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Saturday 22nd September 2018 - Stob an Eas & Beinn an Lochain18km
1366m ascent
7 hours
I finished work in Helensburgh at 12 and drove up to the Rest and Be Thankful to meet Malcy. He had successfully bagged a total of 0 Marilyns on the way down
Although we had several plans, I tentatively mentioned that the forecast looked pretty good overnight… and before we knew it we were heading down to Butterbridge with something of a plan
We headed along what we thought was a track….and after a few seconds I had wet feet
We aborted and walked down the road for a short distance before an actual track materialised. About 4km later we arrived at the road junction where we followed a forest track for a few metres before cutting steeply uphill through felled trees and long grass. It was tough going with heavy packs and intermittent rain and we were both blaming each other for having such a stupid idea
But looking back to Loch Fyne was nice
Looking up the glen towards Beinn Ime
It was tough going but eventually we came out the top of the steepest section and onto a very boggy plateau
Oh look….my favourite hill
The impressive ridge of Beinn an Lochain came into view as we gained more height
Wee rainbow on Binnein an Fhidhleir
Finally on the summit ridge we could see down to Loch Goil
Beinn an Lochain looked an awfully long way away
The sun almost breaking through the rain
We walked along the summit ridge – now much easier walking and we also found a path which lead us to the summit of Stob an Eas – probably the least visited hill in the Arrochar Alps
Looking back towards Binnein an Fhidhleir
Towards Loch Fyne
The Paps of Jura
I ditched my pack and made it onto the trig point – Stob an Eas
We headed back along the ridge which gave us a great view down towards Loch Goil this time
We followed the path which was fairly intermittent but psychologically it was nice
It was a good ridge and enjoyable walking despite the wind. We dropped down to the bealach and looking back it seemed that this was the more interesting side of the hill
Our legs were tiring as we made the climb up Beinn an t-Seilich and we were glad of a pretty view which gave an excuse to stop
At the top of Beinn an t-Seilich we could see ahead to Beinn an Lochain – although it was now closer we could see the ascent that we were facing…ooft
Loch Goil
Beinn an Lochain
Binnein an Fhidhleir in the sunshine
It was a rough descent to the bealach but by the time we were there we had scoped out our route up. Our feet were wet anyway so at least we didn’t need to worry about avoiding the bogs anymore
Heading up we could see Loch Fyne again as we gained height
Oooft that looks like a long way for tired legs
Malcy in action
As we climbed higher the sun started coming out and we could see back to Beinn an t-Seilich and Stob an Eas
Evening light and the impressive wee balancing rock of Beinn an Lochain
Stob an Eas and Loch Fyne
As we made progress we reached the top of the impressive corrie; Old Man’s Face
Malcy walking along the corrie edge
The standard route up
The sun had come out and it had turned into a beautiful evening – the summit camp was on
Finally on the summit we were able to dump the packs and enjoy the awesome views
Looking across to the other summit – we still weren’t quite sure which was the real summit so we had a wee wander, whilst looking for a suitable camp spot
Stob an Eas and Loch Goil – some evening
Looking down to the Rest and Be Thankful – pretty much deserted now
Ben Donich and The Brack
Ben Donich, Cnoc Coinnich and the Firth of Clyde
Beinns Ime, Luibhean, Narnain and The Cobbler
The sun begins its descent
I see a little sillhouetto of a man…
The sun was rapidly disappearing, the temperature was dropping and it was time to get the tents pitched. The wind had dropped and we found a suitably flat spot
Camp was made so it was time for some messing around – my extra layers made me look like Santa
Loch Goil
Down towards Ben Donich
Loch Goil
We retreated to the tents to brew up some hot food as it was really cold
Dinner and hot chocolate was enjoyed but it was definitely a sign of the year progressing as not only was it pretty chilly but it was also completely dark by the time we were finished!
Hunting through my stuff I discovered I’d carried some unnecessary weight
We were just debating how early it was ok to go to bed without appearing to be a wuss when we decided to go for a wander the few metres back to the summit.
The light of a thousand suns on the cairn
We stood around nattering about all sorts of nonsense and watching the cars going through the traffic lights at the Rest and Be Thankful – it’s amazingly sad how excited we got taking bets about how many cars were going to get through the temporary traffic lights before they changed….oh Saturday nights eh
I tried taking photos of the moon….they didn’t work very well
It was actually nearly 10 when we went back to the tents
Our tents were pitched close enough together that we were both able to crawl into our sleeping bags and still chat….well…I talked and Malcy probably tuned out
But out of the wind and in my sleeping bag with all my clothes on and my feet finally dry I was lovely and toasty
Just as we were nodding off….
