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Having thoroughly enjoyed an Ochils warm-up the evening before, it was soon onto the main event for the weekend, a double-Corbett climb at Lochearnhead as Iain and I would be heading for Meall an t-Seallaidh and Creag Mac Ranaich since around Callander looked to have the best forecast.
We drove up in no time from Glasgow, parked at the main car park in Lochearnhead, then set off along the road. I had initially planned for us to do a full ridge walk around Glen Kendrum but it would depend on how easy it was to get up to CMR from the old railway track, turns out there are a lot more trees around it's base now so we settled on an easy climb up the Glen Kendrum track:
DSC_9089 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
As we went over the bridge across the railway track to start the ascent, Meall an t-Seallaidh came into view:
DSC_9099 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
We were also tempted to reverse the planned route and go up Meall an t-Seallaidh via Auchtubhmore Hill but again decided against it today as it looked like a thankless trudge up a grassy hillside.
On the way along the track we passed a fair few local sheep and kept heading up towards Creag Mac Ranaich which would be in front of us for most of the ascent, looking steep and craggy:
DSC_9115 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
It was warm and dry with a cool breeze, perfect for walking and we made fast progress uphill:
DSC_9130 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Both hills showing off their ridges:
DSC_9135 20180609_114910 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Nearing the top of Glen Kendrum the track veers left to follow the Allt Creag Mac Ranaich, with the Corbett's crags looming ever closer and looking tough to find a route up:
DSC_9140 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Behind us, after initially being teased by the view of Ben Vorlich and Stuc a' Chroin, we're now treated to a great view of the full ridge all the way along to Beinn Each:
DSC_9144 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Approaching the bealach between the two Corbett summits:
DSC_9150 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Still to decide which one to climb first:
DSC_9151 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
CMR looks a bit tougher...
DSC_9196 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Mat-S looks more straightforward, plus we should get a better view of CMR from there in order to plot the best route up since the old fence on OS maps is now just a line of rusty fence poles or ground holes...
DSC_9197 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
We settle on Meall an t-Seallaidh first, it would turn out to be a very wise decision later on!!
A very faint path follows the old fence line and we get to enjoy our first peek north towards the Glen Dochart and Glen Lochay hills:
DSC_9199 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Just a short steep grassy ascent to deal with:
DSC_9200 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
We head up then turn left and start ascending Cam Chreag, taking time to check out Creag Mac Ranaich to see the best way up:
DSC_9201 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Most people seem to follow the line of the shadow here as it looks like the easiest way up:
DSC_9202 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Having been trapped in Glen Kendrum's bowl for a while we now enjoy our first view west up Balquhidder towards Stob a' Choin:
DSC_9206 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Slightly north from there is Stob Binnein and Ben More with the other Corbett top of Mat-S, Meall an Fhiodhain next to the wee lochan:
DSC_9210 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
DSC_9212 by
djchrismac, on Flickr
Our enjoyment of the view was broken by a distant rumble... hmm there may be thunder in the air!
Apparently, according to the forecast... any thunderstorms would develop west then move east, par for the course, it looked fine and clear that way. To the north east however it was a different story...
DSC_9217 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
We continued up Cam Chreag, keeping an eye on the weird clouds developing behind CMR...
DSC_9223 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Mini lochan next to Cam Chreag summit, Stuc a' Chroin and Beinn Each behind:
DSC_9224 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
DSC_9229 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Cam Chreag summit, Meall an t-Seallaidh summit behind it:
DSC_9239 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Iain with Loch Earn behind him:
DSC_9242 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Another rumble... "did you hear that?"... "aye!"...
DSC_9248 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
We don't hang around and head for the Corbett summit:
DSC_9250 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Passing the mother of all bogs, luckily dried out, I wouldn't like to encounter this during wet conditions!
DSC_9256 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
It's an easy ascent to the top and the views all around us are already amazing:
DSC_9257 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Although we heard the occasional rumble there were no flashes and the clouds appeared to be concentrated around Loch Tay still...
DSC_9261 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
DSC_9262 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
DSC_9265 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Looking back at Crea Mac Ranaich we discussed our options and decided it may be better to summit then head down as it didn't look too promising in the direction of our second Corbett target for the day...
DSC_9266 20180609_131110 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Ben More was now starting to hide in the clouds to the west:
DSC_9270 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Back at Loch Tay the Tarmachan Ridge and Lawers group did their best impression of Mordor, going into silhouette mode and grumbling occasionally:
DSC_9272 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Mordor:
DSC_9278 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Meall an t-Seallaidh summit with cairn and trig point:
DSC_9279 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
We were immediately blown away by the view from the top, it was outstanding, with lots of the main southern Munros all very close by, three lochs in view and a feast for the eyes wherever we looked...
DSC_9284 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
South to Ben Ledi, Loch Lubnaig and Benvane:
DSC_9291 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
West to Stob a' Choin, Balquhidder, Stob Binnein and Ben More:
DSC_9293 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
North to Creag Mac Ranaich, Loch Tay and the slowly developing thunderstorm that seemed to be brewing away in the one spot:
DSC_9294 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
We gorged ourselves on the view taking loads of photos but mindful of the occasional rumble north of us where Meall nan Tarmachan ridge looked very atmospheric:
DSC_9303 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Time for lunch on the large summit stone:
DSC_9312 20180609_132156 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
We sat and chatted, loving the large summit area that had a second summit and cairn just next to it:
DSC_9315 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
I decided to pop over for an improved view south west:
DSC_9316 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
It didn't disappoint:
DSC_9317 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Back at the actual summit, it looked ominous behind Iain...
