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Never work on your birthday. That's been something i've done for so long I can't remember the last time I did work on V.E. Day. 40 years ago in May 1977 a momentous occasion happened, Star Wars was released.... in other news, a young child was born into the matrix and would spend his latter years enjoying adventures on the mountains and hills of Scotland, home of the wee folk.
So with nothing to do and the car for the day, this auld bastard decided to head for the hills on what was forecast to be another scorcher, younger brother in tow as he was off work too. I settled on Beinn Ime, a great path all the way and the tallest of the Arrochar Alps, i've been enjoying doing all the bigger hills around the southern highlands so far, Ben Cruachan and Ben Lawers are definitely on the radar for this year to add to the mix, then it will be Glen Coe and upwards...
I figured it would give a 'very out of practice since we did Meall nan Tarmachan ridge last year' Stu an easy time of it, decent gradients due to zig zag paths, a fairly long hike to get to the main ascent up Beinn Ime but still a total trip length less than what I strolled round last Monday doing Nutberry Hill. He'll be fine.....

I dropped Y off at work and went to pick up Stu. In typical fashion he'd had a few drinks the night before, got up late and was faffing about trying to pack. I got us brekkie rolls and we eventually set off for Arrochar of Loch Long and Lomondshire.
Traffic hindered our progress as it always seems to do on the A82 between Arden and Tarbet and we eventually parked across the shores of Loch Long from Arrochar, right at the start path for the walk, soaking in the views of a grand morning (almost afternoon now) in Arrochar.
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
We head up the zig zag path...
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
With views to Arrochar and Ben Lomond instantly appealing:
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
Loch Long:
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
Ben Lomond:
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
Cruach Tairbeirt:
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
After a fair few zigs followed by zags and the odd grumble and break from the bro, we clear the woods and our first view of Ben Arthur and Beinn Narnain is the reward:
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
The view back is not half bad either:
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
The three peaks of Ben Arthur:
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
South summit, Arthur's Seat:
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
North summit, Arthur's Wife:
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
Ben Arthur-the Cobbler, thanks to the person providing scale next to the summit!
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
Ben Lomond and Ptarmigan:
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
It's a glorious day for it and we have a breather and enjoy an energy snack then head off again up the excellent path, enjoying the Corbett on our left and Munro on our right as with walk inbetween them on the way to Beinn Ime.
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
I'm pretty convinced that in his head Stuart goes through some kind of "i'm on a lord of the rings style quest" thing in his imagination whenever we go a hill walk!
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
Cheers for joining me bro!
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
Onwards we go and as the path snakes left and right and up and down around one corner the Narnain boulders are spotted, with the three guys we had banter with in the car park then when they passed us earlier in the forest path having a break, nice spot:
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
It's fairly busy but not too busy, i'm glad we chose a Monday that most would be working to come and walk this route as we make our way up the gradual path and past the Cobbler on the left:
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
Ben Lomond behind us:
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
Summit champion, well done:
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
Soon we just have a final stretch up Coire a' Bhalachain to Bealach a' Mhaim:
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
Ben Arthur's south summit, north summit and north face:
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
The path makes for quick progress since Stu has finally broken through the wall!
Ahead of us Beinn Luibhean and Beinn Ime come into view:
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
We have a wee break at the boulders where the path goes up the north west side of Ben Arthur, the path ahead and up Beinn Ime's eastern slope easy to see along with the summit on the left of the two pointy peaks:
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
Glen Croe, Gleann Mor and Beinn an Lochain on the left:
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
Ben Arthur behind and Ben Donich now in view:
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
Stu and Ben Vane:
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
Beinn Narnain, Ben Arthur, Ben Donich:
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
Tiny people on Ben Arthur:
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
We continue the slog up, a lot slower than usual due to Stu needing breaks and a 10 minute blether to a woman coming down off Beinn Ime about how perfect and still it was at the summit and what hills we've been up recently.
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
Old guy enjoying the view:
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
Young unfit guy enjoying the view on another break!
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
People on Beinn Luibhean summit:
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
In the haze to the far south you could make out the Paps of Jura:
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
Ben Lomond was now visible again behind Beinn Narnain:
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
Not far to go now, we head up to the large ridge type boulder bit under the central pyramid here:
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
Stu visibily flagging:
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
Beinn Venue in the distance to the east:
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
And Ben Ledi:
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
Ben Donich and high up sheep to the south, those lambs have gotten big fast!
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
We reach the ledge as Stu stumbles his way along...
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
He says he's a bit knackered and doesn't want to continue. I say that's fine, safety first and if he doesn't feel up for it then either wait for me or start heading back down. I do tell him that the summit is very close and the steep path ahead here is the final steep section (no really it was) to go before the summit. He still declines and says he'll meet me down at the Cobbler path boulders where we had a break earlier.
