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After yesterdays outing I was raring to get out again, I was feeling fine but was going to have to use my old Salomon boots which are anything but waterproof. I was well prepared to get wet feet as I know there is a proper bogfest once you reach the top of the glen, no matter how carefully I picked my way across the bog I couldn't avoid getting wet feet.
As we were planning to use our bikes, Parminder offered to drive and attached his fancy bike carrying contraption onto the boot of his Beemer. For anyone who hasn't tackled Beinn Bhuidhe a bike will save about an hour or 6km each way of walking.
Parminder nearly ready
Out of the car park, turn right
Over the River Fyne
Then turn left, unlike Parminder who for some reason went right. Note the puddles, wet feet on the menu
The hydro track on the left would be our descent route
Took a wee video on my phone whilst cycling, looks like I am going quite fast but we weren't
There is a helicopter through the trees - if you look very carefully
Tarmac road turns into a track with puddles
The hydro pipes coming down the hillside, we presumed the helicopter was used to ferry workers up & down the hill
The bike park, there were 6 bikes attached before we arrived
The reason for the bike park, locked gate and a kissing gate
Parminder marching ahead
The way ahead
Inverchorachan, nearly time to turn left and start the uphill bit
Time to battle the bracken
Parminder revelling in tackling the bracken
Nice waterfall, wasn't going off the path to get a closer photo
Water feature, one of many
Looking back along the glen, the way we came. Plenty of forestry work already happened
Bracken is now history, the path uphill is easy to follow
Time for the rain showers, not only were we wet on the outside it was also very humid
Looking back
Won't be long before we will be in the cloud
Looking back from slightly higher up
One for the lovers of clouds
At the top of the glen the hydro track is reached, we would head down that way later
Parminder contemplating following the track, badly eroded and only ATV's would be able to continue
Looking down on the first bit of bogginess, the track can be seen in the distance
It looks boggy & it was
Bog now behind us, a bit of serious ascending
Could have been a great view
Follow the obvious path slightly uphill to the summit
Parminder hoping his camera was going to work on the summit - first and only appearance
On the summit we had a chat with 3 other guys, one of them Tam would join us for the descent. He had left Glasgow at 6am on the "weekly" bus and his return bus was about 6pm, so he was going have a few hours to relax. Tam had walked all the way in and ascended via the usual downward route. The descent down the hydro track was ideal for him, however we had to walk a couple of miles back along the road/track to fetch our bikes. Anyone who is contemplating using the track with bikes take note.
Going down now
We continued down to the cairn turned right and retraced our steps
Our descent route
A raging torrent keeps us company for a good part of the descent
Looking north
Our way down
Plenty of water coming downhill
Work in progress, new reservoir being dug?
View of the work from the other side
New reservoir
Looking back to our start and Loch Fyne
Love this
This is where the hydro track joins the road
After the trudge back on foot to get our bikes, it was a joy to freewheel along the road.
A huge thanks to Parminder for driving and his banter and to Tam for his company on the descent, hopefully you didn't miss your bus. Just managed to finish this report in time as we are off out again tomorrow - it is tough being retired!!
