Meall Mor and Cruinn a Bheinn

[Benaden887]

Friday - Meall Mor from Stronachlachar, Having purchased the SMC guide to the Grahams and Donalds, I decided to try out two of the routes - early start to Glen Arklet and from the pier on Loch Katrine I bike the tarmac road to glen gyle. A forestry track to the river and chain the bike to an iron gate. Cross a bridge of sleepers - skirt a fenced area then plough uphill to gain the top. Dead bracken made for rough passage - come summer this way would be a chore as it grows to the 500mt contour. It was cold with snow then hailstones as I climbed - bit of a bogtrot higher up with snowmelt and some still lying here. The cairn - a jumble of rocks - Views - the higher tops in cloud - Stob binnian More and the falloch hills hidden with Lomond far away.There are other tops I could do here but not today. Cloud is clearing on my way down and the sun is out. A number of cyclists come towards me - having taken the ferry up to bike the east side of the loch - Two ladies bikers pass me as if I was standing still - in my defence I was going uphill at the time. Back at my car, bike in the boot
and swop Katrine for Lomond....Seen enroute A golden eagle, three pair barnacle geese cross my path heading for water, birds ,deer two early morning runners and folk in boats fishing. .... Cruinn a Bheinn from Inversnaid - park at the hotel - took WHW beside the loch heading for the white cottage and access to the hillside. Passed many WH wayers exchanged craic with a six pack of Irish lads headin for Inveranan. Great fun. From the cottage a zigzag trail climbs to 350mt before dropping over to Loch Chon. Here I cross a watermeadow terrain to reach the drier slopes of Cruinn - a line of to be fence posts climb the hill - I with them, to reach the broad top and last cairn of the day. The sunshine had gone and the wind now cold - I see Ben Lomond north side still in snow - with a gully climbed many years ago - Ben Venue - still to do - The Loch Sloy hills- A lone vehicle on the track driving to the cottage - the way down followed the fence back to the track WHW , car and home.. Seen enroute ..Feral goats with kids above the cottage -met them again on the road home at Loch thom - Only signs of upland life were the animal tracks I followed and midges - ferrys were busy with trade - lots of people enjoying the day Mirror images on the lochs stunning! - so welcome to the Trossachs