walkhighlands

Share your personal walking route experiences in Scotland, and comment on other peoples' reports.
Warning Please note that hillwalking when there is snow lying requires an ice-axe, crampons and the knowledge, experience and skill to use them correctly. Summer routes may not be viable or appropriate in winter. See winter information on our skills and safety pages for more information.

Ben Vorlich from Ardlui

Ben Vorlich from Ardlui


Postby weaselmaster » Wed Aug 02, 2017 7:22 pm

Munros included on this walk: Ben Vorlich (Loch Lomond)

Date walked: 02/08/2017

Time taken: 6 hours

Distance: 12.4 km

Ascent: 1292m

3 people think this report is great.
Register or Login
free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).

A sneaky mid-week hill outing. Up to Beinglas campsite on Tuesday evening - sodden underfoot with a lot of rain having fallen by the look of things. Busy with WHW walkers of various nationalities, predominantly German. A bit noisy til midnight then quiet rain.


vorlichz.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts



Cloud covered the hilltops when we woke, midges congregated around the tent and my midge net was at home. We drove the few miles to Ardlui and parked by the phone box. I'd wanted to climb Vorlich by this route for a while and it did offer the opportunity to collect not just the Munro Top that Allison was after but 3 or 4 Sims for me. I knew it would be a rough and rugged terrain, made worse by the bracken on the lower slopes. Our initial route was thwarted by the railway lines - I wasn't sure whether there was a way across by the camping area at Ardlui - we went to the station and met a Scotrail man who directed us to an underpass about 100m to the south of the station. This looked like it went to a house - there was a sign saying Ben Vorlich route was the next underpass to the south. Not a great road to walk alongside, the A82, but we didn't have far to go. The cutting was a little soggy :roll:

ImageP1160754 by Al, on Flickr

ImageP1160755 by Al, on Flickr


A faint track continues to the south then joins a more distinct gravel path that seemed to be heading the right way. At around 300m we left the track and headed straight up the hillside making for Stob nan Coinnich Bhacain, a craggy presence leading to the main ridge up to Vorlich. We picked our way along gullies and over rocks to reach the summit, moated by lochans. Some sheep greeted us with baleful cries. On towards the 931 Top of Vorlich- I was surprised- pleasantly- to find a clear path leading the way round outcrops: clearly a more popular route than I'd imagined.

ImageP1160757 by Al, on Flickr

ImageP1160758 by Al, on Flickr

Stob nan Coinnich Bhacain
ImageP1160759 by Al, on Flickr

ImageP1160760 by Al, on Flickr

Up to Vorlich
ImageP1160763 by Al, on Flickr

At around 700m we entered the clag and continued easily up to the summit of the Top. From here it's a short distance to the main Munro summit where we stopped for lunch. My original route took us to the southern extremity of the ridge to claim another Sim before traversing the inside of Coire na Baintighearna to reach the Little Hills. As we had to be back in Greenock early enough for Allison to get to her classes I decided to jettison this next Sim and just head straight towards the Little Hills from the summit. In clag, this poses a bit of a problem as there are many crags to negotiate and much time was eaten up finding a safe route. We made it to both summits of the Little Hills (Sims) then continued NE down the shoulder to Stuc na Nighinn. This involved undulating terrain, crags and a steep descent towards the river.

Munro Top - 49 left for her now
ImageP1160764 by Al, on Flickr

Vorlich summit
ImageP1160765 by Al, on Flickr

ImageP1160767 by Al, on Flickr

Approaching the first of the Little Hills
ImageP1160769 by Al, on Flickr

And second
ImageP1160771 by Al, on Flickr

Down the shoulder
ImageP1160772 by Al, on Flickr

Descent to the river
ImageP1160775 by Al, on Flickr

ImageP1160776 by Al, on Flickr


A simple crossing then we had to fight our way through ferns to reach the track we'd ascended on. We continued on this better track which took us out through another underpass by a farm, leaving a slightly longer walk along the A82 to return to the car

ImageP1160781 by Al, on Flickr
weaselmaster
Ambler
 
Posts: 2521
Munros:282   Corbetts:90
Fionas:219   Donalds:77+36
Sub 2000:395   Hewitts:33
Wainwrights:15   Islands:34
Joined: Aug 22, 2012
Location: Greenock

Re: Ben Vorlich from Ardlui

Postby Chris Mac » Wed Aug 02, 2017 10:02 pm

Nice, good effort in the conditions. I'm looking forward to an exploration of Loch Lomond's Ben Vorlich and the little hills, having seen some good angles of them from surrounding summits i've climbed, looks like a fun rocky walk. A shame you never got the views but I saw enough to whet the appetitie and make me think about doing it sooner. Cheers! :clap:
User avatar
Chris Mac
 
Posts: 821
Munros:62   Corbetts:38
Fionas:31   Donalds:30+13
Sub 2000:79   Hewitts:6
Wainwrights:22   
Joined: Sep 11, 2014

3 people think this report is great.
Register or Login
free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).




Can you help support Walkhighlands?


Our forum is free from adverts - your generosity keeps it running.
Can you help support Walkhighlands and this community by donating by direct debit?



Return to Walk reports - Scotland

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Coop, Findo Gask, IanF, Kreier, MedalJunkie, NeepNeep, Owen b, Wickermanny, WielMonik and 41 guests