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Ben Vorlich & Stuc a' Chroin

Ben Vorlich & Stuc a' Chroin


Postby Lowlight » Sun Jul 12, 2015 2:50 pm

Route description: Ben Vorlich and Stùc a' Chròin

Munros included on this walk: Ben Vorlich (Loch Earn), Stùc a' Chròin

Date walked: 12/07/2015

Time taken: 5.5 hours

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This was my 15th & 16th Munro. Feels like a long journey to get to this point but it's worth all the effort.

Started all this hillwalking with http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/blogs/dallas a few years ago and caught the bug. A few guys from work decided to come along on a few so we started them off gently (Dumgoyne/Earl's Seat, Ben Chonzie). It was about time we gave them more of a challenge.


Got parked up at 9am (a bit late for us but as someone forgot their boots we had to make an emergency detour, I'll make sure he opens an account here soon).

Noticed this small headstone. (More info: http://gohistoric.com/697780-ardvorlich-haugh-mcdonald-glencoe-stone-comrie)

Ardvorlich, Haugh, Mcdonald of Glencoe Stone
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There will be a theme in these pictures where everyone looks as if they were well ahead of me (they were).

A view of the guys heading over the bridge
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Loch Earn looked great. Was surprised with the amount of fishermen and tents dotted along the shores of the loch (but not the Buckie bottles). Could see this place getting pretty mobbed.

View across Loch Earn
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It's always a good start to a walk when it isn't a relentless uphill struggle. I'll definitely be taking the family here for a walk soon.

Ardvorlich House
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Remember I said most pictures would look like everyone was in front of me? This was probably the only time they weren't.

Me, in front.
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I think the reason I liked this walk so much was that it had really varied terrain and things to say "aw aye" at. Like this wee dam.

Wee dam
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Jaikets aff, jaikets on. Definitely a Scottish weather day where we didn't have a clue what it would be like.

Suiting up.
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I told you I was behind.

At the back.
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Took this to pretend I saw something interesting, just needed a rest.

Boring
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Loved the surrounding landscape here.

Looking east.
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A change in the weather and underfoot conditions as it got a little rocky.

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Almost to the top of Ben Vorlich. Became surprisingly hard at this point. Quite a relentless upward struggle for half an hour.

Almost there.
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Notice how alone I am.

A few more steps.
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And we're there.

Well deserved rest and a feed.
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Here's a couple of views as we descend into the bealach.

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We were all happy at this point, joking, laughing at people falling. We didn't know what was still to come.

Looking back at Ben Vorlich.

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And on our way to Stuc a Chroin.

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This looked ominous.

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Simple enough start. We met a guy who said we should definitely take the route that bypasses the scramble.

We didn't listen.

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Loved the ruggedness here.

Jaggy
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Now, unfortunately, I was so shattered on the final ascent of Stuc a Chroin I couldn't even reach into my pocket to get my camera out. I had to baby-step it for about 30 minutes. That final part for not for the faint or un-fit of heart. We still managed the ascent of both hills in 3.5 hours. Which wasn't bad at all.

But I did get some pics of our surrounding hills and lochs.

Loch (puddle)
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Looking back to Ben Vorlich
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Pondering life. No better place to do it.
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A great day all in and Ben Vorlich is a hill I would definitely do again. Although next time I think I'd leave Stuc a Chroin well out of it.
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Last edited by Lowlight on Mon Jul 13, 2015 9:02 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Ben Vorlich & Stuc a' Chroin

Postby teaandpies » Sun Jul 12, 2015 6:12 pm

My 15th & 16th were these hills too.
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Re: Ben Vorlich & Stuc a' Chroin

Postby Lowlight » Sun Jul 12, 2015 6:55 pm

teaandpies wrote:My 15th & 16th were these hills too.


Nice one. Take it you just worked your way up from Glasgow too?
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Re: Ben Vorlich & Stuc a' Chroin

Postby teaandpies » Mon Jul 13, 2015 1:40 pm

Lowlight wrote:
teaandpies wrote:My 15th & 16th were these hills too.


Nice one. Take it you just worked your way up from Glasgow too?



