Walkhighlands

I managed to have a fairly active summer dodging about here and there, after 2 and a half years of driving I am finally feeling a bit more confident in leaving the county but these last couple of months I haven't been out anywhere that exciting. Last Sunday the weather looked good so I neglected my long lie and thought I would head to Loch Earn and have a go at Ben Vorlich. I was on my own so it seemed a fairly safe option with it being a popular hill. I took my trusty side kick Penny the whippet with me who is no 11 and 1/2 but I always say I would rather attempt something and fail with her than achieve it on my own. Well she put me to shame! Being out of practice I was huffing and puffing as she lead the way (until the last section).

Bit of lingering mist at the far end of Loch Lubnaig


I had to stop the car and get a shot of the lovely reflections on the loch


I didn't take any photos on the way up as I was keen to try and push on. I set off in the lovely warm sunshine, the path is very straightforward and easy to follow and is constantly up hill although rather gentle to begin. The higher we got the colder it got and the further on I got the steeper it started to look. I kept pushing myself on as Penny was still happy climbing on up. The temperature really started to drop and annoyingly I had left my hat in the car, luckily I had on one of those multi purpose neck scarfs so if anyone was up Ben Vorlich that day and say and idiot with one round their head, that was me!

As I reached the bottom of the final section Penny seemed to lose her earlier enthusiasm and so did I, purely because of the cold wind and I was starting to feel a bit done in but.....

We made it to the top! I couldn't turn back when the trig point was in sight so we slowly made our way up.


It was a case of taking a few snaps and getting down

A bit of sleet heading in but it luckily avoided us while we were at the summit


Cracking views were to be had, just a shame I couldn't sit down and enjoy them.








She did so well but looks rather chilly here


Not today!


Don't be deceived by blue sky and sunshine




We got caught in a minor sleep fall on route down


Typical rainbow shot over Loch Earn


Penny with her achievement in the background


Well, we made it, no. 9... who knows when no. 10 will be reach and what it will be...

Well done you two, Penny is good for 11 1/2 Lovely pics from the top, it's a few years since I did these two now

Nice one, excellent photographs as per usual

Lovely pics, and Penny is a star

Sarah86 wrote:It was a case of taking a few snaps and getting down

You didn't happen to stroll on a bit did you?


See. http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/lochlomond/ben-vorlich-lomond.shtml Section 4


Who cares anyway, it was a cracking day to be out.

Beautiful photos, well done to you and Penny - I could feel that cold, having fled from the top of Ben Vorlich for shelter in the past. Beautiful hills though

Well done to you and Penny! I like all your photos but the one of Penny with the trig-point behind her is particularly stunning. If she was my dog I'd have that one on the wall! Looking forward to Number 10.

Thanks for the lovely comments, even though it was very cold I am still glad we did it and had a great day out. I am thinking Ben Lomond for no.10 (trying to stick with the easy-ish ones for now) Also have my eye on Ben Lawers and Stuchd an Lochain and Ben Ledi as a non munro.

Really sorry about that Sarah. I knew there was some confusion on the Loch Earn Bein Vorlich, but in that case, the cairn is lower and the trig is correct. Many apologies. Yes, it is an age thing....too many hills and too little capaciity to remember.....should have been more careful. Will pull my punches in future as it will lead me looking like

Sgurr wasn't trying to get at you when I said its an age thing,it was me I was referring to at my age.

Amazing pictures Sarah You must have a really good camera and a good eye for a 'shot'!

Lovely looking day. Great photos

Great photos! Lovely dog

This brings back memories Sarah (1st Munro a number of years ago).

Great photos.

Great photos - especially like the first two. I could almost feel the cold from your description. I think Penny was amazing - my Jack is younger but has really slowed down on hills this year. It's a shame their life span is so much shorter than ours.