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27th October 2018 – Ben Vorlich14.68km
1030m ascent
3 hours 50 minutes
Another sunny Saturday, another morning spent working in Helensburgh. Fortunately I escaped at midday and was parked up at Inveruglas by 1. It was a gorgeous afternoon – this is such a stunning time of year and the sun was shining on Loch Lomond, but it was absolutely baltic
I headed off along the road (well sign-posted – this was a far cry from my normal off-piste malarkey
), past the Power Station and managed to head up the wrong track into a boggy field
I climbed over a fence, crossed the railway, climbed another gate and I was on the right track again….oopsies
Beinn Narnain to the left
It was really warm and although I’d put a load of layers on at the car I had to strip them back off again as I made my way up the glen towards the Sloy Dam
I reached the path – I remember hearing people complaining about this path but it had clearly been improved since then
Looking back to Beinn Narnain
As I climbed higher I could see Loch Sloy
The path climbed steeply and I could see some crags ahead above me
Loch Lomond was coming into view
Approaching a steeper section, the path wound its way through these rocks exposing some big crevasses that it would kind of suck to fall into
Loch Lomond
(any excuse to stop – it was a tough climb!)
It was really sunny but also freezing cold – there was a brutal wind that ripped across the mountain in the exposed areas. But look – wee silhouttos
Loch Arklet
Now on the ridge for real there were lots of impressive rocky outcrops and although there had been bits of ice further down, I was now into proper frozen ground. There’s something really satisfying about the thunk of a boot on a frozen path
Looking across to Ben More and Stob Binnein – significantly more snow there making it look like something out of Lord of the Rings
As I climbed higher up the ridge I could see down Loch Lomond and Ben Lomond – what a day
This was all unfamiliar to me as
last time I was here I had been up from the other side, and also it had been clagmaggeddon and I’d actually spent ages wandering around trying to find the summit
I finally reached the trig point although according to the OS map the real summit is the cairn a few metres further North.
Looking north towards Ben Lui
Looking into the far distance I could see a heathy dusting of snow in Glencoe
The trig point and Ben Lomond in the distance
The Arrochar Alps
Sitting on top of a big rock
Beinn Bhuidhe and Cruachan
It was looking dark in the distance
Loch Sloy and Binnein an Fhidhleir
It was really cold – the wind was really strong and it was freezing
So I headed off down the path, stopping to pose in the sun
Arrochar Alps
Narnain and the Cobbler
Home time….
Looking back up….
Despite it being so cold I just couldn’t get over what a stunning afternoon it was
Looking down the steep slopes of Ben Vorlich to Sloy Dam
As I made my way down I looked back – steep wee bugger
Loch Lomond
The light was starting to drop a little
A dam fine view (I’m here all day
)
Back on the track it was an easy walk back
I met a few other folk on the way out and chattered to them (not like me at all….
)
I hadn’t thought it looked like much of a sunset but maybe it would have been worth waiting up high…
A wee visit to the Falls of Falloch turned out to be muddy but impressive (mostly impressive that I didn’t fall over
)
28th October 2018 – Meall na Fhudair & Beinn Damhain18.17km
1309m ascent
5 hours 50 minutes
It was a cold night but I was warm and toasty inside my sleeping bag. I’d also had an extra hours sleep! I was awake nice and early and parked up at 7.30. I managed to squeeze Colonel Mustard in near a fence without blocking any entrances. The moon was shining in a beautiful blue sky – it was shaping up to be another stunner
Glen Falloch farm
I headed down the road a short distance before heading up the correct track today
This led me to a bridge over the railway today
The track climbed steeply uphill – again the extra layers came off fairly soon
Ben More was poking out and looking inviting
The track contoured around Troisgeach Bheag….
….which soon gave me some great views down the northern tip of Loch Lomond
The track then began to zig zag upwards
The sun began to peek out
The amazing colours and early morning
Eventually it was time to leave the track – there were a few traces of a path to follow in places but it was basically off-piste
The sun was properly up now
Looking up Glen Falloch
As I climbed higher the views increased
Ben Lui, Ben Oss and Beinn Dubhchraig
It was rough ground – fortunately a lot of the soggier bits were at least partially frozen making it a lot easier underfoot, although I did manage to stick both feet in the same bog
Glen Falloch
It was tough work but an enjoyable climb – the wind was significantly reduced from the day before which made sticking to the rocky ridges the nicest way up.
Loch Lomond and Ben Lomond
How on earth does this rock stay upright?
