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The ribs seemed to have survived the Cairngorms Test so it was time for a hill….I picked a route that had plenty of bail out options (and also the possibility of adding things on

) and headed off very late!
Looking down Loch Voil

The car park at Inverlochlarig was overflowing but fortunately I managed to find a space on the verge. It was past 11 when I started and it was very warm.
Looking down the glen to Stob a Choin

I followed the track towards Blaircreich, crossed the bridges and turned left along the track. This track soon became very boggy.
Looking back to Beinn Tulaichean

Soon I came across an impassable sinking bog. Well, it was impassable with dry feet anyway. I spent a while trying to skirt around it but it was a hopeless case. I’d been going 25 minutes and I already had soaking wet feet….sigh

Down the glen

The river looked tricky to cross with dry feet so I continued up the west side of the glen. In hindsight the dry feet was irrelevant as mine were already soaked

But I crashed my way through the undergrowth and through a deer fence before finding somewhere to…wash my feet
From here I crashed my way through more undergrowth alongside a wall….

And eventually I found myself on the track! Wahey

There was some weird steam coming out of the undergrowth all the way along here which was weird


As I followed the track higher I could see through the trees towards Beinn Tulaichean and Cruach Ardrain

I utilised this waterfall to fill my water bottle as it was absolutely roasting


Beinn Tulaichean, Cruach Ardrain, Ben More & Stob Binnein

Leaving the track and heading off across boggy ground I headed up into Coire Odhar. As I was taking it easy I stopped for a photo or two back the way



A wee plane flew right over my head

The plane heads North

I met the line of fenceposts and these led me to the trig point at the top of Beinn Stacath. It was an absolutely stunning day; barely a breath of wind but mercifully no wee beasties
Benvane and Ben Ledi

The Arrochar Alps in the distance with Stob a’ Choin in front

Arrochar Alps

Tulaichean and pals

The Cobbler & Beinn Narnain


Stob a’ Choin

Beinn Tulaichean & Cruach Ardrain

Ben More & Stob Binnein

Ben Lawers

Ben Vorlich & Stuc a’ Chroin

Ben Ledi

Ben Vorlich, Stuc a’ Chroin & Beinn Each

The way ahead….

As I enjoyed a sandwich I was joined by the only two people I saw all day. They had come up the usual route from Ballimore. They also took a photo for me to save me balancing the camera


I felt good so decided to head along the ridge a distance and see how I felt. There were plenty of bail-out options along the way so I wasn’t worried about over-committing myself.
Looking back to Beinn Stacath from the other side of Coire Odhar

There were a lot of boggy sections here but as my feet were already wet I didn’t really care

Some deer stopped for a photo…

Loch Katrine and Ben Venue

Can just see wee Ben A’an on the left…

Lumpy An Stuchd and Stob a’ Choin

Had to pick my way around these bad boys as I dropped into the glen

A very photogenic tree-rock and Loch Katrine

I headed off diagonally across more boggy ground and a conveniently placed burn (for more water) to head for the lowest point on the obstacle ahead.
The cliffs of An Stuchd – think I’ll give that bit a miss today


The sun was beating down on me and it was hard work! Over the top, it was an easy descent down to a big rock.

It was decision time again: do I head down the glen or should I continue up?

I took a wee breather, drank some water and applied some more suncream. I felt good….Let’s do it

I was in the shade for a brief period which was lovely as it was steep

Sheep blocking the way…

Once on the ridge I was confronted with this….


There was still a bail-out option here, but my stubbornness was starting to kick in. I dragged my tired legs uphill….

It might have been a steep wee bugger but there were some interesting features to this monster of a hill!

I avoided the worst of the crags by keeping to the left of the 836 top and I was on the final ridge….I could see down to Loch Voil

Loch Katrine

I was getting pretty tired by now and the final section along the very rugged ridge was hard work – there were plenty of ups and downs and some crags to avoid, before I dragged myself up the final ascent and was on the summit!

Or was I? As it turns out, I was. But I visited the other wee bump anyway

It was a stunning viewpoint in the evening light and I sat down to enjoy the feeling of being out there whilst finishing my sandwiches and applying more suncream

Towards Arrochar

Loch Katrine and Ben Lomond

Benvane and Ben Ledi

Ben Vorlich, Stuc a’ Chroin and Beinn Each

Loch Doine & Loch Voil

The big boys across the road

Now, according to the map and the usual route that I’d looked at, it ought to be possible to drop straight off Stob a’ Choin…. I had a wee look, and it did look ok
So off I went….

Gorgeous down the glen

Meall Mor – looks like a cracking hill!

Bridge of Orchy hills


I’m not sure what this hill is


Or this one…


Loch Doine

Ben More

Looking down the glen – I love evening light at this time of year

However….after losing about 300m of height steeply, I was confronted by a ring of crags that I couldn’t get around….rather than risking hurting myself and conscious of my lack of fitness and it heading towards evening, I decided the sensible thing to do would be to go back up and down the easier but longer route down Creag nan Saighead
My legs were soooo unimpressed with this decision and it was tough work as I reascended a very steep 300m ascent back to the summit of Stob a’ Choin
Finally back up, it was just a case of making my way back along the undulating ridge to the 836 top where I cut across and picked up a path that led me easily down the ridge. Meeting a deer fence I followed this down along the side of the forest. It was steep and my legs were tired. But it was a gorgeous evening
Ben More

Tired Jaxter trying to even up the t-shirt tan lines


Big sheep and little sheep


There was a bridge but seeing as I’d had wet feet for the past 8 hours it didn’t seem worth the diversion; at least it was clean water this time


Safely across the river I looked back towards Stob a’ Choin – impressive but very steep!

My whole route – Beinn Stacath to Stob a’ Choin

Looking back

Beinn Stacath

It was an easy walk along the track past Inverlochlarig to my car which I was very pleased to see

I was knackered – 26km and nearly 2000m ascent for a couple of corbetts

I was covered in bog, sweat and all sorts so did a classy change before digging out more water for the drive home

But most importantly – my ribs felt good
A last look at Stob a’ Choin

It was a beautiful evening so I stopped for a few photos on the way home – Loch Voil & Stob a’ Choin

The whole glen

Loch Lubnaig

And an incredible sunset

