Walkhighlands

Tuesday 2nd July. We (56 year old me and 17 year old son) left an empty car park at Inveruglas and followed the walk highlands recommended route. A leisurely walk up the tarmac road with Ben Vorlich looming on the right and our target, the imposing Ben Vane on the left. I'm not a vastly experienced walker but I prepared and planned the walk and new it would be a challenge. However from the road I don't mind admitting that it looked a bit steep and scary. We continued though and I was prepared to cut it short if I thought it was too much. The weather was great, sunny spells, light breeze. The short boggy section after the second bridge soon passed and the ascent began. In the walk highlands report it described a few false summits which I failed to inform my son of much to his frustration (my entertainment). The path was pretty clear and we ascended with no difficulties. The scrambling involved nearer the summit was actually good fun and my boy enjoyed that the most. We looked down upon a Golden Eagle as it swept towards Loch Sloy. The summit views were astonishing, clear and breath taking. My son's mum comes from Stronachlacher on the shore of Loch Katrine which we could see beyond Loch Arklett. I couldn't name all the mountains we could see but the obvious ones of Narnain, Ime, the Cobbler, Vorlich and others. We stayed on the windy summit for 20 mins and drank it all in. The descent was hard on my old knees because I forgot my walking pole (never again) but it was a truly wonderful day. What a beautiful country we live in.