Tyndrum 4

[Broggy1]

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We’d headed up to Scotland the night before from Preston and after much thought of where to go on the Friday we had decided on the Ben Lui 4 so we could have easy access to the hills in the South Eastern area of the Highlands where the better weather was forecast for the weekend.

For the Friday though it was wall to wall sunshine and we left the car park at Dalrigh just before 7am for a long day where dehydration would obviously be a big factor in the searing heat.

The walk in to the base of Lui is a long one, but progress was quick along a good track and we were soon looking up at the formidable climb to Lui from its base.

Our first view of Ben Lui

Ben Lui getting closer

The track leads right to the base of the Mountain

Getting closer!

The walk up to the Coire was a steep one and we branched off to the right to hit the ridgeline where we got a sudden and dramatic view of the Glencoe, Etive, Orchy and Cruachan hills with the Big Ben also making an appearance in the distance.

From here the ridge narrows and gets rockier in a satisfying way before you hit the summit plateau, with the summit cairn itself dramatically placed above the edge. It had been a seriously hot climb and we weren’t much past 9am – things were only going to get warmer!

Looking back from the climb up

Lui's cliffs

The ridge gets rockier nearer the top

Looking back down the ridge

Looking over to the summit of Lui

Ben Lui summit

View back down the valley

Ben Cruachan from Lui

Ben Oss and Ben Dubhcraig from Lui

Beinn a'Chleibh from Lui

The descent off the other side of Lui was quick along an eroded path and the walk up Munro Number 2, Beinn a’Chleibh was a straightforward and easy one.

The next part of the walk was the bit we had been dreading, the long traverse from the beallach between Lui and a’Chleibh round to the beallach between Lui and Oss. Both of us play football regularly and have had several ankle sprains over the years so concern was high and care was needed.

However, this part was easier than expected and soon enough we were at the beallach looking up at the dome shaped Ben Oss. In the midday sun and with only intermittent bits of path this was the most taxing part of the day but by keeping a steady plod going we made good progress up to the summit.

Ben Lui from Beinn a'Chleibh summit

Traversing around Ben Lui

Ben Oss now ahead

Great view of Lui from the slopes of Oss

Oss summit with Lui behind

Ben and Loch Lomond from Ben Oss

The final climb of the day up to Ben Dubhcraig was much easier – probably helped by a good refuel on the summit of Ben Oss – and all that remained was a long, strenuous and boggy walk out (I’d imagine awfully boggy in rain) back to the car park at Dalrigh.

Looking to Beinn a'Chleibh from Ben Oss

Crainlarich Hills in profile from Beinn a'Chleibh

Looking back at Oss and Lui from Beinn a'Chleibh

A very good walk with Lui dominating throughout as this fine mountain is seen from every angle throughout the walk.

[Jaxter]

Amazing pictures. I'm looking at this for tomorrow, I hope my weather is as good as yours!

[CarltheViking]

Excellent post that has helped me plan my ascent of these four Munros.

[Cazza09]

Hey, I know it was some time ago, but so you remember how long this took you overall?

And just to confirm, you walked along the bottom to Ben Lui first and then made your way back towards Tyndrum?

[Dai S]

I did this round on Sunday 6th June using the GPs track from here:-
https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=43804
And it took me 9 hrs 20 mins from car back to car. Hope this helps.

[Broggy1]

Hey, I know it was some time ago, but so you remember how long this took you overall?

And just to confirm, you walked along the bottom to Ben Lui first and then made your way back towards Tyndrum?

Hi - indeed it was a few years back but think it took us just under 8hrs.

Yes we used the track to the base of Ben Lui - then around the 4 Munro’s - and then the boggy return from the 4th Munro which was relatively dry during that heatwave but probably takes longer usually.

It’s a great walk though you’ll love it.

[ncarballal]

OMG, I am dumb! I cannot tell how long it has taken me to find the way to post this! To the point... I like the look of this route, can I import it to my OS maps as I do with the official Walkhighlands routes? If so, how?