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After a long tiring trip the previous day being driven (in style) up to Glenshee to climb Glas Tulaichean and Carn an Righ , somewhere closer to home was in order to make the most of what promised to be another fine day . I was on the road before 7 and was glad of the early start as progress was slow up a very foggy Loch Lomond. Thankfully the fog cleared and I was parked up and on walking for 8 . I had brought sandals to wade the river but wasn't brave enough so I put on gaitors and just charged / stumbled across, ending up on the far bank not too wet .
- River crossing
The route up through the forest is not the nicest and I was glad to close the gate behind me and get onto the open hill,the way from here obvious , heading east towards the north ridge of Ben Lui .
- Up through the Sitka
- The long and gentle slog up to Ben Lui
As I gained height the views opened up , Ben Cruachan and friends looking lovely poking their heads above the cloud.
- Dalmally hills
Once on the north ridge a decent path leads south towards the summit , opening up views over to Glen Orchy and beyond.
- On the ridge
- Beinn Chuirn and beyond
As I climbed the ridge the wet grass gave way to rock with a couple of little steps to negotiate, the summit looking great perched on the edge of the cliff.
- Approaching the summit
As I reached the summit ,Coire Gaothach to the east was filled wih mist , the low winter sun was behind me , and there it was , or rather there I was !
- Brocken Spectre
After much waving of arms and legs , watching my giant shadow follow suit , I sat down at the cairn for a bite to eat , being joined by a nice chap up from the Lake District who had been watching my antics from afar. Thankfully he understood!
- View south from cairn
- More trickery
The views to the south were lovely , the Arrochar hills standing above the cloud , the Loch Lomond basin still full of fog ,we sat and nattered , spotting far away Arran and Mull .
- Beinn Ime and Co.
- Ben Lomond
- Closer view of foggy Loch Lomond
As we headed our separate ways I couldn't resist one more photo of the spectre ,then it was off west towards the bealach
- Last look
- View over to Beinn a'Chleibh
- View south over Coire Annaich
The ascent of Beinn a'Chleibh is easy ,maybe the best part of the summit is the view back to Ben Lui, still it's a fine grassy plateau for a wander around ,though obviously not to the taste of the two who charged up behind me ,touched the cairn , about -turned and sped off without even looking around at the view . Whilst on the summit I heard a quad approaching , driven by a friendly farmer who stopped for a chat . He was trying to round up sheep to get them down for the winter and had been waiting a month for good weather . I thought it sounded a nice way to pass a Sunday until he told me they had 8000 acres to search !
- Cairn and Ben Lui
- The easy way up
Once back at the bealach an obvious path heads north through the corrie to the gate at the forest , I don't think there is any decent way down through this place , even the newer route has become a quagmire .
- Down to the forest
As I crossed the river I was in no hurry this time ,washing off the muck from the forest , before heading back to a now packed car park . Driving down into Glen Falloch and the fog on the way home I did have just a wee peek in the mirror , just in case my Brocken Spectre was following , no such luck !