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A bit of a collection of firsts going on here. First walk report for Walk Highlands, first bash at a Munro without anyone more experienced than me in the team, first winter walk in Scotland planned and executed by little me. Tripped up to Perthshire at the start of the year with the idea of bagging something, anything before heading up to Glenmore for a five day winter skills programme that would hopefully mean I was a bit more qualified to hang around Scotland bagging things in winter. Yes, I know that’s a bit back to front, but it was just the way the days worked out. As it was, the day was predicted clear and glorious and so an attack on Beinn Ghlas and Ben Lawers, with their fairly straightforward route and bonus 400m starting point seemed like a good experiment.
Headed out from Loch Voil hostel early on the 3rd (if you’ve never stayed here, do, it’s a wonderful wee gem), aiming for the car park as per Walk Highlands lovely detailed description. Unfortunately that wasn’t quite to be, as when we got part way up the road we discovered a Corsa *and* a campervan slewed across it, battling valiantly with some black ice assisted by several doughty looking men well dressed in a wide and exciting range of technical clothing. My boyfriend went and gave a bit of a shove help but car sorting wasn’t to be, and leaving the various drivers and passengers debating calling the AA, we parked a wee bit further down the road.
The light was glorious. Just glorious. As a very amateur photographer, I say this a lot. LOOK AT THE LIGHT. Especially whilst up on mountains. Apparently I say this so much people say it for me now. Which is kind of them.
Anyway. LOOK AT THE LIGHT.
These theme continued for most of the ascent, except for the bits where I tried to say LOOK AT THE LIGHT and the words were ripped from me by a pretty much unforecasted high wind, which poked us in the ears, face and general anatomy from the point we exited the nature reserve to almost the summit of Beinn Ghlas, where a quirk round in the path led us to a lovely sheltered bit with MASSIVE views, where tea and cake were consumed in company with everyone else who had discovered it was possible to sit there without having the skin scoured from your nose.
MASSIVE VIEWS.
Then onwards and upwards to first Munro of 2015, and R’s first Munro EVER. Duly, there were celebrations.
The ridge and ascent to Ben Lawers was unproblematic and the spindrift floating gently over Beinn Ghlas was glorious.
Made it to the slightly bemusingly double trigged summit, and shared a sense of smug wellbeing and joy with a motley collection of warmly clad people before heading back down the same route into strengthening winds. After a couple of unanticipated sideways step movements, this got rather wearing and it was with great joy we regained the nature trail, some shelter, and a repeat performance of LOOK AT THE LIGHT.
A glorious, glorious day, and capped off by a beautiful, full, fat moon rising above us as we toddled back to the car. Just brilliant. Thank you Scotland.
