Ben Luibhean

[ngm1scot]

Today was supposed to be a day of fast walking in preparation for a bigger challenge later in the year so we'd chosen Beinn Lubhean, a Corbett amongst the Arrochar Alps. The MWIS forecast would've put anyone off: 40-50mph winds, low cloud and rain and a cold cold day. I've paraphrased it a bit but that was the gist of it.

However as the challenge event is going to take place almost no matter what the weather is (unless its dangerous) then it made sense just to go ahead today.

We made easy time to the car park just about an hour from Glasgow and were the first ones there. There are other layby's farther on I guess if this one's busy. It didnt take too long to get booted and spurred and off we went just a shade before 9am.

The nice waterfall

On the rickety bridge (which isn't rickety at all)

This hill is unrelentingly steep as a look at the profile will show, climbing 350m per kilometre and although we made great time in the first 30 minutes the hill began to take its toll on me and my pace slowed right down.

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It is an amazingly interesting hill though full of large rocks and crevices

One of the huge boulders

and changing views of Lubhean's neighbours - Ime, The Cobbler and Narnain.

Narnain (far left) and the Cobbler in silhouette

Coming out of the car park and across the bridge, there's pretty much an obvious path to follow to the first fence. After that we just headed on up the hill following the ridge as far as possible though the steepness actually gets to be almost vertical in places.

Looking straight up to the first summit of Lubhean

There is really no path to follow at all and so we tried to avoid the worst of the slope and the by now cold, icy wind by heading round to the Eastern side of the hill. We discovered on the way back down there is actually a path of sorts heads round this way from the gate just as you start on the hill proper.

We could see the rain coming towards us between Beinn an Lochain and Ben Donich but we pressed on.

The big sky monster's eyes watching the A83 over Ben Donich

However as we crossed over the first main "summit" the rain really hit along with strong cold winds and we sought refuge behind one of the many large boulders, deciding to have lunch. And, decide about whether to push on to the 858m summit which in these conditions was now invisible and about 500m ahead of us and with still a further 100m or so to climb. By the end of lunch nothing had changed weather wise and we decided it was safer and more sensible to come back down.

Due to the weather the pictures are not fantastic and not many either. (to follow)

On a point of interest on our way back down we spotted two walkers heading along the North side of Ben Arthur into Coire Croe where there is a fair ATV style path it seems (not on the OS map). Initially we thought they were going to attempt the crags protecting Arthurs top but it became clearer that they were heading for the major stream coming down from the summit which actually looks a bit easier (and much quieter) than the traditional route up. Noted for future

[lomondwalkers]

Good effort for those conditions. It's been windy enough outside the window here never mind on the hills Been up Luibhean a couple of times, it's a wee calf burner alright. We did the route up The Cobbler that you seen the 2 walkers doing. We chose it due the fresh snow that had fallen. Link to trip report... http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=20139

[ngm1scot]

Thanks lomondwalkers, the cobbler route seems like it avoids teh whole tourist route thing - kind alike Ptarmigan does on Ben Lomond. Well defo give it a try. Thanks for the link