Walkhighlands

I like to think I’m generally a good judge of the weather, picking hills that deliver something of the best of what the great British weather has to throw at us On this walk I was slightly worried at the start that I might have embarrassed myself, as I parked up in the rain. The weatherman suggesting earlier in the week that East might be best I had all the routes downloaded and in the GPS ready to go. Then, at the last minute (2.30 a.m. Sunday morning to be precise ) I changed my mind and decided to stay in bed and also stay West. And it was driech, dreary and decidedly underwhelming when I parked up
P1150134 by Riedel2012, on Flickr
The start of the day. Headed back along the road toward a gate to gain the hills

My 2.30 a.m. substitutes were the Glen Orchy Corbetts of Beinn Bhreac-liath and Beinn Udlaidh. They might not be the most inspiring pair and by all accounts a snorkel might have been advisable given the significant amount of swamp-like bog I was letting myself in for

I certainly wasn’t oozing enthusiasm as I readied myself and set off across the poor excuse for a field. I was preparing myself for a bit of a slog, and this was certainly how things started in a swamp. I’d not walked 10 minutes and already these two were on my list of top 10 routes I wouldn’t want to repeat too soon
P1150136 by Riedel2012, on Flickr
That's my first target - Beinn Bhreac-liath

P1150139 by Riedel2012, on Flickr
Had a bit of "interest" from this bunch, as they made a bee line for me as I entered their field. Perhaps it was my chiselled good looks.........or maybe they just didn't take to me bright red waterproof jacket

Thankfully this feeling didn’t last though. True, they aren’t the best looking hills in themselves, but I was certainly treated to some good views from them as the day progressed
P1150143 by Riedel2012, on Flickr
One of the frequent showers that passed through. All were preceded by a significant increase in wind speed and drop in temperature before the snow hit Magnificent

Early doors I had been tempted to jack the walk in, as I plodded up the side of Corbett #1, suffering significant buffeting. It was a bit miserable at first, but over a time I was walking myself into the walk, even though I was employing my usual plod.
P1150148 by Riedel2012, on Flickr
Sun following the snow, on the steep plod up the side

P1150152 by Riedel2012, on Flickr
A bit of a water feature on the way up

P1150158 by Riedel2012, on Flickr
Early view to Bridge of Orchy and beyond, as another shower passes through

P1150164 by Riedel2012, on Flickr
Cloud lifting on Corbett #2. Things are starting to look up

P1150170 by Riedel2012, on Flickr
Plenty blue sky now, but the showers were never that far away.......as I was soon to discover......again

P1150179 by Riedel2012, on Flickr
A sneaky peak to the Starav group of hills in Glen Etive

P1150190 by Riedel2012, on Flickr
Dorain and pal

P1150194 by Riedel2012, on Flickr
Orchy and Tulla.......looking good now

P1150204 by Riedel2012, on Flickr
The summit plattox at last. Now you see it..........

P1150208 by Riedel2012, on Flickr
......and then the next snow shower arrived. It was a belter Just stuck my back to the wind and let it do its worst. It soon passed

P1150215 by Riedel2012, on Flickr
And then it was a good walk along a sizeable plateau to the high point

Not a great deal of depth to the views, due to the wide and long summit plateau, but still a good tick off the list. I didn't hang around for long though, as it was decidedly chilly in the wind. On the initial plod up this one I had considered doing just the one hill, as the wind was pretty stiff when each shower came through. I'd read that the wind speed should drop later in the day, so I decided to carry on and tick off the two as planned
P1150227 by Riedel2012, on Flickr
My next destination. Turned out to be a good little walk I thought

P1150233 by Riedel2012, on Flickr
Panoramic view to the Lui group. Still mean and moody with the cloud, but patience...... .

P1150234 by Riedel2012, on Flickr
Looks a nice easy ascent from here. Turned out to be fun with the patches of snow to walk over

P1150240 by Riedel2012, on Flickr
You can't tell from the picture, but the wind picked up here and another shower was about to buffet me. Another corker More back to the wind to ride it out and then I was off again

P1150242 by Riedel2012, on Flickr
View to the Crianlarich hills. They were soon to disappear as the storm passed over

P1150253 by Riedel2012, on Flickr
The route up Corbett #2

P1150255 by Riedel2012, on Flickr
The Crianlarich hills again.

P1150261 by Riedel2012, on Flickr
Mean and moody Lui hills still, but my patience was soon to be rewarded

P1150262 by Riedel2012, on Flickr
Still no Crianlarich hills

P1150267 by Riedel2012, on Flickr
Ben Challum

P1150268 by Riedel2012, on Flickr
A panoramic view of Corbett #2. I was certainly enjoying the day by now. I didn't know it, but I'd had the last of the snow showers. Still windy, but the sun was there to stay

P1150278 by Riedel2012, on Flickr
The return of the Crianlarichs

P1150299 by Riedel2012, on Flickr
The magnificent Ben Lui

P1150301 by Riedel2012, on Flickr
Panoramic

P1150312 by Riedel2012, on Flickr
A couple of locals

P1150315 by Riedel2012, on Flickr
A "volcanic" Lui getting ready to blow

P1150324 by Riedel2012, on Flickr
The Glen Etive Munros


P1150332 by Riedel2012, on Flickr
Summit #2

P1150344 by Riedel2012, on Flickr
The view to Bridge of Orchy and Rannoch Moor

P1150354 by Riedel2012, on Flickr
Starting to descend off the hill and the view toward Cruachan remained hazy. This was probably the best shot I could get of the view

P1150356 by Riedel2012, on Flickr
Part frozen lochan on the route down

I followed the quartzite dyke down to the trees below. I was able to make the most of some snow patches, making the drop back down a lot quicker than slipping down over boggy heather and grass.

P1150357 by Riedel2012, on Flickr

P1150359 by Riedel2012, on Flickr

P1150360 by Riedel2012, on Flickr
An enjoyable route down off the hill

P1150369 by Riedel2012, on Flickr
The landrover track I eventually landed on had some interesting, boggy sections, but made easy work of getting back to the car. Thank goodness there was no need to ford this stream. By the looks of the falls it was in spate

P1150374 by Riedel2012, on Flickr
And a final view of Dorain and pal as I neared the end of the walk

So all in all these two gave me a good day out, far exceeding my early expectations.

Was hoping you'd post a WR on these two after seeing your pics on Talk Highlands Pete, hope to add a few more Corbetts myself this season and this gives food for thought. Those shots of Lui are smashing btw
Cheers

Nice day out you had there Pete, you were just about spot on with the weather.
We've a week booked in that area at the beginning of May, really looking forward to it now I've seen your pics, lovely photos, especially "Volcanic Lui".
Thanks for sharing.

Nice one Pete You did get some good photo's considering
Always love your humour & optimism
Weathermen/women speak with fork tongue, I headed east to get the "better weather" and by the sounds of it, got exactly the same as you Rain to start, dry spell, strong wind and a few hefty drenchings