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An atmospheric day enjoying Beinn Luibhean & boulders

An atmospheric day enjoying Beinn Luibhean & boulders


Postby Chris Mac » Tue Jan 07, 2020 12:30 am

Route description: Beinn Luibhean

Corbetts included on this walk: Beinn Luibhean

Date walked: 15/10/2019

Time taken: 3.05 hours

Distance: 5.5 km

Ascent: 711m

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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:
ImageBeinn 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:
ImageBeinn 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:
ImageBeinn 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:
ImageBeinn 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:
ImageBeinn 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:
ImageBeinn Luibhean (11) by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Looking down at the way up and Glen Croe with The Brack in the background:
ImageBeinn Luibhean (13) by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Ben Arthur south east of me on the right as I ascend:
ImageBeinn Luibhean (14) by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Beinn Luibhean has some very interesting boulders:
ImageBeinn Luibhean (15) by Chris Mac, on Flickr

The grassy slog passing boulders continues for a while:
ImageBeinn Luibhean (17) by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Looking down Gleann Mor on the left:
ImageBeinn 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:
ImageBeinn 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:
ImageBeinn 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:
ImageBeinn 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:
ImageBeinn Luibhean (28) by Chris Mac, on Flickr

ImageBeinn 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:
ImageBeinn Luibhean (32) by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Loch Lomond Grahams in the distance:
ImageBeinn Luibhean (33) by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Cowal Hills:
ImageBeinn Luibhean (34) by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Not long to go:
ImageBeinn Luibhean (35) by Chris Mac, on Flickr

I spot a fair few people descending Ben Arthur:
ImageBeinn Luibhean (36) by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Just a few more rocky bits to pass:
ImageBeinn Luibhean (37) by Chris Mac, on Flickr

As I approach the summit it feels like the cloud height is lifting just in time:
ImageBeinn Luibhean (38) by Chris Mac, on Flickr

ImageBeinn Luibhean (41) by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Well it wouldn't be a good hike without a false summit or two!
ImageBeinn Luibhean (44) by Chris Mac, on Flickr

There is definitely not higher point than this now:
ImageBeinn Luibhean (45) by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Rest and be thankful down below:
ImageBeinn Luibhean (50) by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Beinn Choranach trying to pop into view on the right:
ImageBeinn Luibhean (53) by Chris Mac, on Flickr

The final final ascent:
ImageBeinn Luibhean (54) by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Sunbeams behind me:
ImageBeinn Luibhean (55) by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Almost there, still an interesting boulder or two to investigate:
ImageBeinn Luibhean (57) by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Especially this one:
ImageBeinn Luibhean (58) by Chris Mac, on Flickr

At last:
ImageBeinn Luibhean (59) by Chris Mac, on Flickr

ImageBeinn 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:
ImageBeinn Luibhean (73) by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Clouds rolling in and out:
ImageBeinn Luibhean (74) by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Loch Restil:
ImageBeinn Luibhean (75) by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Stob Coire Creagach has cleared up:
ImageBeinn Luibhean (77) by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Beinn Bhuidhe behind it:
ImageBeinn Luibhean (79) by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Sunshine again:
ImageBeinn Luibhean (83) by Chris Mac, on Flickr

I love Beinn an Lochain, i'll need to climb it again sometime soon:
ImageBeinn 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: :lol:
ImageBeinn Luibhean (88) by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Clearing up further west and north:
ImageBeinn Luibhean (89) by Chris Mac, on Flickr

After countless attempts I finally get almost the shot i'm looking for of the former Munro:
ImageBeinn Luibhean (94) by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Beinn Chorranach and Beinn Ime:
ImageBeinn 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:
ImageBeinn Luibhean (97) by Chris Mac, on Flickr

The Brack:
ImageBeinn Luibhean (98) by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Ben Donich:
ImageBeinn Luibhean (99) by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Stob Liath:
ImageBeinn 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:
ImageBeinn Luibhean (105) by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Beinn Chorranach:
ImageBeinn Luibhean (107) by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Beinn Ime clearing now:
ImageBeinn Luibhean (108) by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Rest and be thankful again:
ImageBeinn 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:
ImageBeinn Luibhean (111) by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Ben Donich:
ImageBeinn Luibhean (114) by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Beinn Narnain and Coire Croe:
ImageBeinn Luibhean (115) by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Ben Arthur:
ImageBeinn 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:
ImageBeinn Luibhean (117) by Chris Mac, on Flickr

The gravestone boulder again:
ImageBeinn Luibhean (118) by Chris Mac, on Flickr

ImageBeinn Luibhean (119) by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Beinn Narnain clearing up:
ImageBeinn Luibhean (120) by Chris Mac, on Flickr

The Cobbler North peak peeking through the clouds:
ImageBeinn Luibhean (121) by Chris Mac, on Flickr

ImageBeinn Luibhean (122) by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Not it's prettiest side but still an attractive rear! :lol:
ImageBeinn Luibhean (123) by Chris Mac, on Flickr

The final descent:
ImageBeinn Luibhean (127) by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Beinn an Lochain:, now it clears, typical: :roll:
ImageBeinn 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:
ImageBeinn Luibhean (129) by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Now back at the start:
ImageBeinn Luibhean (130) by Chris Mac, on Flickr

ImageBeinn 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.
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Chris Mac
 
Posts: 821
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