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Arrived at a sunny Loch Earn at 08.00 and set off, what turned out to be the wrong way!!
Found a track to the west of the House and followed that until i met the main path leading up Glen Vorlich.
- Loch Earn.
I came to a fork in the path, and again, wrongly, took the left fork!!!
Anyway, there is a path of sorts leading up, so i followed this, keeping Ben Vorlich in view all the time.
- Tree growing thru boulder.
- Ben Vorlich up ahead.
The views behind were starting to open up, with the Lawers group basking in sunshine.
- Lawers group.
It was hot going now, but even though the track wasn't the best, it was fairly easy going.
- Ben More & Stob Binnein.
- Looking East.
With about 300m to the top, i finally found the proper path, which is a bit eroded but certainly easier than the one i had been on
- Ben Vorlich & path.
I soon made the summit which is a trig point.
- Ben Vorlich summit.
Got talking to two Walkhighlander users, Joe (joedugsmith) & John. Had a chat for a while, before they headed off and i had some fuel. Was good talking to you both, and we crossed paths a couple more times over the walk to the next summit.
- First view of Stuc a' Chroin.
- East from the summit.
Refreshed, i headed down to the Bealach an Dubh Choirein. From the bealach, the noise from the rutting Red Deer was unbelievable, a constant roaring from here to the summit
The ascent of Stuc can be made two ways. I decided to go for the straight up the front route, which from a distance looks daunting, but when you're up close, you can see it's not bad at all.
- Stuc a' Chroin up close.
- Looking back to Vorlich.
- Ben Our in shade.
It is a well defined path taking you up the front of Stuc, with no real feeling of exposure. I exited at the cairn marking Donald Stuart, and could see the summit some 500m away.
- Stuart cairn.
- Summit.
A quick amble across brought me to the summit of Stuc a' Chroin.
- Stuc a' Chroin summit.
There is great views all around, from Ben Lomond to the west, up to Ben Nevis and neighbours in the north.
- West to Ben Lomond.
- Ben Nevis & co.
- Lochan a' Chroin, with Ben Venue behind..
After another chat with Joe & John, i headed back to the bealach, to follow the path around Ben Vorlich. With hindsight, i wished i'd gone back up and Vorlich and followed the proper path, this path was god awful, muddy, slippy, boggy, you name it
- Looking back to Stuc a' Chroin.
After much slipping and sliding, i finally hit firm ground and from there it was a nice amble back down to the car. The autumnal colours were looking nice now that the sun was catching the trees and lighting them up
- Down to Loch Earn.
Went passed the impressive Ardvorlich House, on the correct path
before heading home, having had a great day out
- Ardvorlich House.