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This was a walk I wouldn't sure if I would complete! My first time up a big hill solo, my first time going 'off piste' and all dependent on the whims of public transport; it could too easily have been curtailed at any stage.
Having climbed Ben Vane a couple of weeks ago, and Beinn Narnain in the autumn, I really wanted to get the other two done as my third and fourth munros. Despite the lack of visible link between the two, I'd now seen the Bealach a' Mhaim from the west and the top, and hoped the two could be done in a (long) day. Sometimes sheer pig-headedness wins out!
After hopping on the first citylink bus of the day to Sloy, I was at the foot of Vorlich at 9.00, although I did have to detour around some rather mardy cows

The trouble with these Munro things is that there's far too much ascent for my liking! It seemed I was the first on the hill that day, with a sole other climber perhaps 200m behind, gradually gaining on me. Despite the constant clag I was having a great time and arrived at the top at 10.30, celebrating with perhaps the earliest dram of Scapa 16 year old I've ever had -and a photo of the fine views, courtesy of my dogged follower!
- Fabulous views on Vorlich! Though the clag did clear a bit on the way down.
Now for the part I was a bit nervous about; my map showed that the well maintained track heading through Glen Loin petered out just short of the slope up to the Bealach a' Mhaim, and I took my mind off my knees, ankles, and the driving rain, by wondering what kind of challenge might await me at the end of it. Nervousness not helped by the 4 rescue vehicles who raced by me, followed shortly by a helicopter! A solid reminder that things can and do go very wrong, even in Scotland's wee hills.
It's true that it wasn't the most
pleasant part of the walk, but the slope is very very doable! There's an easy stream crossing just at the end of the track, then some trees to push through, and a steep but manageable ascent to the bealach. Two hazards - hidden ditches and a lot of bog - are nothing to get too fashed about.
- Looking down from near the Bealach a' Mhaim
Once up on the bealach I had a momentary tizzy to find myself completely enclosed in clag, with not much idea of how much further I had to go to get to the path, or in what direction. Had I made a horrible map-reading mistake?!

Luckily not! Just as I was thinking the safest thing to do would be to go back down, the clag moved very slightly and I saw the unmistakeable path up to Narnain just to my left! I was
standing on the very path I wanted!
After that I was able to make short work of Ime, and was very gratified to ring the bell, and find another group of walkers to have a quick few words with as we were greeted once again by complete clag.
- Clag again on Ime!
Ecstatic that I had managed what I set out to do -and wanting to get the 6.00 bus! - I made short work of the descent, almost running the base zigzag. By this time there was broad sunshine to warm me up after a very cold wet day
