free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
I had waited three weeks to get back on to the hill and was jealous of all the fantastic reports, which had been uploaded on to WH. Patience is a virtue though and I struck it lucky. I had never really considered Beinn a Bhuiridh but I wanted a good walk, which would allow for spectacular vistas and some North facing ridges. The SMC Corbett book seemed to suggest that a circular route was possible heading along the Allt Coire Ghlais up to the Lairig Torran and from there a return over the Monadh Driseig. Yet I had not found a report of any kind suggesting this.
The previous night, my wife had awoken me helpfully to say that it was snowing and she would be worried about me. I merely reassured her that the Dalmally area was to have a high pressure over it and not to worry - there, there. As I left early on Friday morning, a brief discussion on risk management and longevity was had but I managed to escape the 3 inches of snow that had fallen in Glasgow and sped N. Upon arrival at the lay-by, I was greeted with spectacular views over the Ben Lui and beyond. Today would be a good day. I followed the old military round and into the coire and as I did so, the N facing cliffs of Beinn a Bhuiridh would come into view - tasty but this was merely the horses doovers.
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- The first views up to Beinn a Bhuiridh
Rather than adhere to the Allt, I decided to move on the Eastern ridge coming down from Stob Garbh and this was to be a good move as it afforded better views all round. As I got higher, I relaxed into the walk and appreciated the solitude - I hadn't been on my own on a hill for quite some time and the loner in me revelled in the conditions. Then I got a grisly fleg - I happened upon a ex ovine which for all the world looked like it had been inverted and its skull and spine were distant from its wooly corpse - this was at about 500m - was there some kind of Predator-esque monster in the hills - I had no intention of taking this back to my wife and thankfully, she agreed.
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- Help ma boab
She's got a taste for the macabre but even for her standards, this was subterranean. I proceeded up the ridge and the views just got more supreme.
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- Over to BAB
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- Looking back...over my shoulder
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- Sunrise hidden by the summit
. Rather than head up to Stob Garbh itself, I traversed over the Lairg Torran and the views across to Ben Cruachan and its satellite peaks blew my away, as did the wind. Again, these would get better as I ascended this fantastic hill.
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- First view over to Cruachan
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- HIgher view over to Cruachan
I had to find a path up the pretty steep face of Beinn a Bhuiridh and this was not easy - however, it's slope obviated concentration at all times and when i did finally plateau, I could relax and enjoy the next half hour. I ambled over to the summit, had a flask of tea and lunch and sat and enjoyed the sun and silence - this was bliss.
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- Ben More on Mull - zoomed
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- The North Face - impressive
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- On the summit
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- Bliss
After sitting for quite some time, I began the walk back along the Monadh Driseig, which was most enjoyable. Stopping to look back and around every so often, I would put this walk in my top 10. I snapped a few more shots, descended and thanked the mountain gods for another cracking day in the hill.
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- Looking over to Ben Lui
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- Looking back to summit, cliffs and BC
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- Solo steps
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- I like this one
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- Monadh Driseig trig w Loch Awe - in awe
