Terrible jokes on Beinn Bhuidhe

[Quadbarrel]

The weather looked like it could hold today, but it was dubious, so for a change me, mum and Iona headed off to Beinn Bhuidhe as dad has already gone up it for his Caledonian Challenge training and even if the weather wan't good, we could still do the walk in.

Set off at a very late 7:15am and headed up past Loch Lomond, before the Rest and Be Thankful showed what mood it was in!

Miserable!

Anyway, we'll do the walk in!

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Fortunately the weather decided to clear up in Glen Fyne, so we were more optimistic about climbing the hill.

The River Fyne

Set off along the road to the power station.

It's a long way!

After about 2km, we arrived in a field of cows, which, after watching a report on Countryfile last night, looked absolutely terrifying and as if they were going to kill us. Ended up going into the forest on the left in an attempt to bypass them and finally got past them to the bridge over the river.
About a kilometre after the bridge, we came across a bridge at the lodgings.

Troubled bridge over water

Fortunately we didn't have to go across that so headed on. What a lovely place! (Is there one in the highlands that's not? )
Headed on to the point where we turned off the tarmac and onto the rough.

Old and New

Headed into the little woodland protected from the deer - what a lovely place - and along to Inverchorachan, before heading through the gate and climbing over the gate on the left, when we started the ascent up Ben Bhuidhe (the weather's not that bad )

Inverchorachan and Glen Fyne

It's only up there! Yeah?

Allt na Faing

The crags were quite craggy so we headed up and over, following the walk description.

Back down to the path

Whatafall!

Headed up past the waterfall and into one of the many boglands in Scotland. Surprisingly, none of us enjoyed the bogs so we just had to slog it out and reach the bottom of the ridge. From there we headed up the gully.

Uphill? When we're going up a hill?

Bogland - The land of bogs

Continued up the path where we met a man who told us everything there was to know about the conditions on Beinn Bhuidhe, including that the top was in the cloud and that we were 50 minutes from the top . Reached the ridge pretty soon after, it's going to be a long ridge!

At least we're on the ridge!

20mins (?!?) after we'd met the man, we reached the top. Also, the summit was out the cloud . But we can cope!

Loch Fyne

Lunch!

The cloud closed in while we were at the top but we went back down out of it.

It's getting cold!

Headed back down the gully, rather than following the Walkhighlands route.

It's steep!

Then it was back to bogland

A path delta

The cloud then descended dramatically.

Can't think what's coming next

It had to be!

Because of the rain, bogland then turned into superultramegaunbelievablymuddyanddeadlybogland, which wasn't the best, but eventually we reached Glen Fyne, where the rain ceased (hallelujah!).

Ben Lui from below Beinn Bhudhe

Back through the woodland again. The girls said they had jelly legs - yeah right!

I can't keep up!

So it was back to the cows...

The Krazy Killer Koos of Khaotic Katastrophy! from the way there

They were having a nap!
So, only 2km, or what felt like 5 billion miles, to the car.





























(Just one new line would feel like it was over quickly)













































And we were back at the car!

Hooray!

So, it was back to a nice nut roast

[Fife Flyer]

Well done in testing conditions

This is still on my radar, would a bike help with the 'walk in'? Looks like a fairly decent surface for cycling

[stevescott88]

I done this on Tuesday and cycled as far as I could go. Best decision I had made in a long time I think, a good tough walk though

[AnnieMacD]

Fabulous report and pictures. Good to see that you maintained your sense of humour through it all!

[Quadbarrel]

Thanks

We were saying on the way in that bikes would have sped up the walk in, though maybe we concentrated on our surroundings more because we were walking? On the way back bikes would have been nice to speed things up, but I don't know whether our legs would have managed!

Shame with the woodland also that people think they can ignore the sign saying 'please don't cycle any further' because they're special and continue on anyway.

Where the sign is, there is suitable parking to lock up bikes as well.

[mrssanta]

that was excellent. I love the picture of the girls walking through the trees - where you claimed to be unable to keep up (though I don't believe you!)