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A short notice outing and the first since the WH meet which was a week ago. I have been watching the forecast and the west certainly looked better than the east, so west we were heading.
I opted for the 2 near Bridge of Orchy as I thought we could manage them in the daylight hours available.
George volunteered to drive and we arranged to meet at Inverkeithing P&R at 7am, breakfast at South Queensferry and then head NW.
The traffic was non existent and we were off walking about 9am. Our plan was to do the route clockwise, however we had a bit of navigational hiccup (for a change). We reached the old car park and instead of carrying straight on we turned into the farm area. The farmer who was in his barn asked where we were going so we told him "the hills" and he said rather than turn round we could continue.
We made our way towards the railway line and the underfoot conditions were anything but fun, undulating and rather squidgy.
Photo from the car park of Loch Tulla and beyond
That is where we are heading, looks like a volcano
The track that is about 1km to the old car park
Kind of shows the terrain we are used to and love
One of a few deer fences we encountered
We kind of felt we were being watched as the vehicle on the track followed us, we tried not to trespass as the £1000 fine is something we didn't fancy
Rather than trespass we opted to cross the line using this bridge
Parminder demonstrating the bridge, the rail vehicle is still lingering
Looking back down the railway line towards Loch Tulla
Once over the bridge we followed an ATV track which wriggled it's way uphill
Was very damp underfoot
Looking back and across towards Glencoe
This is where we turned right and opted for the direct route uphill
Looking back down, the path that heads east can be seen if you zoom in
We initially kept this side of the burn and crossed it higher up
Gaining height and looking north
Indicates the steepness and the terrain
Parminder & George loving the challenge
Parminder waiting for us near the top of our ascent
Interesting frozen puddle
Happy smiling faces on our first summit
After leaving the summit we followed George on a good path, however we were heading down on the descent route for an anti clockwise route. Our route off the summit should have meant backtracking on the path we ascended on. I realised when we were on a narrow ridge that we had to stop and turn around, luckily we hadn't gone very far. One of the joys of navigating in cloud and you can't see where you are going.
A few patches of snow
Easy walk along the broad ridge
We descended a wee bit and the cloud was swirling around
We will be going up there
Bit of descending before we start going up
Getting nearer
Rannoch Moor to the north
Clear for a few minutes
Better shot of Rannoch Moor
Rannoch again
Looking back
This was a really enjoyable ascent, good path
Rainbow just about captured
Loch Lyon in the distance
Rannoch with the sun making appearance
Still ascending
Loch Lyon again
Sun out again, but not on us
Video taken overlooking Rannoch Moor
No photo's of 2nd summit, we are now on the long gentle descent
Another frozen puddle
Hills to the SW
More hills to the south
We have descend down to the bealach and the real bogginess begins
The way down and back to the car
George in his favourite position on the descent
Looking back towards the bealach
Despite the yukky conditions for most of the day it was still great to get out. Huge thanks to my usual companions for the driving and banter. I should also mention we only just made it back to the car without having to get out the head torches - probably just as well as Parminder's probably wouldn't work!!
