by Dr_sue » Sun Nov 04, 2018 1:40 pm
Corbetts included on this walk: Ben Vrackie
Date walked: 01/11/2018
Time taken: 3.5 hours
Distance: 10 km
Ascent: 720m
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Set off for Schiehallion but a road accident blocked the road and delayed me so running out of time and light, headed back to Pitlochry to go up Ben Vrackie instead. Not a Munro obvs but a clear sunny day and a good path made it a lovely start to the walk. The weather closed in on the moorland section and wondered if I should head back but kept on to the loch as path very easy. Had not realised that the third section (after the mystical looking loch) would be a steep upward path of stones, wet from the low cloud and seemed to just go on and on. No other walkers until one came down, mentioning snow further up as they passed me. Wasn’t expecting that as in my mind it was a gentle autumn day- shows my inexperience on Scottish tops! Anyway kept going up and up, with the snow along the way gradually increasing until I saw the summit. By then it was feeling very cold and the wind was up so I put all my warm extra layers on, took a photo and ate my sandwich, hoping the cloud might clear off. But it didn’t so conscious of the time I headed back down the seemingly endless wet stone stepped path, wanting to go quickly but taking care not to slip. Knees were complaining a bit too. Passed 3 people on their way up (seemed a bit late as less than an hour to sunset) but they looked okay apart from one without gloves! As I got close to the loch, the cloud started breaking up, giving glimpses of the great views I’d read about. By the time I got past the loch and relieved to be on the easier path, the views were wonderful so I took a few photos, then got moving to complete the walk and head to The Moulin for a well-deserved Old Remedial. Good stretching walk with plenty of steep ascent and a bit of snow underfoot so perfect practice for tomorrow’s Munro.