Since it's such a nice spot I insist that we at least stop and have our lunch here instead of the summit, which we do as we bask in the glorious sunshine, recharge and scoff some food and soak in a view that includes Ben Arthur, Beinn Narnain, Creag Tharsuinn and A'Chrois, Loch Lomond, Loch Katrine and Ben Ledi:
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
Ben More and Stob Binnein with Cruach Ardrain and even Ben Lawers behind in the distance, in the middle of the two:
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
The final section of path before the summit, Stu will be kicking himself but hey ho, off I go:
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
I spy on Stu to check he's not rolling down the hill already!
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
Definitely Beinn Narnain's best side:
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
Catch you in a bit:
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
I'm up the final steep bit in no time and on the path ahead to the summit:
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
Ben Vane and Beinn Vorlich on the right:
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
I have to say I loved the approach to the summit, with Beinn Luibhean and Beinn an Lochain also on the left:
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
It's like Beinn Ime has it's own sentinals on guard either side as you walk along an airy grand gallery towards to summit nest cairn to await your mid-life crisis instructions.
Beinn Ime summit:
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
I pop over to the summit and have a quick chat with a group of young walkers before the head off and I begin enjoying the excellent viewpoint all around, starting with Beinn Bhuidhe:
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
What a view, it's safe to say i'm happy with my choice of 40th birthday mountain!
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
South west:
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
Ben Cruachan to the north west:
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
Ben Lui and Beinn a'Chleibh, both conquered last year:
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
Ben More and Stob Binnein, my birthday walk last year, Ben Lawers inbetween and even some of the Tarmachan Ridge to the left of Ben More:
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
Beinn an Lochain, a cracking walk and stunning wee mountain which I climbed last month:
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
Definitely one of the best summit views i've seen so far, for the composition of both nearby and distant hills and peaks:
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
Beinn an Lochain:
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
Stob Coire Creagach [Binnein an Fhidhleir]:
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
Lomond, Arklet and Katrine, the three lochs:
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
Ben Nevis with snow to the north:
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
Nevis zoomed:
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
Satisfied with some summit time on my own I reflect on 40 years gone by and remember those who could not be here for it. I also received my instructions from a higher source regarding my mid-life crisis, which were something along the lines of get a VW Campervan and go touring and hiking more. Sounds good enough to me, you've got a deal.
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
Ben Arthur, the Clyde, The Brack and Cnoc Coinnich:
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
As i headed back along the summit path I realised that I had forgotten to take a video since as predicted by the walker on the way up, the summit had been completely calm and serene, not a breath of wind. I quicklly took a video where I was since it's rare to be this high up and not have wind sound battering the camera microphone!
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
https://www.flickr.com/photos/djchrismac/33769244744/in/album-72157683731725565/I deploy my walking pole (Stu had the other one to assist his descent) for quick descending down Beinn Ime's path and do so at a fairly rapid pace, stopping to take the occasional snap of the still stunning surroundings:
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
Approaching the Cobbler base where Stu should be at the rocks... can't see him, oh wait there's two legs he's laying down on his back!
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
I pass a man with an eager old Beagle and meet Stu at the rocks, he says he's only been there about 10 minutes so I was fairly fast with my summit then descent. We have another breather and he's fine, a little tired but really just out of practice. It's mentioned how much easier Meall Nan Tarmachan is due to the high start point and less of a slog to reach.
Looking back at Beinn Ime, job done and recommended for anyone else looking for a great birthday hill:
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
I had (again) toyed with the option of adding on Beinn Narnain to the walk but our delayed everything throughout the day meant we were behind schedule for a post-worki collection so we made hase back down the path between Narnain and Arthur:
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
Back through the boulder path:
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
Past ben Arthur, now looking moody in the different afternoon light:
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
We get chatting to the guy with the Beagle on the walk down and enjoy a good blether about walking and places in Scotland. He wishes me a happy birthday and we continue on due to our deadline.
Onwards past the Narnain Boulders:
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
We pass the dam again:
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
Stop for a break to enjoy the view one last time:
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
While breaking my phone had a signal again and I noticed a missed call, returned it, to be told we didn't have to rush back any more as alternative plans had been made! Great, but we were almost off the hill now!
Stu stomping down the mountain, Cruach Tairbeirt beyond:
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
It's no wonder this is such a well walked and popular route, the scenery and views all around are just brilliant:
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
We soon reach the car park again and one of us is especially glad about this, being a bit knackered! I don't know, the youth of today...
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
By, an over the hill man.