And finally I was on the summit of Troisgeach
Another perfect day
Meall nan Caora and Cruachan
Beinn Damhain and the Arrochar hills
Towards Ben More
The summit of Meall an Fhudair – looks a long way away
Although the route description said to bypass Meall nan Caora I figured I might as well go over it – and it turned out to be another great viewpoint as well as a slightly drier route
A wee frozen lochan
Ahead to Meall an Fhudair
The bealach would normally have been a bog fest but largely frozen all I had to do was dodge the lochans
It was a relatively easy climb and there were traces of a path which became much more pathlike as I climbed higher. Finally at the top the views down to Loch Fyne opened out
Loch Fyne and the Paps of Jura
Beinn Bhuidhe
The Cruachan range
Bens Lui, Oss and Dubhchraig
North – Ben Challum I think
Ben More and Stob Binnein
Arrochar skyline
Meall an Fhudair summit
Troisgeach and the Crianlarich hills
Lochan Beinn Damhain
I sat and enjoyed the views for a while before heading down the south side of Meall an Fhudair – it was a much easier descent than I had feared although I did scare off a big herd of deer
Beinn Damhain ahead
After a while I picked up a burn which I followed downwards – it cut an impressive groove in the hillside
The ground became a bit squishy at the bottom as I hopped across a couple of burns – looking back to the lochan
Whoops I didn’t need to drop down this low
It was a steep climb up towards the ridge of Beinn Damhain – fortunately it was in the shade which made for a slightly easier ascent
Finally on something of a ridge I could see back to the lochan
The summit of Beinn Damhain ahead
Reaching the summit the views down Glen Falloch were back
Loch Sloy glinting below Ben Vane
Beinn Bhuidhe and Cruachan
Paps of Jura
Ben More
Beinn Damhain summit
Meall an Fhudair with Bens Lui, Oss & Dubhchraig
Ben Vorlich, Loch Sloy and Ben Vane
It was chilly – I enjoyed the views for a while before heading downwards – it was craggy and steep to start with and lost height quickly
Meall an Fhudair
Lochan Beinn Damhain and Ben Vorlich
There were some more steep sections and I was into heather and rocks – treacherous ankle-breaking territory but I made it down intact
I was finally on a track, across a bridge and on the home straight – looking back up my descent
The railway viaduct
I got back to the car before 2pm thanks to my early start. It was such a nice day that it seemed a shame to head home so early, so I hatched a master plan
Cruach Tairbeirt4.30km
411m ascent
2 hours 21 minutes
I stopped at Inveruglas for a cup of tea (and a pee
) before heading down the road…it was a beautiful afternoon and everyone was out and about. However I eventually found myself parked up at Arrochar and Tarbet station.
I had scanned through
Denfinella’s report and sure enough, as I sat in the car I could see a lady wandering around looking at my car….as I got out to put my boots up she came over and let me know that I was parked in a railway carpark and that I was supposed to park at the bottom of the road… I pointed out that there were no signs to this effect and she admitted that as it was late I was probably ok. As I headed for the underpass she did remind me again that I really shouldn’t be parked there
I thanked her for informing me and headed uphill
The path was easy to follow initially, despite there being a few fallen or felled trees to climb over. Ben Lomond was visible through the trees
The path was fairly clear although it got progressively muddier as I climbed. The forestry wasn’t too dense and it was easy to dodge the worst of the mud.
As the forestry came to an end it became impossible to climb out as there were uprooted trees and a big bank of mud – a bit of exploration found me a bit where I could scramble up and I was onto the hill for real.
The views onto Loch Lomond were wonderful in the Autumn evening light
Beinn Narnain and The Cobbler
I headed up through grass and soon picked up a path – turns out I’d missed a turning in the forest
As I climbed higher I could start to see down Loch Long – it was going to be a good one
The Brack and the Cobbler
The Cobbler and Beinn Narnain
Loch Lomond opening out
The path was fairly squishy a lot of the time but it was decent underfoot and led me easily uphill. I was at the summit in well under an hour and having a wee wander around gave me spectacular views in all directions
The summit of Cruach Tairbeirt with Beinn Narnain and Ben Vane behind
Loch Long and the sun making its descent behind The Brack
Ben Vane, Loch Sloy and Ben Vorlich
Ben Vorlich
The Cobbler
I tried to get a Jaxter on the trig point but the camera angle wouldn’t work and this was the best I could manage
So had to make do with using the trig as a tripod
Ben Vorlich and Loch Lomond
Ben Vorlich
Ben Lomond
I headed a wee bit West to a wee hill which made gave me a better view down Loch Long for the sunset, which was pretty awesome
Looking back to the summit
Loch Lomond
The Cobbler
Sunset behind The Brack
It was really cold
The sky didn’t quite light up in the way I hoped but it was still stunning
The Cobbler
Now it was just starting to get dark and it was time to get down the hill….
Looking back up – a wee hill but some impressive cliffs
Loch Lomond
I actually followed the path this time which led me into the forest without any acrobatics
The head torch was on as it was dark in the forest and soon I was crashing around in undergrowth
Safely on the trail made for easier walking (no big tree trunks to climb over
) and soon I saw the lights of the station and then my car, in the still virtually empty car park
Fortunately the car park lady was safely inside out of the dark and cold and I was able to drive off in peace.
A wonderful weekend – sometimes all you need is some beautiful weather, great hills and a bit of alone time
