Ben Donich - great tonic for the hillwalking blues

[PeteR]

It’s all a bit sad and pathetic really, but for reasons that I won’t go into (MrsR and I had had words ) I was on a self- imposed exile from the hills. While the actual cause of the exile had been easily resolved, and despite MrsR’s protestations I should go a wee walk, my desire to get back out on the hills had been somewhat lacking since So much so that I had even packed all my walking gear away

In the end though the self- imposed exile lasted for all of a fortnight (I’ve been kept off the hills longer by foul weather ). My last outing had been an aborted attempt at Ben Donich, where I had turned back due to the lack of visibility, path disappearing in the snow and the weather deteriorating on the day. So it seemed fitting that I made a return to Donich to mark my return to the hills

Initially I wasn’t oozing enthusiasm, but after a bit of fannying around at home, using the forecast as another excuse I eventually left the house around mid-day, which is unheard of for me. Didn’t start walking until 1.15, which must be my latest start ever. As it was the route would be completed in 3.5 hours, and would have been considerably quicker had I had my a**e in gear on the way up

Photos are a combination of both visits, giving a contrast in the conditions both days. All-in-all this is an easy walk and even the scramble, which looked dodgy the first time round in the snow and clag, was a doddle. So much so I may have persuaded MrsR to give the hill a go during the spring bank holiday weekend at the end of the month

Start of the walk second time around

"Donich Gate"

Loch Restil and Stob Coire Creagach

The path up the hill, a bif boggy in other places along the way

A bit snowy on the way up first time round

Snow clad on the first attempt

A bit of clag as I made my way up

Weather-wise second time round thick clag had been replaced by enthusiastic wind and clag higher up. The snow had gone, and so the path was easy to follow. I was surprised how little I recognised from my first clag filled trip just two weeks earlier

It was straightforward up to the short downward scramble, where the boulder section looked interesting. Had a little “explore” on the return

Approaching the most entertaining part of the route

Time to stop on the first attempt

Second time around - the view down the scramble

View back up the scramble

One of the rock features near the scramble

View back to the rocks and scramble on the way to the summit

From there it was a simple walk to the summit, where I was able to enjoy extensive views of……clag To be fair the cloud did part for all of 30 seconds at one point. Just long enough to capture the next bank of cloud fleeing across in front of what little view I did have

Almost at the summit

Summit trig

My summit "view"

Standing at the summit, face into the wind, in the vain hope I might get a view, for a brief few minutes I stood there taking a good pounding as the wind hit me hard, but I was absolutely loving it Here’s a short video of that experience.

With no expectation of views opening up I was eventually on my way back down, enjoying a delightful horizontal April snow shower Toward the bottom this was then replaced by a brief break in the clouds, giving a great view back up to the summit of Donich, as we as to the surrounding area I could also see the dark clouds gathering for the next instalment of weather

Back at the scramble

Finally, the cloud starts to break

Loch Restil again

Toward the main Arrochar "Alps"

Darker clouds gathering in the west

"Water damage" on the lens.....well, it was a tad damp at times :-)

View back to Ben Donich summit

View west toward the Fyne area

View of Restil through the trees

Then it was a just short walk back to the car. All in all Ben Donich gave a good short walk, and was just the therapy I needed

[lomondwalkers]

Ben Donich is a braw wee hill, one of the first I've done. The wee scramble looks nasty from your first visit Mrs R will love it if she goes

[Graeme D]

It’s all a bit sad and pathetic really, but for reasons that I won’t go into (MrsR and I had had words ) I was on a self- imposed exile from the hills. While the actual cause of the exile had been easily resolved, and despite MrsR’s protestations I should go a wee walk, my desire to get back out on the hills had been somewhat lacking since

Aha, that old routine!! Been there more than once!

A nice hill that I have had my eye on for a long time but never got there yet!

[Fudgie]

One of the few hills I need to return to on a clag free day I got caught out a wee bit at the scrambly section with ice assisting my descent Definitely waiting for better weather to go back to it

[Collaciotach]

Grand report and even better therapy

[rockhopper]

Have also had a long layoff, Pete, so you have my sympathies - good way to get back out though despite the late start - cheers

[PeteR]

Ben Donich is a braw wee hill, one of the first I've done. The wee scramble looks nasty from your first visit Mrs R will love it if she goes

Thanks lomondwalkers. I think MrsR will love this hill until she gets to the scramble Then I may have a challenge

[PeteR]

It’s all a bit sad and pathetic really, but for reasons that I won’t go into (MrsR and I had had words ) I was on a self- imposed exile from the hills. While the actual cause of the exile had been easily resolved, and despite MrsR’s protestations I should go a wee walk, my desire to get back out on the hills had been somewhat lacking since

Aha, that old routine!! Been there more than once!

A nice hill that I have had my eye on for a long time but never got there yet!

I'm sure there's a few of us been there a few times Graeme.

Donich's a good little hill. Provides a perfect short walk. Definitely one to consider

[PeteR]

I got caught out a wee bit at the scrambly section with ice assisting my descent

That was my concern first time round Fudgie Glad I turned round a returned once the snow was all gone

[PeteR]

Grand report and even better therapy

Thanks Colla. It was more misty therapy on my latest walk Added bog in too Just need to write something up now

[PeteR]

Have also had a long layoff, Pete, so you have my sympathies - good way to get back out though despite the late start - cheers

Thanks RH. These lay offs are not good If your Mullardoch trip comes off though you certainly trump me on the "re-introduction to the hills" stakes

[kevsbald]

Good wee hill.
There must be something in the air - I got into trouble for NOT going on the hill last night.