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I'm enjoying my biker hikes at the moment and have had Ben Oss in my sights for a while. Initially my planned route was to cycle to the end of the track and then walk some way into Corrie Laoigh and up what looked like a steep, but grassy slope.
I posted on another walk report that I was planning to do Ben Oss, but wasn't keen on the bog trot that WH was suggesting.
jmarkb replied head for the notch. I looked on Google Earth and the OS and worked out the route going up the notch.
At last a nice clear day and I was really looking forward to this
Got to the car park and assembled the bike and headed up the track. Came across a young couple from the continent who were doing the WHW, we chatted and wished each other an enjoyable day.
Under the railway and on
Another alternative biker hike I'd considered was the forestry commission track which I assumed would end somewhere on the lower slope of Beinn Dubhchraig, but it looked a bit unused and overgrown on Google Earth
Not long before Ben Lui makes and appearance, an impressive mountain
Theres a notch on Beinn Chuirn as well, called the Eas Anie, another impressive feature, I must try and get up there soon for a look at the falls before the Hydro siphon it
Here's the notch I'm looking for though; Corrie Cruinn
Passed some cattle on the way up to the farm, said good afternoon to one and it bolted
There were some calves further up, I slowed down, but they started to bolt, I stopped and let them settle and carried on, phew !
Met another couple of walkers on the track after the last padlocked gate; there are styles. Chatted to them for quite a while swapping bravado stories of this scramble and that ridge
Wired the bike and got the poles out and headed for the line across the River Cononish, it's a line on the OS maps, and I'd kinda worked out it wouldn't be a bridge, just a suitable crossing point. There's a nice waterfall and river landscape a few metres downstream. If the river were in spate, then this crossing may be tricky
A Raven flew high above and cawed, such a great sound.
It's long grass and quite heavy going until up on the edge of the notch which is still a steep ascent, but doesn't throw up any real challenges
Got to the top of Corrie Cruinn, it's a magical mini corrie
There's a small plateau here and I stopped to take photos and generally enjoy the views
before heading up the next section where the terrain changes to a more loose rocky slope with grassy patches. Again nothing too demanding, just a bit of effort needed to get up the steep slope and some care needed to ensure the rocks are solid enough to stand on.
A good view into Corrie Laoigh from here, an interesting conglomeration of bumps and bobbles
Disturbed a Ptarmigan, it flew off but settled nearby, check out those furry boots
A smaller Ptarmigan walked from closer to me, but I didn't manage to get a photo, perhaps this years young with a parent, or both juveniles
Got to the bealach and the view to the south down Loch Lomond is stunning
Picked up the path and was quickly on the summit of Ben Oss with fabulous panoramic views, Ben Lui dominating
I didn't stay long, I wasn't sure how long this walk was going to take or how easy my decent was going to be.
A view of Beinn Dubhchraig ridge from the descent down to Bealach Buidhe and the first full view of Loch Oss
A couple of nice wee Lochans on the way down
I eyed the possible descents down the side of Corrie Buidhe as I got to the Bealach
The path up to the Lochan plateau has some interesting stages
Great view into Loch Oss
Up to the wee Lochans just before the final section to Beinn Dubhchraig and a view back to Ben Oss with Lui in the background
Got to the summit, I'm sure Nevis will be in there somewhere
Again I am on the move quickly back to the Lochans and down the ridge. The landscape reminding me of the ridge from Stob a'Choire Odhair to Stob Ghabhar. I ventured out a bit to take a look into the head of the Corie Buidhe; stunning
Picked up the path down the ridge, but always intended to hang a left and head down into the Corie early. I'd eyed it from the bealach and it looked fine. I turned a bit early and traversed back, but eventually found a doable route.
I can see why the Hydro are keen; that shelf on Beinn Chuirn must collect multi megawatts
Getting down into the gully on the soft spongy mossy ground was quite easy, The Raven cawed from the cliffs at the top of the Corie, must be where it hangs out on fine Scottish evenings
The Allt Corie Bhuidhe and its tributaries provide a gorgeous spectacle of waterfalls over slabs, one of my favorite vistas
Even managed to set up the camera on a wee gorilla pod and get a slomo
Still getting to know the camera and photography, so it may not be awesome to you, but a step forward for me
I crossed a couple of the streams at the flat tops of falls, a bit slippery in places, but very manageable and excellent fun
Got to the river Cononish a bit downstream from where I'd crossed earlier for a look at the falls and considered jumping across the spikes, but in the end walked up and across the tame stepping stones
Back to the bike and the midges are now out in force for their supper
A last look up at Corie Buidhe from the track, Ben Oss in the background and the notch of Corie Chruinn, the magical wee corie
I winged it back down, really enjoying the ride
Slowed down for the cows and dinged the bell for one large young bull with it's snout in the long grass, it looked up, crossed to the other side and I'm away
Ben Lui and the River Cononish on the way back
A great day out and a reasonably dry one, certainly not a bog factor four.
Outstanding panoramic views from both summits, well worth the trip
