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Ben Chonzie

Ben Chonzie


Postby HalfManHalfTitanium » Wed Oct 17, 2018 5:45 pm

Route description: Ben Chonzie via Glen Lednock

Munros included on this walk: Ben Chonzie

Date walked: 15/10/2018

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It was just before dawn as I drove along the quiet shore of Loch Earn, heading for Glen Lednock. A glow in the sky ahead turned into the sunrise - the promise of a great day ahead!

ImageIMG_7618 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

(The black line in the foreground water is made of gravel and leaves. A result of the recent torrential rain, it curved gently parallel to the shore, looking like a piece of Land Art.)

I drove into Comrie, with memories of a great stay here with my children a few years ago. The road in Glen Lednock was lined with autumn colours.

ImageIMG_7784 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

Balnacoul Castle looked like a mini Matterhorn above the houses at Coishavachan at the start of the walk.

ImageIMG_7779 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

The glen was looking beautiful.

ImageIMG_7768 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

Birches lined the Invergeldie Burn alongside the rising track.

ImageIMG_7749 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

Looking ahead from the track towards Ben Chonzie.

ImageIMG_7746 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

This is the view back down into the valley from where the track crosses the stream below the little dam.

ImageIMG_7739 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

Above the dam, the burn has cut a deeply incised ravine.

ImageIMG_7731 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

A bit higher, the track forded a mini-stream.

ImageIMG_7724 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

The upper valley of the Invergeldie Burn from the track.

ImageIMG_7723 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

Looking across the Glen Lednock hills.

ImageIMG_7716 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

The view ahead of the track and Ben Chonzie.

ImageIMG_7649 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

After a while I came to the marker cain where the path leaves the track and goes off to the left to make the final ascent to the summit plateau. I was surprised how un-boggy it was, considering how much rain there had been.

From the last uphill section there there was a distant view of Stob Binnean and Ben More.

ImageIMG_7708 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

And slightly closer views of Ben Vorlich and the surrounding hills.

ImageIMG_7707 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

The summit plateau had wonderful views in all directions,with Ben Lawers now putting in an appearance.

ImageIMG_7698 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

Looking up, the cloud which can be seen at the top of the Lawers photo was growing and starting to look quite menacing, but the sun kept shining.

ImageIMG_7687 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

All along the plateau, there is an evenly-spaced line of well-built cairns, leading to a huge summit cairn in the shape of a giant sofa.

ImageIMG_7689 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

The view from the top - this is Loch Turret.

ImageIMG_7683 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

A curious fungus among the turf and moss near the cairn.

ImageIMG_7697 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

Ben Lawers and An Stuc.

ImageIMG_7673 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

A wider view, stretching from the Tarmachan ridge to Schiehallion where I had been the previous day.

ImageIMG_7678 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

A couple of photos to finish this report. It is unwise to fool about near raging torrents, especially when judgement may be impaired due to a delicious pint at the Falls of Dochart Inn.

But the river and trees were looking very lovely. Mindful of Health and Safety, I took this photo from the security of the bridge.

Image. by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

And I took this standing on a precarious slimy rock.

Image. by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr
Last edited by HalfManHalfTitanium on Thu Apr 18, 2019 1:13 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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HalfManHalfTitanium
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Re: Ben Chonzie - walking in an autumn wonderland

Postby Stefan1 » Wed Oct 17, 2018 6:28 pm

Beautiful colours! Looks like a lovely day.
Stefan1
 
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Re: Ben Chonzie - walking in an autumn wonderland

Postby HalfManHalfTitanium » Thu Oct 18, 2018 5:35 pm

Stefan1 wrote:Beautiful colours! Looks like a lovely day.


it was a great day, thanks!

Ben Chonzie is not highly praised in some guidebooks, they think it is not pointy enough.

But I thought the views were wonderful - in my book, it's a great hill.

Tim
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HalfManHalfTitanium
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Re: Ben Chonzie - walking in an autumn wonderland

Postby maxie23 » Fri Oct 19, 2018 6:44 pm

Tim

Lovely pictures mate, fantastic time of the year to be out and about.

Very underrated area, Glen Turret, Glen Lednock and Glen Almond. Lots of good hills and walks.

Only an hours drive there for me.

Regards

Robert
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Re: Ben Chonzie - walking in an autumn wonderland

Postby HalfManHalfTitanium » Sat Oct 20, 2018 9:03 am

Cheers Robert - yes it is a great area, I really enjoyed my visit to Glen Lednock, brought back memories of my holiday in Comrie.

You are lucky to live so close - my drive home took 7 hours!

Tim
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HalfManHalfTitanium
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Posts: 2992
Munros:119   Corbetts:28
Fionas:6   Donalds:6
Hewitts:152
Wainwrights:103   
Joined: Mar 11, 2015

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