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.
20170508_112608 by Chris Mac, on FlickrWe head up the zig zag path...
20170508_113219 by Chris Mac, on FlickrWith views to Arrochar and Ben Lomond instantly appealing:
20170508_114438 by Chris Mac, on FlickrLoch Long:
20170508_115218 by Chris Mac, on FlickrBen Lomond:
20170508_120001 DSCF9837 by Chris Mac, on FlickrCruach Tairbeirt:
20170508_120600 DSCF9840 by Chris Mac, on FlickrAfter 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:
20170508_122539 by Chris Mac, on FlickrThe view back is not half bad either:
20170508_123012 by Chris Mac, on FlickrThe three peaks of Ben Arthur:
20170508_123201 DSCF9852 by Chris Mac, on FlickrSouth summit, Arthur's Seat:
20170508_123202 DSCF9853 by Chris Mac, on FlickrNorth summit, Arthur's Wife:
20170508_123203 DSCF9854 by Chris Mac, on FlickrBen Arthur-the Cobbler, thanks to the person providing scale next to the summit!
20170508_123300 DSCF9860 by Chris Mac, on FlickrBen Lomond and Ptarmigan:
20170508_124500 DSCF9866 by Chris Mac, on FlickrIt'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.
20170508_124959 by Chris Mac, on Flickr
20170508_125200 DSCF9869 by Chris Mac, on FlickrI'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!
20170508_125300 DSCF9879 by Chris Mac, on FlickrCheers for joining me bro!
20170508_125500 DSCF9886 by Chris Mac, on FlickrOnwards 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:
20170508_125800 DSCF9889 by Chris Mac, on Flickr
20170508_125834 by Chris Mac, on FlickrIt'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:
20170508_130719 by Chris Mac, on Flickr
20170508_130833 by Chris Mac, on FlickrBen Lomond behind us:
20170508_130900 DSCF9904 by Chris Mac, on FlickrSummit champion, well done:
20170508_131200 DSCF9909 by Chris Mac, on FlickrSoon we just have a final stretch up Coire a' Bhalachain to Bealach a' Mhaim:
20170508_131304 by Chris Mac, on FlickrBen Arthur's south summit, north summit and north face:
20170508_131310 by Chris Mac, on FlickrThe path makes for quick progress since Stu has finally broken through the wall!
Ahead of us Beinn Luibhean and Beinn Ime come into view:
20170508_132418 by Chris Mac, on FlickrWe 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:
20170508_132800 DSCF9924 by Chris Mac, on FlickrGlen Croe, Gleann Mor and Beinn an Lochain on the left:
20170508_133600 DSCF9933 by Chris Mac, on FlickrBen Arthur behind and Ben Donich now in view:
20170508_134019 by Chris Mac, on FlickrStu and Ben Vane:
20170508_134400 DSCF9941 by Chris Mac, on FlickrBeinn Narnain, Ben Arthur, Ben Donich:
20170508_140111 by Chris Mac, on FlickrTiny people on Ben Arthur:
20170508_140500 DSCF9951 by Chris Mac, on Flickr
20170508_140501 DSCF9952 by Chris Mac, on Flickr
20170508_140502 DSCF9954 by Chris Mac, on FlickrWe 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.
20170508_140700 DSCF9957 by Chris Mac, on Flickr
20170508_140701 DSCF9958 by Chris Mac, on FlickrOld guy enjoying the view:
20170508_141200 DSCF9960 by Chris Mac, on FlickrYoung unfit guy enjoying the view on another break!
20170508_141328 by Chris Mac, on FlickrPeople on Beinn Luibhean summit:
20170508_141500 DSCF9969 by Chris Mac, on FlickrIn the haze to the far south you could make out the Paps of Jura:
20170508_141800 DSCF9977 by Chris Mac, on FlickrBen Lomond was now visible again behind Beinn Narnain:
20170508_142008 by Chris Mac, on FlickrNot far to go now, we head up to the large ridge type boulder bit under the central pyramid here:
20170508_142050 by Chris Mac, on FlickrStu visibily flagging:
20170508_142400 DSCF9985 by Chris Mac, on FlickrBeinn Venue in the distance to the east:
20170508_143600 DSCF9999 by Chris Mac, on FlickrAnd Ben Ledi:
20170508_143601 DSCF10001 by Chris Mac, on FlickrBen Donich and high up sheep to the south, those lambs have gotten big fast!
