Beinn Duibh and Lochan Beinn Duibh

[Justalittlefurther]

Walked: 6km (from leaving track to Lochan Beinn Duibh and back)
Cycled: 25km (from Kinlochard to leaving track and back)

Hopeful of the day ahead, I left Kinlochard relishing the heat but looking nervously across to what should be the lower slopes of Ben Venue. I could not make out much more than the lochside and the houses dabbled along the road behind the sea of ever-thickening cloud.


As I passed Stronmacnair, I found myself in the Highlands. It is this moment that draws me to the base of Scotland's most-southerly Munro. As I left the flattish track to Comer farm and skidded my way up the vertical track that continues to Loch Lomond, it felt like for every leg-wrenching pedal upwards the loose gravel threw me down twice as far. When eventually I reached the gentle sloped stretch of land between Beinn Uamha (anyone know how this is pronounced?) and Beinn Duibh, I abandoned my bike.


The cloud on Beinn Uamha and my distinct lack of experience led my eyes across to Beinn Duibh and its namesake Lochan, so after watching a herd of deer speed across Beinn Uamha and out of sight, I battered through the heather to Beinn Duibh's large collection of possible summits. It was on my fourth attempt that I came across the cairn marking the summit. I was intrigued by a scribble on the map at Lochan Beinn Duibh, which I now know shows the whisky stills at the far end of the Lochan, and stumbled down. All I found - to my great - disappointment, was not a secret bothy, a pool so densely populated with trout they were spilling onto land or even an extensive selection of cakes but some polystyrene.

As I returned in the glorious sunshine, I visited the glistening pools of the Abhainn Gaoithe and found, to my great delight. vaguely warm water. Perhaps a walk up the burn in summer... if the midge aren't too bad...

[Sgurr]

The account of your cycle made me doubly grateful to the friend who e-mailed me that he was working at the pylons by Comer and could give me a run out there the other week.

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