However the pull of majestic Glen Coe proved too strong and a couple of weeks ago (15th Sept) along with friend Andy I (we) overcame my concerns and did SCnL, BNB and SCS.
We followed that up with the Cairnwell 3 at Glenshee, which although fine, was mainly done to get Matthew up to a guaranteed 30 Munros before winter. But to be honest, after epic Bidean, it was pretty underwhelming.
So, buoyed by our success in Glen Coe, we thought maybe we could try another of my scary pairs and we settled on Stob Binnein and Ben More. Saturday the 28th seemed to have a decent forecast, pal Andy was invited along again, and so it was green for go.
However, although the climb had been chosen, the route had not, and even on the drive up we were debating whether to tackle it from the more common direction of Benmore Farm from the north or Inverlochlarig in the south. The pros and cons of each route were bandied about, and in the end, Inverlochlarig won.
Along the quiet single track road through Balquidder and past Loch Voil and Loch Doine to a decent free carpark

There is no long walk-in or much chance to loosen off and warm up your muscles here. It's out of the car park, cross the narrow road, over the style and start climbing


After a while the looming summit of SCaL appeared through the mist, but even when this was attained there was still no sign of SB or BM. There wasn't much point in hanging around this Munro top, so on we went, really disappointed not to be getting any views. Walking in the clag is something of a double edged sword. You don't have the advantage and stimulus of seeing your goal, but neither can you see the daunting climbs that lie ahead


At last we reached the summit of Stob Binnein, just about the same time as the largish group caught up with us, so this made for a busy top. Matthew quickly opened his rucksack and grabbed his Mars Bar, but together we decided, due to the weather, we would take some pics then descend to Bealach Eadar da Bheinn for lunch and hope it was a little clearer and sheltered there. And that proved to be the case although only the bottom part of the ascent to Ben More was visible.
After a refuel, it was off into the unknown. On and on, till we reached some mild scrambling, after which, in short time, we were on the summit of Ben More which although not deserted was a good deal quieter than Stob Binnein. Although we still had nothing to look at, it felt great to be on the summit of this mountain. A summit which I had began to think I would never visit. Over the last couple of years especially, I had checked out this mountain from other summits, from Lix Toll where it seems to rise at an angle of 45 degrees and from the north when descending from Rannoch Moor. Now I was here and in the company of 11 year old grandson Matthew. That made it twice as sweet. This was Munro No32 for him. Not too bad from a start of 10 at the beginning of summer, especially given the limited time we have available to climb. Some more food and drink, pics and it was time to make our way back to the car.
One of the problems with the route we had chosen was that a decision would have to be made when we returned to the bealach. Should we return as we came and re-summit Stob Binnein or take what appears to be a pathless descent south-west and pick our way along till we could find the track in Inverlochlarig Glen that would take us back to the car park. However, our minds were made up when on nearing the bealach the clag briefly blew away and revealed the track to and from SB's summit


This route was not without it's problems though. Traversing downwards, picking a path through the wet slippy long grass with hidden water courses etc was not easy, but we eventually reached the valley floor. We made our way along the floor which, unsurprisingly given the amount of rain that fallen recently, was incredibly boggy. At one point my left leg went down a hole to thigh level and I "hands and face planted" myself much to the amusement of Matthew and Andy.(There is a video available

We had trouble finding the beginning of the track and Andy must have walked twice as far as Matthew and me trying to pick it up. Could have done with a drone!! But find it he did. And that left a straightforward walk back to Inverlochlarig. Mission accomplished. And after last weeks 4 hour dash at Glenshee, it felt like a proper climb again. And we had done two of my scary pairs in the last two weeks


A little story to finish with. As we passed the farmhouse at Inverlochlarig, an elderly gent came from the house towards his car and during a quick chat he told us that shortly before our arrival a man had turned up at the house believing he had returned to Beinglas, which is where his car was. Ooops


PS. Distance and Ascent are estimates based on the profile and previous reports.