free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
I have a picture above my fireplace of Stirling with Stuc a'Chroin and Ben Vorlich in the background and it has been my ambition since it was bought to walk the ridges on the picture, up Ben Vorlich, across the bealach to Stuc a'Chroin and then down the ridge from Stuc a'Chroin and return. It would be a long walk so only summer time would do. The weather forecast was good, so this was the time.
Helen and Paul picked me up and we drove to the car park beside a church at the end of Glen Artney. There is no other proper car park beyond this point. Paul was driving his van so no room for creative parking.
The walk starts along the road to the road end and then the right of way to Callander. There is a little bridge over the burn at the road end on the left, easily missed. It is not difficult to get over the burn. There is now a long walk over a farm track all the way out of Glen Artney and down into Gleann an Dubh Choirein. A few gates to open and close along the way. There is a track going off to the right before a bridge, take this track. It goes up the glen. Stuc a'Chroin and Ben Vorlich can now be seen ahead. Hard to go wrong. The track weaves through bracken at this point for some distance. The river preesents a few interesting gorges along the way with waterfalls, Plenty of water to drink. It was blazing hot now. The track heads up to drier ground after a stand of trees and gate. Where it heads directly up at a burn, a path cuts directly across to a footbridge and rejoins the track further over. A corner is cut. The track eventually becomes just a worn path beside the river until it reaches a rather remote ruin of a farm. The remains of a bridge offer a scrambled crossing over the burn. Another ruin lies on this side. The ridge up Vorlich is clear to see and we followed a track beside the burn for a bit before walking up the slope to get to the ridge line to ascend the hill. It was easier going up the ridge, the grass shorter and another path became obvious. Helen wasn't feeling well though so we took our time climbing up to the top. We stopped for a break and a bite to eat. It is definitely easier than ascending from Loch Earn. Pity about the long walk in.
Heading up Vorlich by
Joe Kincaid, on Flickr
Stuc a'Chroin from Vorlich top by
Joe Kincaid, on Flickr
Vorlich top and glen by
Joe Kincaid, on Flickr
Great views now, we took time to enjoy them. Helen was determined to do the complete walk, so we pressed on down to the bealach. Totally different feel to it compared to the ascent ridge, rocky, steep, scree. We could see the path ascending beyond the crags of Stuc a'Chroin and headed over. It was a quick ascent despite being a bit of a dirt chute.
Bealach between Ben Vorlich & Stuc a'Chroin by
Joe Kincaid, on Flickr
Helen was not well by the time we made the top. She was sick here.
Felt better after it though. Another break and a look round.
Vorlich from top Stuc a'Chroin by
Joe Kincaid, on Flickr
Lochan a'Chroin and Beinn Each by
Joe Kincaid, on Flickr
After a wee rest we then headed down the ridge on a clear path. We could see it all the way down. Looking over Lochan a'Chroin we spotted 3 large groups of red deer in Coire an Lochan. Must have been over a hundred heads. It was a great walk down the ridge, the sun was at an angle to highlight the ribs of the corry.
Ben Vorlich & Stuc a'Chroin from ridge by
Joe Kincaid, on Flickr
Stuc a'Chroin & ridge down by
Joe Kincaid, on Flickr
We quickly made it to the end of the ridge and dropped down to the bealach. We contoured round rather than go straight down to keep to better ground. It was a faint path back to the ruins and the remains of the bridge.
Vorlich & ridge up by
Joe Kincaid, on Flickr
From there we just retraced our route back to the car. The sun was burning our backs as we walked, it was at the perfect angle by now, low over the tops. A long day, we were glad to get our boots off when we got back to the van, steam and stink
coming out of them. A long day, but a great one. Now I look at the picture and relive this every time.