On this walk I was slightly worried at the start that I might have embarrassed myself, as I parked up in the rain. The weatherman suggesting earlier in the week that East might be best I had all the routes downloaded and in the GPS ready to go. Then, at the last minute (2.30 a.m. Sunday morning to be precise 
) I changed my mind and decided to stay in bed and also stay West. And it was driech, dreary and decidedly underwhelming when I parked up 
P1150134 by Riedel2012, on FlickrThe start of the day. Headed back along the road toward a gate to gain the hills
My 2.30 a.m. substitutes were the Glen Orchy Corbetts of Beinn Bhreac-liath and Beinn Udlaidh. They might not be the most inspiring pair and by all accounts a snorkel might have been advisable given the significant amount of swamp-like bog I was letting myself in for
I certainly wasn’t oozing enthusiasm as I readied myself and set off across the poor excuse for a field. I was preparing myself for a bit of a slog, and this was certainly how things started in a swamp. I’d not walked 10 minutes and already these two were on my list of top 10 routes I wouldn’t want to repeat too soon
P1150136 by Riedel2012, on FlickrThat's my first target - Beinn Bhreac-liath
P1150139 by Riedel2012, on FlickrHad a bit of "interest" from this bunch, as they made a bee line for me as I entered their field. Perhaps it was my chiselled good looks.........or maybe they just didn't take to me bright red waterproof jacket
Thankfully this feeling didn’t last though. True, they aren’t the best looking hills in themselves, but I was certainly treated to some good views from them as the day progressed
P1150143 by Riedel2012, on FlickrOne of the frequent showers that passed through. All were preceded by a significant increase in wind speed and drop in temperature before the snow hit
MagnificentEarly doors I had been tempted to jack the walk in, as I plodded up the side of Corbett #1, suffering significant buffeting. It was a bit miserable at first, but over a time I was walking myself into the walk, even though I was employing my usual plod.
P1150148 by Riedel2012, on FlickrSun following the snow, on the steep plod up the side
P1150152 by Riedel2012, on FlickrA bit of a water feature on the way up
P1150158 by Riedel2012, on FlickrEarly view to Bridge of Orchy and beyond, as another shower passes through
P1150164 by Riedel2012, on FlickrCloud lifting on Corbett #2. Things are starting to look up
P1150170 by Riedel2012, on FlickrPlenty blue sky now, but the showers were never that far away.......as I was soon to discover......again
P1150179 by Riedel2012, on FlickrA sneaky peak to the Starav group of hills in Glen Etive
P1150190 by Riedel2012, on FlickrDorain and pal
P1150194 by Riedel2012, on FlickrOrchy and Tulla.......looking good now
P1150204 by Riedel2012, on FlickrThe summit plattox at last. Now you see it..........
P1150208 by Riedel2012, on Flickr......and then the next snow shower arrived. It was a belter
Just stuck my back to the wind and let it do its worst. It soon passed
P1150215 by Riedel2012, on FlickrAnd then it was a good walk along a sizeable plateau to the high point
Not a great deal of depth to the views, due to the wide and long summit plateau, but still a good tick off the list. I didn't hang around for long though, as it was decidedly chilly in the wind. On the initial plod up this one I had considered doing just the one hill, as the wind was pretty stiff when each shower came through. I'd read that the wind speed should drop later in the day, so I decided to carry on and tick off the two as planned
P1150227 by Riedel2012, on FlickrMy next destination. Turned out to be a good little walk I thought
P1150233 by Riedel2012, on FlickrPanoramic view to the Lui group. Still mean and moody with the cloud, but patience......
.
P1150234 by Riedel2012, on FlickrLooks a nice easy ascent from here. Turned out to be fun with the patches of snow to walk over
P1150240 by Riedel2012, on FlickrYou can't tell from the picture, but the wind picked up here and another shower was about to buffet me. Another corker
More back to the wind to ride it out and then I was off again
P1150242 by Riedel2012, on FlickrView to the Crianlarich hills. They were soon to disappear as the storm passed over
P1150253 by Riedel2012, on FlickrThe route up Corbett #2
P1150255 by Riedel2012, on FlickrThe Crianlarich hills again.
P1150261 by Riedel2012, on FlickrMean and moody Lui hills still, but my patience was soon to be rewarded
P1150262 by Riedel2012, on FlickrStill no Crianlarich hills
P1150267 by Riedel2012, on FlickrBen Challum
P1150268 by Riedel2012, on FlickrA panoramic view of Corbett #2. I was certainly enjoying the day by now. I didn't know it, but I'd had the last of the snow showers. Still windy, but the sun was there to stay
P1150278 by Riedel2012, on FlickrThe return of the Crianlarichs
P1150299 by Riedel2012, on FlickrThe magnificent Ben Lui
P1150301 by Riedel2012, on FlickrPanoramic
P1150312 by Riedel2012, on FlickrA couple of locals
P1150315 by Riedel2012, on FlickrA "volcanic" Lui getting ready to blow
P1150324 by Riedel2012, on FlickrThe Glen Etive Munros
P1150332 by Riedel2012, on FlickrSummit #2
P1150344 by Riedel2012, on FlickrThe view to Bridge of Orchy and Rannoch Moor
P1150354 by Riedel2012, on FlickrStarting to descend off the hill and the view toward Cruachan remained hazy. This was probably the best shot I could get of the view
P1150356 by Riedel2012, on FlickrPart frozen lochan on the route down
I followed the quartzite dyke down to the trees below. I was able to make the most of some snow patches, making the drop back down a lot quicker than slipping down over boggy heather and grass.
P1150357 by Riedel2012, on Flickr
P1150359 by Riedel2012, on Flickr
P1150360 by Riedel2012, on FlickrAn enjoyable route down off the hill
P1150369 by Riedel2012, on FlickrThe landrover track I eventually landed on had some interesting, boggy sections, but made easy work of getting back to the car. Thank goodness there was no need to ford this stream. By the looks of the falls it was in spate
P1150374 by Riedel2012, on FlickrAnd a final view of Dorain and pal as I neared the end of the walk
So all in all these two gave me a good day out, far exceeding my early expectations.