“Hey Malcy?”
“Mhhmmmm?”
“I’ve got an idea for tomorrow….”
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Eventually we did get some sleep and the next morning woke up inside a cloud, although at least it wasn’t raining
It was really cold so we packed everything up inside the tents before putting them down as quickly as possible
We climbed the few metres back to the summit where I had my spidery something-is-about-to-happen feeling….we wandered around the summit, jumped about a bit to get feeling back into our extremities and talked some more nonsense….
We were only a teeny tiny bit too high so it seemed worth waiting around a few minutes to see if anything was going to happen….
It almost did but the cloud seemed to be a bit stuck. We headed down the ridge – it was a wee bit awkward in places with big packs and wearing boots with no grip (I really need to walk in my new ones
)
Beinn an Lochain is a seriously impressive hill – look at those cliffs
We dropped in and out of the cloud as we descended and got some lovely views down towards Loch Fyne
Very impressive
There’s that wee balanced rock from the other side!
Looking further down the ridge – the cliffs looked pretty eerie
The sun attempted to break through and I was on the look out for Broken Spectres….but it was not to be
But I did get a fog bow
Malcy catching up
Looking down towards Glen Kinglas
Towards the Rest and Be Thankful
Loch Restil and Ben Donich
We crossed the wee burn and looked back up to Beinn an Lochain – it was still shrouded in cloud
It was so wet and pathless here that we hopped up onto the road and walked rather than swam the few metres back to the cars
Sunday 23rd September - Binnein an Fhidhleir13.55km
964m ascent
4 hours 50 minutes
After a certain amount of messing around at the cars we both had day packs ready to go – leaving the cars parked at Butterbridge we headed a few metres back along the road, through the gate and followed the steep (and very boggy) path up Stob Coire Creagach.
Height was gained quickly and we soon had great views back to Loch Restil and Beinn an Lochain
It was easy enough walking and although Malcy had said the path disappeared pretty quickly I managed to follow it all the way up
As we climbed higher it got rockier and in between plateaus we wound our way in between the crags
Beinn Ime in the cloud, Beinn Luibhean and The Cobbler
Beinn an Lochain and Stob an Eas
Climbing over the top of one steep section I heard a “mmpphhh” from behind me – Malcy was trying to utilise the mud to make his skin soft….that’s his story and he’s sticking to it
Glen Kinglas, Ben Vorlich and Ben Vane
Zoomed towards Abyssinia Bothy
On the ridge the views opened out towards Beinn Bhuidhe
The Cruachan hills
Looking down the ridge towards Ben Lui and Ben More
It was a few metres further up to the summit of Stob Coire Creagach – and with a look at the map we realised that this actually was the summit, despite the trig point being further down the ridge
Some views eh
The previous day’s hills – Beinn an Lochan Beinn an t-Seilich and Stob an Eas
Beinn Ime, The Cobbler and Beinn Luibhean
Ben Lui and pals
Cruachan and pals
Stob Coire Creagach true summit
We headed off down the ridge towards the trig point – kind of had to go there and it was a nice day anyway
Malcy getting in my way…what an ass
The final ascent ahead…
We had a wee wager at how long the ridge would take us – for once I won
Loch Fyne
Beinn an Lochain – a very impressive hill, especially from this more unusual angle
Ime and pals
Looking back to the summit
It was cold and windy but I still managed to pose in front of some Fyne views
Malcy jumping for joy
It was stunning but very cold so we headed back along the ridge; the views were still awesome
Vane and Vorlich
A great ridge
We wandered further along the ridge for a while; as we approached Abyssinia bothy we searched for a route down
Abyssinia and Ben Vane
We wound our way in between crags and ended up wading through deep grass….if this wasn’t bad enough it soon became deep grass and tussocks. It was prime ankle-breaking territory and we both made some interesting noises and entertaining minor tumbles
Towards the Rest and Be Thankful
Looking up what we had descended
Down Glen Kinglas towards Beinn an Lochain
Abyssinia Bothy – nearly there!
A few metres along the track and we were there! Malcy had carried cake and custard so we popped into the bothy for some scran – a couple of other guys were there and they told us that there had been plenty of folk there the night before. It was a great bothy – one for another time for sure
It was time to get going – we had a 2 mile walk down a very good track in the sunshine
Stob Coire Creagach – way more impressive than the photos suggest
The awesome Beinn an Lochain
Back at the cars we were both very glad to get our wet boots off and be out of the wind. I was also very glad to have a nice short drive home, compared to Malcy’s 3 and a half hour slog
Another cracking weekend though my one of my favourite idiots
