
As the name implies speed was not the order of the day and I think Iain was concerned that I might be like a mountain goat on a lead for this walk but I assured him I could handle a slower pace and good path the whole way (as I would say on the walk, I think Hart Fell broke Iain's off-road spirit!), especially with good company and as it would turn out, several well known Walkhighlanders!

It was an 8am collection on the Wednesday morning although it had been Saturday for weeks according to my internal holiday clock. Iain and I stopped off at the Mearns on the way to pick up Jonathan and we enjoyed good banter in the van all the way to Callander where we stopped off for a coffee. As we parked two others who were joining us, Alan and Glen, had the same idea so the 5 of us enjoyed our morning pitstop amongst the early bird foreign tourists, some of which would no doubt be heading up some popular hill nearby wearing inappropriate footwear!
Despite Iain's satnav taking us on a minor scenic detour we arrived at the Loch Achray Ben Venue car park bang on 10am which saved us from an ear-bashing from Polly who had texted en route telling us to get a move on.

I was introduced to Wullie and Willie, then Theresa arrived and the gang of 9 were soon all set and leaving the car park behind:

As you can see it was quite busy and having checked the OS map I wondered why we weren't parking at the closer car park... more on that shortly!

Off we went as I enquired how long it would take to reach Santa's Grotto as despite a sunny start it was very frosty at ground level as we headed further into Achray Forest:

Jutting out from parent peak but little known Meall Gainmheich was Ben A'an on our right. "It'll be like Sauchiehall Street up there today!" was heard.


As we walked along Ben Venue was looking lovely up ahead, it's definitely a more scenic walk from this side compared to the Loch Ard side which I did in the height of summer a year and a half ago, quite a conrast today:


We passed the other car park, asking ourselves why we didn't park closer to our destination...?!


Lots of handy sign posts to follow, now a left turn towards Achray Water:

I got chatting to a few of the group on the way through the woods:

Time to cross Achray Water as Ben Venue continues to be in view from the bridge:

Ben A'an, a few more stick figures appearing on it already:

Meandering along the path:

Now on a track and a fair bit higher up as Glen and Alan continue along behind me:

Ben A'an again, although it's only a lump...

...on a very lumpy Meall Gainmheaich!

It might be a tump but as we all know it's one of the prime viewpoints in Scotland
Onwards we go:

Ben Ledi looking grand behind us now:

I soon find myself in front as the path gets steeper, mountain goat legs kicking into gear. I did a lot of walking in 2018 and the hill fitness had stayed over the holidays thankfully:

The path work on Ben Venue has done a good job and the going is easy, if a little icey in places, the whole way up Gleann Riabhach:

The path curves gradually up and around the hillside then hits a straight:

We reach a guy standing at a gate to a forestry path up the hillside but he laughs and says he's only stopping for a break before continuing on the normal path:

It's been a great morning so far with loads of chat about hills, walks, meet ups, pub nights and hangovers. As is standard with group walks everyone interchanges position and new conversations are started, more often than not with laughter the end result and it was no different with the Munro Meanderers!

We continue along as the path curves right and the rocky heart of Ben Venue appears:

Jonathan and Willie, walking well with gammy legs!


Progress, the steep and rocky scrambly bits are now in view, just what Iain and I have been waiting for!


A nice waterfall you don't see when walking up the south side from Ledard Glen:

Wullie was with us now too as we look down on the stragglers, or those who weren't excited about rocky and now treacherous ice dodging path scrambling we had started up!

Summits uphill in the distance but the path takes us left then back towards them:

Atop the steep section we all stop for a breather so everyone can catch up as Jonathan amuses us all with a walking story:

Unfortunately it had clouded over

I was on navigation duties, not that you really need them on Ben Venue via the tourist path but having a Viewranger route to follow is always handy and we're soon on the move again:

We reach the cairn that marks the path splitting off to Ledard Glen or the twin summits.

We take a right and immediately it's a steep scramble up the way, with even more ice to deal with. I make off up it fairly quickly but carefully and remark that it's the closest i've come to a frozen water fall ascent. Iain isn't far behind me. We reach the top and say to the others it's safe but to take care. As we wait I observe the view now that we're at a decent altitude and the view has opened up at last.
Ben Vorlich, another prime viewpoint and cracking Munro I was up a few months ago. To the left is Ben Vane and back right in the distance is Beinn Bhuidhe:

Distant Ben Cruachan, Ben Lui and Beinn Chabhair:

An Caisteal, Beinn a' Chroin, Stob a' Choin and Cruach Ardrain:

The others heading up the steep icey scramble:

Ben Arthur and Beinn Ime now in view behind Beinn Bhreac:

We head along and up and down and up and down for a bit before the final ascent(s) are in view:

We head to the left then up to the right where the people are in this shot:

I recall that I lost a pair of sunglasses just south of the summit last time I was here but unfortunately I never found them although it was somewhere off the path and they were probably munched by a sheep a long time ago.

