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Another day which promises wall to wall sunshine, high temperatures and little in the way of a cooling breeze so Factor 50 and bug spray packed and ready.
Arrived at Loch an Daimh at around 9.30AM by which time the temp was already up to 73 degrees.
Decided to do Meall Buidhe first so set off at 9.45AM cursing the fact that although I had 2 litres of juice on board I had also forgotten an additional 2 1litre bottles of water I had left in the fridge.
- Plenty parking spaces
- Start of the track
Leaving the dam and the loch behind the track climbs steadily on a fairly easy gradient which is good as it's warm work even this early on in the day.
- Target 2 - Stuchd an Lochain
Whilst meandering through some minor peat hags I managed to lose the track but the walking remained easy on short grass until I picked up the track again. I could see that this hill can probably get a bit boggy but this is probably about as easy as it gets as the ground is bone dry.
Once up on to the wide ridge it's about a mile over to the summit and thankfully there is a breeze once on top of the hill.
- Heading for the summit
- Getting closer
- Summit
- The route back
I loved the ridge walk over to the summit with great views down Loch Rannoch, over to Rannoch Station and over towards Glen Coe.
The walk back was fast but it was noticeable once below the ridge line how hot it was and even heading downhill was hot and sweaty.
- Back at the loch
Arriving back at the car I was in two minds about whether or not to do the second hill as the first hill was harder work than it should have been due to the heat but what the hell, I'm here, might as well just get on with it.
Leaving the car park there is a short tarmac section down to a gate below the dam then through some woods till the road reaches the side of the loch. At a cairn the track starts and heads parallel with the loch gaining height slowly.
- The easy bit
The track then turns and heads directly uphill on a steep and fairly relentless gradient and in the heat I don't mind admitting it was bloomin hard and slow work. It felt like it took forever before the track took a 90 degree turn followed by a short gradual climb before a further steep climb. I could now see the summit about a mile away and the walking was far easier (and the best bit.............there was a hint of a breeze).
My jelly legs started to recover, the views opened out and all was well with the world again.
- Summit in view
One final climb and the summit is reached, time for a break and a warm sandwich.
After about 15 minutes on the summit it was time to head off back down the track.
- Loch An Daimh from the summit
Half way along the ridge I stopped to top up the factor 50 and carry out my 4th spray of the day to try and keep the clegs at bay. The sods had got me around my wrists, upper arms, neck and one had drawn blood on the tip of my finger. Perfect weather for them today and probably the worst day I've had for bites since a trip to Glen Affric 3 years ago (when I promised myself I would never go back there again in summer). I met one couple from the Lake District, the lady had a big heavy jacket on which she said was to try and protect her from being bitten - I think I would have boiled if I had worn a warm jacket, I couldn't even consider long sleeves.
- Looking east down Glen Lyon
Because of the steepness of the descent a bit of care was required as it would have been easy to take a head first dive down the hill. Once back by the loch side it was a short 5 minute walk back to the car.
I've seen a few reports from people who described these two hills as being a bit boring but I really enjoyed them and the views on a good day make the effort worthwhile. Probably a bit too warm for me and I really did suffer in the heat. If I was doing these hills again I would do Stuchd an Lochain first and get the long pull up from the loch done while I had some strength in my legs.