Meall na Fearna and Ben Vorlich

[rockhopper]

Forecast for Saturday looked to be quite good albeit with strong winds expected - didn’t materialise until later. Only one car parked before me in the roadside layby at Ardvorlich. Set off about sunrise south up Glen Vorlich.

Ardvorlich activelog 7feb2015.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts

Followed the path initially, went over a wee bridge then gained more height. Left the path probably a little too early heading SW towards Meall na Fearna - some soft snow and heather to get through before gaining more height alongside Ben Vorlich.

Ben Vorlich



Loch Earn and Ben Lawers range



Zoomed



Ben Vorlich again



Skirted west of Beinn Domhnuill then SE through some peat hags and snow fields towards Meall na Fearna.



Stuc a Chroin behind Ben Vorlich



Clear views from the top of Meall na Fearna







There was a bit of a wind at the summit but not too bad. Set off SW down to Glen Vorlich with the intention of picking up the SE ridge of Ben Vorlich.





Didn’t take long to find a suitable point to cross the burn.



At the other side, stopped to don the microspikes just to give a bit more grip (crampons not needed) and undo the ice axe - then up steeply to gain the main ridge.

View over to Stuc a Chroin



Towards Stirling Castle



Onwards and upwards - was passed by a hill runner









Got to the top and met a few other walkers. The wind suddenly became ferocious - difficult to stand some times in the gusts. Took a few photos then walked down to the SW out of the wind to stop and have some lunch.









After lunch, continued down to the bealach above Coire Buidhe then northwards up Ben Our.



Looking back







A wee bit slippery descending from Ben Our but it does give some nice views over Loch Earn.



Met some more people on the way back to the car - many more cars parked at the side of the road now.

[Collaciotach]

Some nice pics there one of the Castle is good

Second Round of Munros then ?

[kev_russ]

Braw

[Alteknacker]

Brilliant photies. Great weather. Was planning to come up North at the end of next week, but the weather forecast is a tad inauspicious...

[PeteR]

Superb

Meall na Fearna was my final hill of 2014. Similarly sunny conditions with a good snow covering too. The view to Ben Vorlich and that long ridge is a stunner. I thought my photos weren't bad, but pale imitations compared to yours.

[Comacchio]

Forecast for Saturday looked to be quite good albeit with strong winds expected - didn’t materialise until later. Only one car parked before me in the roadside layby at Ardvorlich.

Was that car a blue ford focus by any chance? My girlfriend and I started off at 6.45ish and done Vorlich and Stuc a Chroin. The prow was a wee bit scary!!

Looks like you had a great day! Fantastic pictures.

Allan

[Sarah86]

Cracking set of photos, really captures the day. Looks very picturesque in the snow, quite different to when I was up in November. Great views to be had from there.

[rockhopper]

Was that car a blue ford focus by any chance? My girlfriend and I started off at 6.45ish and done Vorlich and Stuc a Chroin. The prow was a wee bit scary!!

Yup - think it was - parked on the right at the start of the last wee layby before the bridge facing west towards a tree.

Might be the two of you in the photo below ascending the ridge at about 0920hrs ?

[malky_c]

Looks like a fantastic day out . Makes me wonder why I've not been up Ben Our - it has great views of Stuc a' Chroin in particular.

[Fife Flyer]

Nice one RH, some cracking photo's

You are obviously much fitter than me I was pretty knackered after Meall na Fearna, maybe the snow was softer Another excuse I could offer is no one else had been up before me

[Comacchio]

Was that car a blue ford focus by any chance? My girlfriend and I started off at 6.45ish and done Vorlich and Stuc a Chroin. The prow was a wee bit scary!!

Yup - think it was - parked on the right at the start of the last wee layby before the bridge facing west towards a tree.

Might be the two of you in the photo below ascending the ridge at about 0920hrs ?

two walkers (Medium).JPG

Aye - well spotted!! Fantastic day to be out in the wild. My calves are still feeling it!

Allan

[dooterbang]

MnF reminds me of the time Mountain Thyme and I did it, was a total white out!

Some nice views and cracking photos.

Take it you didn't fancy a wee scramble up SaC

[mountain thyme]

Great Pics RH. The hills looks their best in the winter. Round 2 ? Or corbetts first ?

[rockhopper]

cheers all

colla, MT - focus on corbetts but add on others as I go this time.....about a decade methinks

dooters - SaC scramble....looked a wee bit too scary to me and am still unfit....

[Silverhill]

Good to see how the views were supposed to be when I did Ben Vorlich. Your pictures are amazingly sharp!