Clyde the Thistle does his first Munro

[clydethistle]

Caught the 914 Citylink from Gt Western Rd at 8.40 and arrived Sloy power station just before 10am. The driver was a bit grumpy but that's Scottish bus drivers I suppose. Beautiful day for my first Munro. There's a wee visitor Centre there with a café on the shores of Loch Lomond and, importantly for Mrs Thistle, a toilet.

Ready to go

Easy tarmac road to start with. Met two guys heading for Ben Vane and got the handy piece of advice that the hill track (which is easily missed) leaves the tarmac road just after the fourth pylon before the Sloy Dam.

Easy to start

I think that's Ben Narnain although it might be Ben Vane

There is a junction halfway but just keep to the right

First rest of the day

Time for a spot of lunch before the rigours ahead

You can't beat Pickled Onion Monster Munches

Here's the hill path, right enough just by the fourth pylon before the dam

The serious walking starts here

The views get better as you gain a bit of height. After the rains of the last few days the path is more like a stream.

Sloy Dam

Very steep and boggy

Can see Loch Lomond Now

The path gets better higher up and gradually eases off

Onwards and upwards

Eventually up to the top ridge with Loch Katrine (I think) in the background

Loch Katrine?

With the path easing all the time and my wee legs a bit sore, I reach the trig point

Trig point at last

The summit is only a 100yds further on

Summit

Great views

Time to head down, although it's a nice day its getting a bit windy
Met a wee whinchat on the way down

Whinchat

Long lost cousin

Its amazing who you bump into in the Scottish Hills

Back in the café at Loch Lomondside by 4pm just enough time for a coffee and a lemonade before the bus back to Glasgow.

ps does anyone know how to get the photos in these blogs to stop jumping from portrait to landscape?