DSC_9318 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
DSC_9322 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
The view from the secondary summit was equally superb, south to Strathyre:
DSC_9326 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Loch Voil with Ben Venue and Ben Lomond in the background:
DSC_9330 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Stob a' Choin, the Braes of Balquhidder and distant Arrochar Alps:
DSC_9335 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
We decide to switch places:
DSC_9360 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
DSC_9371 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
DSC_9375 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
I change lens to fit in even more from the hill of the view, NOW the name makes sense!
DSC_9386 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
DSC_9389 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
DSC_9392 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Not as many rumbles to the north now...
DSC_9396 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
East and slightly south:
DSC_9403 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
We were sitting discussing a summit camp being perfectly suited for up here when a change in conditions prompted us to take stock, Loch Tay was growling again and Tarmachan ridge was fast disappearing...
DSC_9408 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
This might be our cue to leave...
DSC_9409 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Clouds darkening to the north west now:
DSC_9412 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Loch Earn:
DSC_9415 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Was that a flash? We decide to head down by continuing along the ridge then dropping down into Glen Kendrum, heading down the way we contemplated ascending, after one last visit to the secondary summit cairn:
DSC_9428 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
We praise our earlier decision making as we head off from the summit:
DSC_9430 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Looking back at the summit... sky darkening:
DSC_9433 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
We no longer felt welcome on the hills...
DSC_9435 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
.......
.....
DSC_9436 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
We both saw separate flashes, forked lightning now, we hasten our pace...
DSC_9439 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Kepping a close eye on conditions which had deteriorated rapidly:
DSC_9442 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
We can take a hint, we're outta here...!
DSC_9444 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
It looked like CMR was about to be hit...
DSC_9451 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Time for one last view up Balquhidder as we race along the grassy ridge:
DSC_9462 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Yet again we praise our previous decision making and instincts as we would have been up there now if we had chosen CMR first...
DSC_9466 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Continuing along at a much faster pace now we took a walking pole each to aid a speedy descent, picked the route of least steepness on the map and headed in that direction...
DSC_9471 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Thunder, lightning and rain were now blasting the area to the north of us:
DSC_9476 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
It wasn't any better to the east...
DSC_9483 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
We were sort of speed-jogging descending down the hillside when at roughly this point...
DSC_9487 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
I saw a large forked lightning flash and swear it was right in front of Creag Mac Ranaich!!!
At this point was probably when we maxed out in kmph running down the hillside towards Loch Earn:
DSC_9489 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
The sky, thunder and lightning conditions was very much giving us the fear now as we raced off Meall an t-Seallaidh:
DSC_9490 20180609_142138 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
You can see why...
DSC_9490 20180609_142139 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
DSC_9490 20180609_142140 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
We were not the only ones racing for cover...
DSC_9492 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
We descended faster than we ever had before:
DSC_9493 20180609_142616 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
This was a first for us both to be up the hills during thunder and lightning, we hoped it wouldn't be our last...
DSC_9493 20180609_142618 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Loch Earn now under attack:
DSC_9493 20180609_142622 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Almost there, we descended about 600m in less than half an hour...!
DSC_9509 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
We were very glad to reach the Kendrum Burn but knew we were still not safe:
DSC_9515 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
We were relieved to be much lower down and enjoyed a quick break at the burn having not expected to be chased off the hills today!
DSC_9520 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Nothing for it now but to enjoy the view to the Ben Vorlich and Stuc a' Chroin as we head back to the start:
DSC_9533 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
DSC_9505 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
DSC_9506 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
The weather was still lovely directly south at Strathyre:
DSC_9540 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Not so much at Loch Earn...
DSC_9542 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
It started drizzling now but we didn't care, we were quite exhilarated at still being alive!!
DSC_9544 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
No more thunder or lightning now, thankfully!
DSC_9550 20180609_150040 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
One last look at Loch Earn before we head down the railway track and path back to the road and van:
DSC_9553 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
While on the way home we discussed how much we enjoyed the walk, well except from the rapid escape to save our lives... in fact we felt quite cheated! We had only just discovered one of our favourite hill viewpoints and only got to enjoy half an hour at the summit before being chased down... leaving us with Creag Mac Ranaich still to climb but today wasn't about numbers, it was about hiking, viewpoints, exploring, planning, decision making and action and for that we had everything in abundance during the walk!!
I wouldn't recommend heading up the hills when thunder and lightning is forecast, unless it is at the other side of the country. Although Strathyre enjoyed a lovely day it couldn't have been more different around Loch Tay, we were somewhere inbetween and thankfully escaped the worst of it.
We'll never forget this walk, if only we could have captured some of the roars of thunder or flashes of forked lightning to show what we experienced in more detail but understandably we didn't fancy hanging around for long to take the perfect photo, the main thing is we lived to tell the tale!
In summary Meall an t-Seallaidh is already one of our favourite hill viewpoints and we plan on a summit camp there at some point. It's not the most highly rated hill but is still a very enjoyable walk and worth the effort for the vista, we're looking forward to spending more time there since our visit was cut short this time, we'll be back....!