Aye, I hired a car. Been trying to nab the bigger hills local to me I guess. There's a couple of sub 2000s on our door step so I'll get them at some point.
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Re: Ben Vorlich & Stuc a' Chroin

Postby Lowlight » Mon Jul 13, 2015 9:04 pm

teaandpies wrote:
Lowlight wrote:
teaandpies wrote:My 15th & 16th were these hills too.


Nice one. Take it you just worked your way up from Glasgow too?



Aye, I hired a car. Been trying to nab the bigger hills local to me I guess. There's a couple of sub 2000s on our door step so I'll get them at some point.


Good stuff. I love some of the smaller hills like Dumgoyne, Dumyat and Ben A'an. Great for the kids.
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Re: Ben Vorlich & Stuc a' Chroin

Postby dallas » Sun Jul 19, 2015 10:22 pm

Great hills. The views were brilliant as well
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Re: Ben Vorlich & Stuc a' Chroin

Postby simon-b » Sun Jul 19, 2015 10:59 pm

My 15th and 16th too: a bit of a theme starting here! You did right to take the scramble up Stuc a' Chroin, I reckon, Lowlight; better than slogging up the scree.
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Re: Ben Vorlich & Stuc a' Chroin

Postby ancancha » Mon Jul 20, 2015 10:00 am

Can't remember where on my list these were, but I have fond memories of them :clap:
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Re: Ben Vorlich & Stuc a' Chroin

Postby Sarah86 » Mon Jul 20, 2015 1:54 pm

I will be the odd one out here, Ben Vorlich was my 9th :lol: but due to time of day and an older dog I didn't make it to Stuc a'Chroin. Really enjoyed reading your report... I am always trailing when I walk with my sister, the camera is a great excuse for breather!
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Re: Ben Vorlich & Stuc a' Chroin

Postby katyhills » Mon Jul 20, 2015 7:04 pm

I did these two on a pretty cloudy and murky day many years ago - not sure what number they were but thoroughly enjoyed them. my photos consist of a lot of clag and very little else!

Lovely report and photos Lowlight - hope you do plenty more :)
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Re: Ben Vorlich & Stuc a' Chroin

Postby DavidShepherd » Tue Jul 21, 2015 1:14 pm

Good pictures!

How difficult would you say the ascent to Stuc a ' Chroin is? Was it pretty steep when you say it wasn't for the faint hearted?
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Re: Ben Vorlich & Stuc a' Chroin

Postby teaandpies » Tue Jul 21, 2015 2:07 pm

DavidShepherd wrote:Good pictures!

How difficult would you say the ascent to Stuc a ' Chroin is? Was it pretty steep when you say it wasn't for the faint hearted?


It's pretty steep whichever way you decide to do it. If you go up the scramble it's steep but it's a lot faster than taking the by pass path.

The drop down from Ben Vorlich is also really steep.

The worst part of the whole walk is the return. It's boggy.
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Re: Ben Vorlich & Stuc a' Chroin

Postby Lowlight » Tue Jul 21, 2015 6:04 pm

Sarah86 wrote:I will be the odd one out here, Ben Vorlich was my 9th :lol: but due to time of day and an older dog I didn't make it to Stuc a'Chroin. Really enjoyed reading your report... I am always trailing when I walk with my sister, the camera is a great excuse for breather!



Thanks a lot Sarah. Glad you enjoyed it.
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Re: Ben Vorlich & Stuc a' Chroin

Postby Lowlight » Tue Jul 21, 2015 6:07 pm

DavidShepherd wrote:Good pictures!

How difficult would you say the ascent to Stuc a ' Chroin is? Was it pretty steep when you say it wasn't for the faint hearted?



teaandpies got it spot on. Tough ascent and quite steep in parts. Nothough really serious though.
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Re: Ben Vorlich & Stuc a' Chroin

Postby Lowlight » Tue Jul 21, 2015 6:39 pm

katyhills wrote:I did these two on a pretty cloudy and murky day many years ago - not sure what number they were but thoroughly enjoyed them. my photos consist of a lot of clag and very little else!

Lovely report and photos Lowlight - hope you do plenty more :)


Me too, getting a few under our belts this year. Thanks a lot.
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