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This was a second attempt at this hill - I had tried to add it on to a Ben Lomond walk a year or so ago but about halfway down to the bealach I lost heart and energy so went back to the car at Rowardennan over Ptarmigan. This time I went up from the north. I left Glasgow before 8 in a bit of a hurry (too hurried as it turned out as I left my camera behind) and parked up at Inversnaid at 9.15. I didn't think much of the road north from Aberfoyle. I walked across the bridge over the falls and dropped down to the WHW which was a lovely gentle saunter in the early morning chill with lots of birdsong. There were quite a few ups and downs all the way to Cailness. Just before the cottage, a grassy path leads up to a gate which gives access to the road which zig-zags up the hillside. I must be honest and say that this very steep road took it out of me. I know I had run a pretty good 10k the day before but this got my heart pumping and the breathing labouring a bit. I just had to get the poles out and get a rhythm going and try to enjoy the views across the loch below. Up at the top of the road, I tried to see the fence mentioned in the SMC book but missed it and carried on on the road for a bit before I thought I better just head over to the hill which looked like a large upside down pudding bowl. The terrain across to the hill was awful - very boggy, tussocks and large balls of grass. Soon the ground steepened and the going became even more difficult as I slithered up the hillside, not managing to get much of a grip. I was trying to find a line of an old wooden fence and was relieved to do so as this was supposed the indicate the easiest was to the summit. I had to be vigilant as there were a lot of strands of old wire and some mesh lying around. Eventually, I came to an extremely steep section which seemed to be convex. After a brief pause at the top of this section I struggled up over a couple of more false rises before coming to the summit cairn. I have to say the views were spectacular and I really regretted not having my camera. I found a dip out of the chill wind to enjoy a well deserved lunch and before heading back down the fence line. I am pleased to say that I only ended up on my bottom once. I decided to head for the deer fence that I could see in the distance (this was the route I should have taken on the way up). However, I have to say that the ground here was even worse - it was over-the-top-of-my-boot boggy and it seemed to take forever to get back to the road. The steepness of the road in descent was a test for the old, tired knees and even the 3 km walk back along the WHW was a bit of a trackle because of the many ups and downs, gnarled tree roots and slippery rocks. I must say that enjoyed reaching the car for a final roll and cuppa before heading home.
