top. I had a bite to eat, took a photo whilst i could feel my fingers and we headed back down, both to keep moving and aware of limited daylight.
![Bidean-14.jpg]()
- Bidean Summit, West Top and a Distant Ballachulish Bridge
All that remained was to get down into Lost Valley and out before darkness. Bealach Dearg looks liked a steep and tedious scree surf, and didn't disappoint
After a while the steep scree gives way to steep soggy grass and greasy boulders. Literally every form of descent I truly can't stand. After an eternity, the path-proper is reached and pretty quick progress was made down the stunning Lost Valley. What a place, and definitely somewhere I'd like to come back to.
![Bidean-17.jpg]()
- Sunset on Meall Dearg from Lost Valley
The interesting bit is actually trying to get out
The river crossing lower down looked dodgy, so we tried to cross higher up, an event looking like a cross between I'm a Celeb and the Krypton Factor's legendary assault course. After somehow managing not to lose either my kit or myself, we eventually made a path, joining up with Fife Flyer's group and made our way out, marginally beating the darkness.
Al and Robert were kindly given lifts back to their cars and we headed back to the bunkhouse for a few drinks. I had good intentions of a health vegetarian pasta-type dinner, but caved into a deep pan meaty pizza after about 2 minutes in a shop. The usual quiz then followed which we won, thanks to the Al and Dougie's knowledge of baby s***e and music respectively
I must have been relatively sensible this weekend as i still had a respectable amount of vodka left to take home
Anyway, a crap sleep later and a ridiculously early start (by WH Meet Sunday standards) and we were off to tackle to first of the Am Monadh Dubh. Graham had arranged to meet with another hillwalking club on Sunday. It's a pleasant wee drive from Bridge of Orchy to the Victoria Bridge Car Park for:
Sunday 9th November 2014
Stob a Choire Odhair and Stob Ghabhar
16.6Km | 1249m | 6h 51mThis walk is a fine short-ish day. It starts from the Victoria Bridge car park, briefly following the West Highland Way, before heading towards the Clashgour Hut. The track then makes a couple of turns and a beeline for the two hills. There's an option at a wee cairn to either tackle to boggy mess to Stob Ghabhar first, or the good path to Odhair. We sensibly opted for the latter. The path to Odhair is marked further on by a cairn (which we missed
) then had to cut across up steep, wet grassy slopes to regain. From there on the path up is very pleasant, initially steep, then zig-zagging up the hillside. As height was gained, the views got better.
![Black Mount-2.jpg]()
- Looking back down the ascent route
![Black Mount-3.jpg]()
- Stob Ghabhar
The gradient eases for the final pull up to the summit. The views from here across Rannoch Moor are superb. We stopped here for a good while to take it all in, have a bite to eat and take a few photos.
![Black Mount-4.jpg]()
- Rannoch Moor from Stob a Choire Odhair
![Black Mount-5.jpg]()
- Summit Cairn
After a while we set off down to the Bealach. It's a fair drop to 632m with a big height gain, eventually to 1090. The ascent to Stob Ghabar's plateau is uncompromisingly steep and rocky in places, but steepness = good height gain and the plateau was gained fairly quickly.
![Black Mount-6.jpg]()
- Coirein Lochain from the steep ascent of Stob Ghabhar.
A quick rest stop here, and toasted marshmallows
and we headed round to the summit. This route includes a fantastic wee arete, then sweeps round to a final gentle climb to reach the cairn. No views from this one due to the clag, but still a hugely enjoyable mountain.
![Black Mount-7.jpg]()
- The Arete
![Black Mount-8.jpg]()
- Stob Ghabhar's summit
The descent involves retracing your steps. Just before reaching the arete section there's a marker cairn. The descent path is mostly descent initially, before degrading to a boggy hell at about 600 metres. Once dropping below the cloud, however, the views were again excellent.
![Black Mount-9.jpg]()
- Just before the bog
The descent does however have a series of lovely waterfalls, which certainly make the boggy trudge a bit more enjoyable.
![Black Mount-10.jpg]()
- Waterfalls
Once on the flat, there's another boggy stretch before crossing the Allt Toaig, which afforded a nice boot-cleaning opportunity, prior to a short clamber up to rejoin the main ascent path to both hills. From here it was a nice wander back out towards Clashgour hut, and eventually the car park, ending yet another fantastic WalkHighlands meet weekend. Great to see everyone again, and once again, a terrific job by Colleen and Barry