20170508_143700 DSCF10002 by Chris Mac, on Flickr
20170508_143701 DSCF10004 by Chris Mac, on FlickrWe reach the ledge as Stu stumbles his way along...
20170508_144000 DSCF10009 by Chris Mac, on FlickrHe 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:
20170508_144100 DSCF10014 by Chris Mac, on FlickrBen More and Stob Binnein with Cruach Ardrain and even Ben Lawers behind in the distance, in the middle of the two:
20170508_144101 DSCF10015 by Chris Mac, on FlickrThe final section of path before the summit, Stu will be kicking himself but hey ho, off I go:
20170508_144905 by Chris Mac, on FlickrI spy on Stu to check he's not rolling down the hill already!
20170508_145700 DSCF10016 by Chris Mac, on FlickrDefinitely Beinn Narnain's best side:
20170508_145701 DSCF10017 by Chris Mac, on FlickrCatch you in a bit:
20170508_145702 DSCF10018 by Chris Mac, on FlickrI'm up the final steep bit in no time and on the path ahead to the summit:
20170508_145901 DSCF10021 by Chris Mac, on FlickrBen Vane and Beinn Vorlich on the right:
20170508_145953 by Chris Mac, on FlickrI have to say I loved the approach to the summit, with Beinn Luibhean and Beinn an Lochain also on the left:
20170508_150300 DSCF10022 by Chris Mac, on FlickrIt'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:
20170508_150301 DSCF10025 by Chris Mac, on FlickrI 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:
20170508_150333 by Chris Mac, on FlickrWhat a view, it's safe to say i'm happy with my choice of 40th birthday mountain!
20170508_150342 by Chris Mac, on FlickrSouth west:
20170508_150352 by Chris Mac, on FlickrBen Cruachan to the north west:
20170508_150600 DSCF10030 by Chris Mac, on FlickrBen Lui and Beinn a'Chleibh, both conquered last year:
20170508_150602 DSCF10033 by Chris Mac, on FlickrBen 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:
20170508_150603 DSCF10034 by Chris Mac, on FlickrBeinn an Lochain, a cracking walk and stunning wee mountain which I climbed last month:
20170508_150700 DSCF10035 by Chris Mac, on FlickrDefinitely one of the best summit views i've seen so far, for the composition of both nearby and distant hills and peaks:
20170508_150701 DSCF10038 by Chris Mac, on Flickr
20170508_150702 DSCF10040 by Chris Mac, on FlickrBeinn an Lochain:
20170508_150800 DSCF10043 by Chris Mac, on FlickrStob Coire Creagach [Binnein an Fhidhleir]:
20170508_150801 DSCF10044 by Chris Mac, on FlickrLomond, Arklet and Katrine, the three lochs:
20170508_150805 DSCF10053 by Chris Mac, on FlickrBen Nevis with snow to the north:
20170508_151100 DSCF10054 by Chris Mac, on FlickrNevis zoomed:
20170508_151101 DSCF10055 by Chris Mac, on FlickrSatisfied 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.
20170508_151653 by Chris Mac, on FlickrBen Arthur, the Clyde, The Brack and Cnoc Coinnich:
20170508_151658 by Chris Mac, on FlickrAs 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!
20170508_151820 by Chris Mac, on Flickrhttps://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:
20170508_153647 by Chris Mac, on FlickrApproaching 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!
20170508_154322 by Chris Mac, on FlickrI 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:
20170508_154643 by Chris Mac, on FlickrI 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:
20170508_154647 by Chris Mac, on Flickr
20170508_155027 by Chris Mac, on FlickrBack through the boulder path:
20170508_155146 by Chris Mac, on FlickrPast ben Arthur, now looking moody in the different afternoon light:
20170508_155819 by Chris Mac, on FlickrWe 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:
20170508_155822 by Chris Mac, on Flickr
20170508_160333 by Chris Mac, on Flickr
20170508_161033 by Chris Mac, on FlickrWe pass the dam again:
20170508_162230 by Chris Mac, on FlickrStop for a break to enjoy the view one last time:
20170508_162242 by Chris Mac, on FlickrWhile 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:
20170508_164426 by Chris Mac, on FlickrIt's no wonder this is such a well walked and popular route, the scenery and views all around are just brilliant:
20170508_164848 by Chris Mac, on FlickrWe 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...
20170508_170056 by Chris Mac, on FlickrBy, an over the hill man.
A great way to spend the day - trying to remember what I did on my 40th 
but don't think it was as nice as this - cheers 
