Stuc a'Chroin from Loch Lubnaig via Beinn Each

[U059361]

Good car park at start of walk at Ardchullarie, right of way into Glen Ample still has trees across the path but some have been cleared, diversions are short. Really windy today, but no rain, doubts about cloud free tops though, so Beinn Each was the first stop. Stuc a'Chroin was clear most of the time and I had taken just over an hour to get to the top, so decided to continue on to Stuc a'Chroin despite the wind. 4 layers on, hat, gloves, the wind chill has bitter up top. Followed the path all the way across the head of Gleann a'Chroin which follows an old fence line. Unfortunately, that means walking along the top of the ridge, being blown about quite a bit, but keeping warm as long as I was moving. Found a sheltered spot of lunch before the ascent up Stuc a'Chroin as I didn't think I'd find any on the hill. Didn't wait long though, cooling down. The walk up was wind assisted which made it easier going but wasn't looking forward to coming back down. The views at the top were clear by the time I got there. Took my photos and dived back down. Too cold to hang around. As I walked down I didn't fancy walking back up along the ridge again, gratuitous climbing really, so picked a path along the foot of the crags and then cut off the path at the bottom before the climb back up the ridge. I made good time and was out of the wind entirely. I contoured along avoiding the big boulders and up a clear slope and continued across till the end of the crags and rejoined the path again at the bealach. Dropped down again and once back up to the ridge continued over and again contoured beneath Beinn Each to rejoin the path I took coming up. Good walking mostly, just grass until the final part where a sheep track went through heather back to the path. Straight forward walking back from there. Once off the hill I shed my layers, hat and gloves and returned to the car park.
Loch Lubnaig from Beinn Each by Joe Kincaid, on Flickr
Glen Ample from Beinn Each by Joe Kincaid, on Flickr
Gleann a'Chroin from Beinn Each by Joe Kincaid, on Flickr
Stuc a'Chroin from Beinn Each by Joe Kincaid, on Flickr
Ben Vorlich from Stuc a'Chroin by Joe Kincaid, on Flickr
Lochan a'Chroin by Joe Kincaid, on Flickr
Lubnaig waves by Joe Kincaid, on Flickr