Loch Lubnaig Corbetts

[Beaner001]

I was initially hoping to get a couple of Munros this weekend to take me to the half way mark but the weather put a stop to that. Therefore dad and I decided on this pair of Corbett’s in the hope it was in an area of better weather and what bad weather there would be may not be as fierce at Corbett height. We turned into the Car park at the foot of Ledi to find it jammed full, we envisaged this as I read it was a popular hill. Therefore we drove to the end of the single track road beside Loch Lubnaig, passing all the cabins and getting a parking spot at the bottom beside the barrier.

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Starting point beside gate where we parked

Due to the wind direction we decided to walk along the old railway line and tackle Benvane first, meaning we’d maybe be aided by the wind pushing us along to Ben Ledi instead of battling along into it. We used the great track which is part of the Rob Roy Way along the side of Loch Lubnaig, many cyclists passed us as this is a great route for cycling as the track is excellent.

Me beginning walk along the old railway route and Rob Roy Way

Dogs having a wee swim in Loch Lubnaig

Looking North up Loch Lubnaig

Dad under an old Railway Bridge/crossing

We did not turn off up the hill till after a small farm just before Druim a’Chasteil. The path zig zags up hill and makes to a gate, we turned left up a forest track, taking a right would take you to Strathtyre. The forestry track heads uphill and it was here we encountered our first bursts of rain; the huge trees gave us great protection.

We turned off the Rob Roy way and headed up this forest track

Our first target Benvane above the forest

The track takes a left turn over a stream and turns almost fully back on itself, we decided to try a short cut up through the forest, in retrospect it would have been easier to stick to the track as we met It soon after as it wound its way up the forest contours. A quick stop for lunch, my dad rested his pork pie on the structure while we studied our route on the map, once we’d decided how to proceed we looked round and Lochy had pinched the pie and was sitting with it in between his paws licking away, little bugger. We identified a rough path on the map that would lead off the forestry track through the trees out into an open stretch of land passed some shielings – we would make our way up the hillside from there. The wee path through the forest was like entering the twilight zone, the passing snow shower was being funnelled right down this wee rough track into our faces, we took shelter in behind some big trees while it passed. Once the shower passed the ground ahead was really boggy but we found a way over a few streams and reached a deer fence which we had to scale.

Once out of the twilight zone we reached this soggy clearing

Dogs were leashed up once over the fence as sheep with lambs were present. Next stop was the right hand side of Creag a’Mhadaidh and then onto the ridge to the summit.

Passing showers looking toward Balimore

And again

We had to take shelter in the many small ravines leading up to the ridge as passing snow and hail showers hit us about every 15 minutes. A fence was reached and followed until it reached a style which we hopped over and continued up to the summit of Benvane. The wind was horrendous by this point and my camera gave up the ghost so we took a couple of summit pics with my dad’s camera and shot off the summit for some shelter.

Getting to the windy summit

Struggling to stand on the summit of Benvane

Ben Ledi from Benvane

The snaking line to Ben Ledi was ahead, it was a bog fest but after a good few shelter stops we made the shoulder that would take us up to Ledi. My feet by this point were soaked; I need to get new 3 season boots now. The route really was a boggy trudge though.

Soggy route to Ben Ledi following the rusty old fence posts

Looking back to moody Benvane

A clear spell looking towards the point (Creag na h-lolaire)

Once up to the shoulder the final ridge to the summit trig to Ledi looked great, I bashed on ahead and made the summit and managed to get a seat out of the wind while I waited on dad.

Summit ridge to Ledi

And again, you can see me if you look closely

He arrived holding my GPS which I had dropped at some point. It’s only a matter of time before I lose that thing. The clag had set in by now so no summit views but we got good summit pics and nest to the memorial cross too.

Dad, Lochy and Billy on summit Ledi

Me, Roy and Lochy on Summit

Me, Roy and Lochy with Memorial cross

Dad and Billy with Memorial cross

We did not stay long as it was bitterly cold, joining the highway track down. This must be a popular hill as the route was around four tracks wide!!

Looking back to the cross

It was a nice easy paced walk down to the foot of Ledi where we branched off the tourist track onto the forestry tracks to save time and distance. Once back at the car I took the dogs for a dook in Loch Lubnaig to wash off the mud and then they got food and we had the remainder of our sandwiches before the drive home. Really enjoyed this walk, if it weren’t for the wind I’d like to do this the other way round but we definitely made the correct decision for route given the conditions.

[SAVAGEALICE]

Good effort in that weather! like the pic of the dogs swimming and the one at the summit holding on to the hood!

[Fife Flyer]

Nice one Matthew, can't beat a nice summers day on the hills I think we are getting a tad fed up with the continuation of winter Well done for braving the elements, agree with Alice anbout the photo's
You could have nipped across the road and romped up Ben Each

[martin.h]

Hi Matt, another good report, we were looking at these on our way south a couple of weeks ago and thought they would make a good day out. The 'iffy weather seems to be hanging on, still cold enough to snow on the tops I see.
We're up Roy Bridge 6th June for a week, if there's anything around there you fancy meeting up for, give me a nudge, if not, have a good do on Arran.
Cheers.

[Gordie12]

Thanks for posting this.

Having walked the Rob Roy Way last week and not doing Ben Ledi due to the crap weather on the day I walked from Callander - Killin I was intending to return to do Ben Ledi in isolation but this gives me a much better circular route.

I'll maybe try and do it on a less windy day than you had..............

Ben Ledi beyond Loch Venachar - the day before the rubbish weather arrived

[Beaner001]

Good effort in that weather! like the pic of the dogs swimming and the one at the summit holding on to the hood!

Thanks Alice, was some wind up there. You'll know fine well about Springers obsession with water

Nice one Matthew, can't beat a nice summers day on the hills I think we are getting a tad fed up with the continuation of winter Well done for braving the elements, agree with Alice anbout the photo's
You could have nipped across the road and romped up Ben Each

Defo fed up with this weather, was out yesterday and the ground was just sodden
Did Bean Each in December although dad hasn't an easy one for shorter days for him

Hi Matt, another good report, we were looking at these on our way south a couple of weeks ago and thought they would make a good day out. The 'iffy weather seems to be hanging on, still cold enough to snow on the tops I see.
We're up Roy Bridge 6th June for a week, if there's anything around there you fancy meeting up for, give me a nudge, if not, have a good do on Arran.
Cheers.

Thanks Marts, aye I think I'll be busy with Arran that week, keep in touch though - you never know

Thanks for posting this.

Having walked the Rob Roy Way last week and not doing Ben Ledi due to the crap weather on the day I walked from Callander - Killin I was intending to return to do Ben Ledi in isolation but this gives me a much better circular route.

I'll maybe try and do it on a less windy day than you had..............

1-7.jpg

Hi Gordie, lovely pic of Ledi there I fancy the Rob Roy way too, well signed and good track taking in some nice areas but not too long like WHW etc

[rockhopper]

Pity about the mixed weather but joining these two up does look like making for a good walk - (took me 27 years to get round to Benvane after walking Ben Ledi ) your way does look sensible - cheers

[Beaner001]

Pity about the mixed weather but joining these two up does look like making for a good walk - (took me 27 years to get round to Benvane after walking Ben Ledi ) your way does look sensible - cheers

Cheers RH, it was my dad's idea, he's good with route finding. Although my next report I used one of your WR for reference as you'll see when I get round to posting it