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What else to do with a free sunday when the forecast mentions "unlimited visibility" but go for a walk! Time to look at the WH munro map and select a red point close to home...Stuchd an Lochan and Meall Buidhe met the criteria. For the sake of trying to build fitness we opted for a longer route than necessary to include the corbetts (12nd and 112nd highest corbetts to quote WH (sorry-couldnt help but notice!))
Interesting drive on the single track road near enough from Killin- doesnt make for a quick drive but it was quiet enough- think arriving at 11am we had maybe missed the traffic! Sun cream on at the car- already a lovely day we followed the obvious track up to the ridge passing everyone else as they were already descending, as promised a nice view of Lochan nan Cat- of which Cameron McNeish mentions a laird(Mad Colin Campbell of Meggernie) in 1590 chasing a herd of goats over the edge to the corrie (well what else could you do with a name like that?!) hard to imagine the scene ...
Chance for a breather before the final ascent to the summit... and straight over- might be warm sunshine but the wind was anything but! 1 hour 20 down thought we were making good pace but onwards and downwards leaving the eroded path behind down Meall an Odhar and the climb to Sron a'Choire Chnapanich and its lowly cairn. At this bealach and every one we encountered we chose to skirt round the edge so as to avoid the majority of peat hags of which there were hundreds! For what its worth i thought this Corbett a lovely hill- views from the top were great and it cuts a nice shape above the Loch.
Down again towards the peat hags at Creag a' Chaorainn where we hugged the stream and slowly gained height onto Meall Buidhe 907, fair bit of snow still here but was melting fast. Lunch at the top of here though it was half 3ish- so much for rushing the first half and enjoying the return!
Again we walked to the edge of the decent and plotted the easiest route- more north easterly than we thought as the peat hags were back in force and there would be lots of height lost whichever route. Picked up a track near Creag Riabhach looked like an argo cat track with cairns dotted about
Steady going as we plodded our way towards Meall Buidhe 931, we cursed the map for having us believe it would be flatter than it was- "each lines only supposed to be 10m we kept saying!" and "maybe we'll buy a Harvey map next time i dont trust these OS maps any more!" Though i think this was more surprise at how tired we were feeling here. Superb views over Rannoch Moor just lovely-would have been nice to sit and enjoy it but miles to go!
From a distance we saw a woman scampering off the summit- first other person we had seen for hours! Stopping before the summit for a final break and refuel we then pressed on for some summit pics and scampering down ourselves, back on the main path, the wind was picking up and a band of very dark cloud was coming from the south and east.
Made good time down in about an hour to reach the car just before half 7 car park deserted! A hurried drive to get a lovely hake supper with onion rings and can of vimto in Callander-all better...until the next day!