stuc an lochan

[seamus0]

The previous day we climbed Meall nan Tarmachan and after packing up our tents from Cruachan Farm campsite near killin we made our way up the Ben Lawers Reserve road once more to head across to Glen Lyon. This road is great! The day was sunny and warm and the only thing we had to contend with was the bike race....in fact some were looking to overtake me on the decent down to Bridge of Balgie....fit lads! Stuch an Lochain is a great hill if stuggling with full fitness as it starts over 400m, perfect for us!

Campsite

Bridge at start

Track on opposite side of dam next to sign

Cairn marking trail up hill

At Bridge of Balgie we turned left and at the next road right (with Loch Estate sign) to head to Loch an Daimh. The car park at the end has enough space for 5 or 6 cars. We had no problems parking. The first thing we did was set up camp just under the reservoir walls which has a great flat space for tents. I was surprised there wasnt more folks camping here over the bank holiday weekend, however there were a couple fo campervans. After pitching up, we walked across the bridge to walki through the small woods on the other side. We turned right to follow the track on the other side of the reservoir (beside the Giorra Dam sign). After a couple of minutes a small cairn on the left of the track marks the trail up Stuch an Lochan. Although it looked quite steep from a distance, the track up isnt too bad. It's a bit stony in places but certainly no issues. We took our time knowing that we didnt have a lot to do when we got down.

The trail climbed above the boathouse and then went straight up towards Sron Chona Choirein which was stony in places with some huge quartz boulders.

Views of dam walking up

Large quartz boulders

Views of Glen Lyon

At 927m it opened up into a wide ridge and a small cairn. The route to the top climbs slowly to the right circling around the back of Lochan nan Cat below.

Cairn at 927 with top in distance

Route to top after cairn

A good track leads up the final push to the top. A small cairn along the way was marked with a small cross marked David Reed, 47 a small memorial which made us pause for a moment...both of us being 47! we carried on walking around this lochan from above.

Lochan nan Cat

Final climb to top

Top of Stuc an Lochan

Posing

Glen Lyon on decent

Great views at the top and a really excellent hill. We had some lunch at the top and made our decent down slowly. Once back at the tents we chilled out for the rest of the afternoon with our feet up basking in more glorious sunshine, with thoughts of climbing the 2nd munro Meall Buiidhe today drifting away fast. Even better the midges weren't too bad.....mustve been the whisky keeping them off !