Ben Challuim now in view beyond the Crianlarich Munros and Stob Binnein is hiding in the clouds, a shame:

Arrochar Alps to the west:

At last the view north down to Loch Katrine opens up and it's stunning, as still as glass with no wind, outstanding:


Although Ben Venue has a twin summit, the actual summit to the west has three rocky outcrops. This is us at the first:

We head to the cairn on the middle outcrop and soak in the view.
North:

East with Ben Vorlich, Stuc a' Chroin and Beinn Each in the middle of Benvane and Ben Ledi. Below us is Meall Gainmheaich with Ben A'an almost invisible save for the crags now that we're way above it:

The north side of Loch Katrine:

Meikle Bin and Earl's Seat to the south:

West to Ben Lomond and the Arrochar giants:

I move on to the actual summit of Ben Venue which is the third rocky outcrop along. Looking back to the cairn:

East to Ben Ledi and Loch Vennachar:

We had met a fair few folk on the mountain so far but it certainly wasn't mobbed. The others were now appearing at the summit area, here's Theresa chatting to the dog owners we kept passing as Glen pops into view as well:

Cheese... now that everyone is distracted the dog is hunting for sandwiches!


It was a wee bit more breezy on top of the hill as was expected. Cairn group shot:


Loch Katrine in full view:

Theresa doesn't need a summit to claim a hill!


The Ferry about to ruin the glass effect but caught just in time:

We all grouped together down off the summit in a sheltered area that we could all fit in, there were plenty to choose from. Sanwiches, soup, home made tablet, it was like a banquet!

Ben Ledi with Loch Achray and Loch Vennachar as we head to Ben Venue's East Top for the better view in that direction:

A nice rocky surprise awaited:

The actual summit of Ben Venue to the west, except the two people at the cairn are not on the summit it's to the right... confusing I know, don't blame me, hill-bagging.co.uk made me this way, and you lot with your gripping walk reports and fantastic photos of stunning areas of the country...

West to Ben Lomond:

West to the summit(s) and the Balquhidder Beasts:

As we were taking photos Iain suddenyl appeared in a prime position to star in my favourite photo of the day:

We started way down there:

The two lochs again:

Further east and slightly south the Ochils were standing out in sunshine, much nicer out that way today. Dumyat and Stirling Castle are very prominent from here too:

South to Meikle Bin:

And just along from there Earl's Seat, Dumgoyne and Glasgow, Corse Hill behind and the Kilpatrick Hills on the right:

A final summit shot then it was time to catch up with the others:

Back down the dip but instead of heading back over the summit another path veers right to connect back with the path towards the scramble down and cairn:

A final shot of Stob Binnein:

Heading back down the path you can make out where the cairn branches the other path towards the southern approach:

We catch up with the others before the scramble as they all head right and down a grassy slope while I head back down the path of ice. We negotiate the frozen bog and I resist tempting fate by taunting the boggarts of the little mountain by saying their frozen bog cannot harm me.
Unfortunately a not so frozen section of path further along saw one foot get dunked heavily in black mud!

We reach the top of the final steep section before the long curving path back to the start:

Heading down the way:

Back on level ground:

Two student girls who we kept overlapping with now out in front as we meander back to the car park enjoying more good banter with Ben Ledi providing mountain vista enjoyment on the way:


Edging ever closer as we descend at a decent pace, they may not invite me back!


Meall Gainmheaich again:

We stop at the forestry track junction for a water break and I accost a passing group and ask them to take a photo. The guy duly obliges and takes a great one, thanks!

Munro Meanderers in full glory:

We pass a fair few folk heading up and down while commenting on which ones have left it too late and have innapropriate footwear meaning they'll soon be turning back.
We reach Achray Water and the wee bridge again, after the heat of the day the river is now in spate:



It being fairly mild higher up it was strange to be back in the cold winter wonderland lower down.
A final shot of Ben Venue as we head along the path back to the car park:

We had a great walk and soon dispersed to the Lade Inn for lots of good food and drinks while enjoying more tales of hill walking adventures and more. Mission accomplished and holiday excess now dealt with, it was great to get the first walk of the year done so early and in great company. The Little Mountain delivers once again.
