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I had planned to do the circuit of the east side of Loch Treig, an overnight at Ossian Hostel and the west side of Loch Treig twice now and both times thwarted by the weather.
I have booked into the Loch Ossian Hostel on both occassions to break up my journey into 2 managable days, so each time the journey has not been completely wasted. The first time in 2018, I done a curcuit of Loch Ossian and this time I decided to do Beinn na Lap.
Arriving at Roy Bridge, I parked the car opposite the tea room and headed for the railway station. I had planned to park at Fersit and walk over the 3 Munros on the east of loch Treig but the weather was miserable and I decided to suffer some othre time. I had been to Ossian hostel the previous year and must confess that I find it one of the most relaxing places I have ever been.
Departing the train, I took the obligatory Train Spotting pictures (I won't share these as I am sure we have all seen those) and headed slowly to the hostel.
- Looking down Ossian toward Alder
- Dark Clouds still threatening
The day was pretty much already gone but I wanted to get checked in and walk back to the station restaurant for a meal. I really like the food their and especially the ambience.
- Picturesque Loch Ossian
- The Hostel
I dumped my bag, claimed my bunk and headed back to the restaurant, thinking about how I would plan the next day and what to do if I wasn't going to climb any Munros.
- Station Hotel Dinner
The restaurant is really relaxing place and I had a couple of hours sitting talking to a man that has walked from Dalwhinnie, through the Ben Alder area, taking several Munros and wild camping in awful weather. He was clearly braver than me. I like to think I am a bit outdoorsy but at the same time rather fairweather walker. Still, I thought that would be a great route for some time in the future.
As I walked back to the hostel, the rain came down again and I doubted whether I would be doing any hills in the morning. In the hostel, the handman was having his dinner and we had a chat and I learned more about the surrounding hills. He give giving one young couple directions for Sgor Gaibhre and Carn Dearg circuit. It sounded appealing but I wondered if I would have time to make it before the train was due.
The next morning, I woke to find the weather was clearing slowly and the prospect of a walk before the train in the afternoon became a real possibility. I had not done Beinn na Lap yet but wanted to leave it for the East Treig hills to get a good circuit at some point. However, I thought it would be the best use of my day to do it as an individual and wory about circuits later.
As I was planning the walk, one young lady from the States was thinking about what to do and we ended up deciding to do Beinn na Lap together. This hill is listed as one of the easiest Munros and from mileage and ascent, you can easily see why.
The beginning of the ascent is quite a steep muddy path but it only lasts about 400m ascent and then most of the hard work for the day is done.
- Loch Ossian and Hostel on ascent to Beinn na Lap
The remainder of the walk is a pleasant ridge at quite a reasaonable gradient an soon the summit area could be seen.
- Approach to Beinn na Lap summit
The views were not so clear but a few of the surroundings summits and loch Ossian were providing the scenery for the eye.
- Views from the summit
I normally have been walking alone, but on this ocassion, the young lady was able to take the summit picture for me, leaving my hands free to try to indicate my Munro count (31)
- Beinn na Lap Summit Cairn
The return journy to the hostel was a very easy and fast descent. No issues and challenges. The total kms was 8km and ascent was only 573m, making this a very achievable Munro even for those non-baggers, time being only 3 hours. The full round trip from the station is a little over 10kms.
- The road home