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After a local Saturday stroll and a couple of days off at the start of the week, I set off for another walk again on the Tuesday with one of my two remaining Arrochar hills left to do. Beinn Luibhean was to be the hill today, the often neglected Corbett next to Rest and be thankful, overlooked because all of the surrounding hills are much more interesting.
It would be a straightforward and short walk, perfect for a later start just after midday. I was soon parking at Glen Croe and heading up the path towards my target:
Beinn Luibhean (1) by
djchrismac, on Flickr
As I was on my own it would mean my usual fairly fast pace except I was a bit out of practice, having not been out as regularly as I would have liked to for a while now, plus the good path would soon vanish and turn into steep grassy hillside so both factors meant I found it a bit of a slog to begin with.
Beinn an Lochain and Rest and be thankful on the left during the ascent:
Beinn Luibhean (3) by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
The good path heads up alongside the fence then turns right up Coire Croe and the way ahead to the summit is clear to see:
Beinn Luibhean (4) by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Beinn an Lochain still cloud topped but now sunnier in the changeable conditions as it had been drizzly on and off but nothing heavy:
Beinn Luibhean (8) by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
I followed the path but somehow missed a turn off from it which would have given me a bit more path for a bit longer as I would discover on the way back down:
Beinn Luibhean (10) by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
I went for the slope of least resistance and ended up slightly left of the main way up:
Beinn Luibhean (11) by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Looking down at the way up and Glen Croe with The Brack in the background:
Beinn Luibhean (13) by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Ben Arthur south east of me on the right as I ascend:
Beinn Luibhean (14) by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Beinn Luibhean has some very interesting boulders:
Beinn Luibhean (15) by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
The grassy slog passing boulders continues for a while:
Beinn Luibhean (17) by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Looking down Gleann Mor on the left:
Beinn Luibhean (21) by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Ben Arthur behind me, head in the clouds and there is the route up the spine I took for my first ascent of it:
Beinn Luibhean (22) by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Finally at the first main crag you can see around the 700m mark on the OS map, for some reason it felt like it took me longer than it had until this point, I was still going uphill fairly fast:
Beinn Luibhean (24) by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
A little steeper at the crag then it will level out for an easy final ascent to the summit:
Beinn Luibhean (26) by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Still searching in vain for a path, I veer slightly right but get a view of Beinn Ime, Narnain and Arthur:
Beinn Luibhean (28) by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Beinn Luibhean (29) by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Although most of the hills had their head in the clouds, the sun was breaking through a bit behind me giving me hope for a clear summit:
Beinn Luibhean (32) by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Loch Lomond Grahams in the distance:
Beinn Luibhean (33) by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Cowal Hills:
Beinn Luibhean (34) by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Not long to go:
Beinn Luibhean (35) by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
I spot a fair few people descending Ben Arthur:
Beinn Luibhean (36) by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Just a few more rocky bits to pass:
Beinn Luibhean (37) by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
As I approach the summit it feels like the cloud height is lifting just in time:
Beinn Luibhean (38) by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Beinn Luibhean (41) by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Well it wouldn't be a good hike without a false summit or two!
Beinn Luibhean (44) by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
There is definitely not higher point than this now:
Beinn Luibhean (45) by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Rest and be thankful down below:
Beinn Luibhean (50) by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Beinn Choranach trying to pop into view on the right:
Beinn Luibhean (53) by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
The final final ascent:
Beinn Luibhean (54) by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Sunbeams behind me:
Beinn Luibhean (55) by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Almost there, still an interesting boulder or two to investigate:
Beinn Luibhean (57) by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Especially this one:
Beinn Luibhean (58) by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
At last:
Beinn Luibhean (59) by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Beinn Luibhean (66) by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
The summit is clear but it's a bit breezy. I take a few shots of Beinn an Lochain which is the most visible view before dropping down a bit out of the wind to enjoy my lunch:
Beinn Luibhean (73) by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Clouds rolling in and out:
Beinn Luibhean (74) by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Loch Restil:
Beinn Luibhean (75) by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Stob Coire Creagach has cleared up:
Beinn Luibhean (77) by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Beinn Bhuidhe behind it:
Beinn Luibhean (79) by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Sunshine again:
Beinn Luibhean (83) by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
I love Beinn an Lochain, i'll need to climb it again sometime soon:
Beinn Luibhean (85) by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Special mention to the Tarbet Tearoom Empire Biscuit which is superb as Iain and I found out earlier in the year so I take a photo of it to send to him:
Beinn Luibhean (88) by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Clearing up further west and north:
Beinn Luibhean (89) by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
After countless attempts I finally get almost the shot i'm looking for of the former Munro:
Beinn Luibhean (94) by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Beinn Chorranach and Beinn Ime:
Beinn Luibhean (96) by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
As it had cleared and I was refueled I popped up to the summit again for some photos. Narnain and Arthur:
Beinn Luibhean (97) by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
The Brack:
Beinn Luibhean (98) by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Ben Donich:
Beinn Luibhean (99) by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Stob Liath:
Beinn Luibhean (100) by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
I decide to head back down again, i've had fun but the new boots are still giving me grief, i'm glad I chose an easy one today although it felt more difficult than it was due to lack of regular outings:
Beinn Luibhean (105) by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Beinn Chorranach:
Beinn Luibhean (107) by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Beinn Ime clearing now:
Beinn Luibhean (108) by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Rest and be thankful again:
Beinn Luibhean (110) by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
It wasn't the most ideal weather for the walk but it was mainly dry and certainly wasn't lacking atmosphere to make up for restricted views:
Beinn Luibhean (111) by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Ben Donich:
Beinn Luibhean (114) by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Beinn Narnain and Coire Croe:
Beinn Luibhean (115) by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Ben Arthur:
Beinn Luibhean (116) by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
On the descent it was much easier to pick out the faint grassy path I struggled to find on the way up:
Beinn Luibhean (117) by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
The gravestone boulder again:
Beinn Luibhean (118) by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Beinn Luibhean (119) by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Beinn Narnain clearing up:
Beinn Luibhean (120) by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
The Cobbler North peak peeking through the clouds:
Beinn Luibhean (121) by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Beinn Luibhean (122) by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Not it's prettiest side but still an attractive rear!
Beinn Luibhean (123) by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
The final descent:
Beinn Luibhean (127) by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Beinn an Lochain:, now it clears, typical:
Beinn Luibhean (128) by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
I find the extra good bit of path I missed at the start then reached the fence again:
Beinn Luibhean (129) by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Now back at the start:
Beinn Luibhean (130) by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Beinn Luibhean (132) by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
I took a summit video which you can watch at
https://flic.kr/p/2hyjyX4.
Despite not being enthralled by it at first I found Beinn Luibhean grew on me. It had interesting boulders, as good a view as most of the other hills around it being quite central and most importantly a clear summit for me today. With no obvious rocky ridge to enjoy or good path it is a bit of a trudge but still well worth it and one of these days i'll be back to enjoy it again and see what the view is really like during summer on a clearer day.