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Another fine day, but I was still not sure about the snow conditions on the higher hills, so I picked out Stob a Cruaich - the book recommends a fine day. The nearest approach is from Rannoch station, but it's a real nightmare of a drive from Loch Earn whereas the way to the Kingshouse is just over an hour and quite easy, and the route although long, seemed to be mainly on good tracks
I parked outside the entrance gate and walked along the track to Blackwater Lodge . As I progressed the views behind me were superb although it was hazy looking South.
My destination remained in view straight ahead the whole way and a few feral goats added a bit of interest
Looking through the haze across Rannoch Moor - Dothaidh, Achaladair, and CreachainBuchaille Etive Beag and a bit of Bidean appearI arrived at the lodge, took the signposted track around it and carried on to the junction just beyond, where I got out the map to see which way to go. Oh dear - I had brought the
wrong map.
Not just "past my sell by date" - but
well past my sell by date
In poor conditions I would have turned around at this point, but my hill was in full view and I had plenty of time. I gave myself 4 hours (from the start) to get the top, and took the main track heading Right. It followed the edge of a fenced enclosure for a while, but then seemed to be veering too far south, so where the fence ended I made a beeline across the bog for the 629m fore-summit of Stob nan Lochgann. As bog goes it wasn't too bad - boggy and heathery but generaly free of peat hags - and I made steady progress although I was pretty tired when I got there (3hrs)
Stob nan Lochgann across the bogThe remote hills North of the Blackwater Reservoir remained under cloud cover all day and looked very wintery by comparisonLooking South from here I think that's Ben Lui sticking up in the centreThe Graham from the fore-summitIt looked quite close, but I knew from previous inspection of the map (that I didn't have) that it was around 2Km. Unfortunately these lower hills do not have the firm stony ridges of thir higher counterparts and there were a lot of peat hags on the traverse - mostly filled with snow. It took 45 minutes and I arrived to hazy views
Lochs Eigheach and Rannoch with Schiehallion poking up beyond - but I've seen it looking clearer from the A82Looking North - I guess those must be the Ossian hills and maybe Beinn Eibhinn and Aonach Beag at the backLoch Laidon - the heart of Rannoch MoorWest down the reservoir into the cloudI returned to the fore-summit - it didn't seem any quicker - and descended rather wearily North West to the big track - the map just shows it as a footpath - that I could now see clearly - yes I should definitely have gone Left at the junction
Once I reached it I could relax - it was just a plod home.
Looking back from where I joined itA shaft of sunlight on the reservoirLochan Meall a Phuill Fortunately. a few hundred metres beyond the lodge the Estate Manager appeared in a 4WD and gave me a lift over the last section. Well you have to be lucky sometimes
