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After Saturday night’s annual merriment at Gorton, one man woke up hungover. The rest of us didn't wake up...because we hadn’t really slept due to some “trumpeting” that registered on the Richter Scale
The walk in
Coal-carriers
An impressive blaze
There's only one Monty
Fortunately Sunday was shaping up to be a gorgeous day; it had snowed overnight and I was anxious to get out on the hills
View from Gorton
The hills are calling
Back at the car, the sun shining on Beinn an Dothaidh
I repacked my rucksack and decided that I had plenty of time for Plan A. I drove a few miles down the road, passing a lot of police looking for something at the side of the road
and parked at Tyndrum Lower Station.
I changed into my waterproof socks (the Gorton track was a little moist
) and crossed the railway at the level crossing. Here the main path seemed to go left; that was my return route. I turned right along a much smaller path which led through the trees.
Looking up to Beinn Odhar overlooking Tyndrum
After crossing a couple of minor burns and then a larger one the path swung left uphill. The sun was shining through the trees
There were lots of mine workings marked on the map but they all seemed to be fenced off
The path soon emerged from the trees and became much steeper. I also managed to lose the path so ended up slipping and sliding my way up a slag heap
But the views were starting to open out and they were fabulous
However, after a wee bit of huffing and puffing the worst was over and I was on top of Sron nan Colan where there was a wee cairn but more importantly I could see some familiar faces.
Ben Lui & Ben Oss
South to the Crianlarich munros
That’s some views eh
Lui & friends and my next target
Ben Oss, Ben Lui and Beinn Chuirn with Meall Odhar in front
Beinn Chuirn looked pretty formidable
Beinn Chabhair & pals
Ben Challum
Ben Oss
It was cold – a wee frozen lochan
Now on the ridge I followed it through some very boggy terrain over a few lumps and bumps and around the top of a forest before arriving at the bottom and rocky spine.
I had a peat hag to cross first and I was very grateful for my gaiters and I sank quite a long way
Safely across that obstacle it then started snowing….I stopped to stick on a waterproof to shield the camera
Fortunately it only lasted a few minutes
However the views were still fabulous
I climbed higher, slipping and sliding my way up damp rocks and slippery grass. Looking backwards the views if anything got better
And I was on the summit of Meall Odhar
Beinn Chuirn was looking magnificent and also fairly epic
I ducked down behind the cairn to shelter from the cold wind and have a wee sandwich and enjoy the views
Ben Lui, former nemesis
Ben Oss and Ben Lui
Crianlarich munros
Even in shelter it was pretty chilly partly because let’s face it, it’s winter. And it was windy as anything
Soon it was time get going. I headed downhill and discovered that someone had planted a forest in my path
I picked my way through the trees, some sections were easy enough but there were some interesting sections too
Finally out of the trees I met the deer fence. I knew from reading Graeme D’s report that there wasn’t a stile so didn’t bother wasting time looking for one. I was fairly careful with my fence climbing after cutting my hand on a barbed wire fence on the way to Gorton. Doh
It was time to lose some layers before I headed across a bog and started the climb up Beinn Chuirn. Although it had seemed pretty impregnable from Meall Odhar, I could now see that my route wasn’t vertical after all
The Orchy hills
As I climbed higher I could see the crags above Coire na Saobhaidhe
As I made my way up the rocky spur to the right of the Coire I gained height quickly. Looking back I was already higher than Meall Odhar!
My happy snow face
As I started to come out the top the snow got deeper and it was sparkling in the sunshine. A perfect winter day
I made my way easily along the ridge, crunching my way across bogs without sinking (woohoo!) and leaving my footprints behind me
As I neared the top I saw a couple of people
I’d thought I was on my own
They asked me the exact same question I was going to ask them – “where did you spring from”
Turned out they were heading down the way I’d come up (minus the Graham
)
Beinn Chuirn summit
Leaving me to the summit, I put some extra layers as it was absolutely freezing and got the camera on the go
It was an absolutely perfect day and I was so happy to be out
Ben Lui
Ben Oss and Ben Lui
Ben Oss & Ben Dubhcraig
Loch Awe and Ben Cruachan
Ben More and pals
Ben Lui and pals
I had a wee wander around the summit, it was so cold but the views were just magical
The Mamores
More Mamore-y goodness
The Grey Corries (I think)
Struggling here but I think this could be the Easains
Corrour hills
Beinn Dorain and Orchy hills
Ben Cruachan
Awesome Loch Awe
Beinn Bhuidhe & Meall an Fhudair
Ben More & Stob Binnein
Towards Cruachan again
Ben Lui again….imposing
I sat down and enjoyed the views and the rest of my sandwiches (which are kind of hard to eat with big gloves on
) However, it was really cold, and also quite a long way back, so I said goodbye to a hill that I’m pretty sure I’ll return to and headed along the top of the crags.
The quick way doon
It was such a great feeling to be stomping through fresh powder snow
Looking back up to the summit
Shadows
Looking back to Ben Lui, I just couldn’t stop taking pictures!
Beinn Dubhcraig and Ben Oss
Looking down Glen Cononish
The sun crowing Lui Queen of the Southern Highlands
From reading Graeme D’s report I knew there was a route down just before the huge gash of Eas Anie, so off I merrily went….before it started getting very steep…. It was very slippery and I had a feeling that one slip (and there had been several already
) would get me down the the mine a lot quicker than I really wanted…. Time to abort!
Climbing back up, I went around the top of the huge chasm and wound my way down steep but slightly easier ground which led me down to the very familiar track about a kilometre above Cononish Farm. Boggy but probably the sensible option
Looking back, Lui was still looking magnificent!
As I headed down the track, I could see back towards Eas Anie
The sun was dipping down behind the shoulder of Ben Lui
Ben Oss & Ben Lui
Beinn Chuirn from Cononish Farm – far less impressive from this angle
It was an easy walk out from here but I kept turning round for another glimpse of Lui
Fortunately I was concentrating enough on my route to remember to take the forest track rather than continue to Dalrigh
But looking back to Lui for one last look….
After a few kilometres I was back at the railway crossing and my car which I had to scrape ice from the windscreen!
Driving back down the road I had to stop for this photo as the sunset started turning the hills a beautiful pink colour. A perfect end to a perfect day
It seems that the Curse of Lui is well and truly broken, but winter is most definitely here and it is very welcome
