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I had wanted to do my scramble up to Stob Binnein and on to Ben More, but it was forecast to be a bit windy and I didn't want to be blown off the steep bits above Stob Thearlaich.
What could I do
Time was getting on, so it had to be something reasonable, I looked at what I had left in the area, Ben Challum
Don't think I'd every really looked at Challum, it wasn't getting a great write up and was bog factor four
Oh well I'd get out and really needed to stretch my legs and blow the city guff out of my lungs.
Finding the parking is easy and also the track in over the bridge
Tarmac road to the farm, the grave yards and as I later read the ruins of the Priory
I'd started to read it, but thinking I was in a rush just took a photo to read it later. Turns out St Fillan brought Christianity to the Picts and Scots in the area. You can find out more information on these sites.
CanmoreWalking and WritingI guess the ruins didn't register with me because of the overgrowth. I did notice the grave yards though
On up the track to the railway line. The WH route goes over the crossing, but it is marked as a private crossing
I saw a bridge just along a bit, and thought it looked more interesting. It also looked very solid and I doubted it would be left over a busy railway track if there was any issue with it
Oh well perhaps on the way back, I was at the crossing now and soon on my way up. After a bit of confusion started up the path next to the fence with nice views opening up.
Ben Lui across
I zoomed in on Stob Binnein to try and gather more information for my scramble, looks like it will be fine, although a bail out traverse that I'd considered may not be an option
Crossed an unnamed stream that emanates from an interesting cleft in the hillside
The terrain on the way up to the plateau isn't dramatic, but it does have interest and views of the Crianlarich range and Ben Lui with the surrounding Munros.
The colours in this patch of Cotton Grass didn't come out as vivid as the actuality
Reached the plateau shortly afterwards and a first view of Ben Challum
and to be honest the reputation of this walk being a bog factor four didn't seem deserved at this point and the gaiters I'd put on at the start were now making my legs hot
Mmm
I took the photo for amusement, I'd considered the fact that it had been dry for a while with a drying wind and although there were a few squidgy bits, general it was fine.
Shortly after getting to the plateau I picked up a better path and was cruising along admiring the views
The source of the stream I assume with Ben Lui in the background
There was a wee bit of a dip before the path climbed up to the to start of the ridge
Met a nice couple coming down. They were delighted with the great views at the top, they were staying in a wigwam nearby and from what I gathered were quite new to mountain walking; I told them about walk highlands
Shortly after I met another walker called Steve coming back down and chatted to him for a while before I noticed the weather starting to close in and I made off for the summit to get the view and my holiday snaps.
You can just make out Steve in the middle of this photo looking back down to the dip
The path is dry and in good nick and I am enjoying the walk up. The first cairn on the ridge
Surely this isn't it
There was higher ground beyond
I carried on and the walk soon became interesting with a wee ridge walk and a view of the summit cairn
I was quite surprised by the change in landscape, but it was a pleasant surprise. I though I heard a Raven cawing at this point and stopped to listen and heard it again. I got the camera ready and called out for the Raven to show itself, but it was probably eyeing me from behind a rock somewhere and wasn't going to give me a pose
Not to worry plenty of inanimate interest
The wee ridge walk and climb up through the boulders was good fun and made me smile
Got to the summit cairn
and the main view I was looking forward too, down Glen Lochay
The weather was starting to close in and it wasn't what I'd hoped for, said la vie
Still got a good impression of the landscape. Even at the start of my walk views were a bit hazy.
I didn't hang around and was quickly back down on the wee plateau and following the path that I'd found on the way up
I was kinda hoping that it would go past the cleft for the stream, but it was further to the North. Don't be put off, although this section was a bit squidgy in places this route down was more or less dry
Through the fern forest and a sheep led the way to the bridge
which is substantial and I would think used for getting the sheep and cattle across the railway. No signs up to say walkers aren't allowed
The Rowans are out and you can see the crossing not far up the track
There's evidently been a human investment in this area through the years
It had been windy further up, but it was sheltered here in the valley. I got to the tarmac road and was just before the bridge when a train rattled it's way along the track. The echo off Fiarach was incredible and amplified.
An evening view up the river Fillan from the bridge
As walks go it wasn't amazingly spectacular and it was a bit of a trudge up, but the fun ridge and landscape at the top made it worthwhile.
So long as you take the route I came down I doubt this would get above a bog factor three.
Enjoy