Fiarach

[lomondwalkers]

With the snow level down to around 350m it was time for another wee winter Graham for me. The drive up had most of the Munros covered up from around 2500ft, but I was still hopeful of getting some pretty fab views, and I wasn't to be disappointed, even from the car park I was getting a wee taster

Ben Lui not quite showing itself behind Beinn Dubhchraig

Ben Lui not quite showing itself behind Beinn Dubhchraig

Shy Ben More & Stob Binnein

Left via the Eastern end of the carpark through the gate and followed the track to another gate then over the bridge at over the River where the view was simply stunning with a white Beinn Chuirn looking down over the River, then on towards the bridge over the railway line.

Not bad for a 2 min walk from the car park!!

Beinn Challum

Bridge over railway

Beinn Dubhchraig and track where I headed upwards

I took a left just after the bridge and follwed a faint quad track that became a feint path, that then disappeared altogether.
Soon the cloud started rolling in on the fairly brisk breeze giving some sleet on the lower slopes, and the bonus of a slight rainbow which the camera just about picked up, but this passed as quickly as it appeared. At around the 300m mark there were a few small outcrops to avoid, no trouble here, just some fairly steep ground, this then brings you out at a leveller section with peat hags now being the obstacle!!

Rainbow

Small outcrops

Now into the snow and knowing the steepest section was over with so I could relax and enjoy my surroundings more now As Ben Lui was being shy, it was the Corbett Beinn Chuirn that kept drawing my eye. Hopefully this will be the Corbett to see me into double figures in the near future

Beinn Chuirn

Peat hags & icicles

North to Beinn Odhar & Beinn Dorain

Tyndrum hills

Once you get to just past the 550m mark, its an easy walk following a fence to the summit, passing Lochan Fiarach, which was looking lovely in the centre of its wintry surroundings The summit itself is on a small rock spur, which was a bit of a surprise, but I had fun playing about on its South side as I waited in hope that Ben Lui would clear, but once the wind broght in some hefty hail, I decided it was time to retreat. The views of the rest of my surroundings more than compensated for Lui hiding

Lochan Fiarach

Fencline to summit

Dubchraig from summit

View North

Towards Crianlarich Munros

Summit

Summit spur from South - Playtime!!

Followed the same route down for a fairly swift descent, as always, halfway down and the showers passed, not to worry, still another great wee half day in the snaw

[Graeme D]

Fantastic report Lomondwalkers! Loved it! Fiarach is a cracking wee hill, especially the area from the lochan on up to the summit spur, a great viewpoint for some bigger beasts. Reading this brought back almost every step I took on the same ascent route as yourself a couple of years back. Great memories. Thanks. Really good to see it with some white on it too.

[lomondwalkers]

Cheers Graeme! I had read yours and kinleys report while looking for a localish quick Graham that I haven't done, so your report came in very handy, especially at the summit as there was no cairn at all. Was there one when you did it? Perhaps the mental winds had blown it down??? Hoping to get my 1st wildcamp after winter. Even with the Munros playing hide-and-seek it was still a great wee hill for views

[pollyh33]

Great, smashing, super Dave!!!

Ah yes the lovely Fiarach, which I was rather hoping was Dubhcraig


Photos are top-notch as ever. I assume you remembered your 'good' camera and your boots this time

Did you see anything on the way up that would be good for Friday?

[Graeme D]

Cheers Graeme! I had read yours and kinleys report while looking for a localish quick Graham that I haven't done, so your report came in very handy, especially at the summit as there was no cairn at all. Was there one when you did it? Perhaps the mental winds had blown it down???

Don't remember a cairn as such - a rather insignificant pile of small rocks maybe on top of the rocky spur, but that was probably it.

[Johnny Corbett]

Don't remember a cairn as such - a rather insignificant pile of small rocks maybe on top of the rocky spur, but that was probably it.[/quote]

I'll second that, thats all that was there when i did it last year. Polly can you confirm or what hill were you up again?

[kevsbald]

Looks a lovely wee hill. Nice one.

[Graeme D]

Don't remember a cairn as such - a rather insignificant pile of small rocks maybe on top of the rocky spur, but that was probably it.

I'll second that, thats all that was there when i did it last year. Polly can you confirm or what hill were you up again? [/quote]

She's aiming to be the first person to unintentinally complete the Grahams due to navigational malfunction!

[pollyh33]

Ahemmmm it was Fiarach on the Monday and Dubhcraig on the Wednesday!!!!



And I did head in the right direction, just didn't go far enough (oh er!!!)

[SusieThePensioner]

Loved the report Dave and, wowee, look at those photos you got, on your mobile no doubt

[smiffysmc]

Looks a fantastic walk. Great report. The pictures are stunning.

Cheers.

[ChrisW]

That is a fine wee wander LW one I would have loved to do myself, some incredible views to be had all the way too, shame about the hefty hail but worth it I reckon

[lomondwalkers]

Great, smashing, super Dave!!!

Ah yes the lovely Fiarach, which I was rather hoping was Dubhcraig


Photos are top-notch as ever. I assume you remembered your 'good' camera and your boots this time

Did you see anything on the way up that would be good for Friday?

Cheers Polly, remembered everything.....shock horror Heres hoping I do the same tomorrow!!!

Cheers Graeme & Johnny, nowt left of stone pile now then, bawbag musta blown them off

Looks a lovely wee hill. Nice one.

Fab wee hill for views!

Loved the report Dave and, wowee, look at those photos you got, on your mobile no doubt

Cheers Susie. I wish my phone took foties like that, would save a fair bit of weight on my back!!

Looks a fantastic walk. Great report. The pictures are stunning.

Cheers.

Thanks Smiffy, a great wee half day, probably not even that if you dont play about on the summit like a daft wean

That is a fine wee wander LW one I would have loved to do myself, some incredible views to be had all the way too, shame about the hefty hail but worth it I reckon

Well worth the sore face Chris, the views from start to finish were suberb