free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
Unusually for me, I couldn't be bothered today, don't know why - just didn't feel like it. I was up at the back of 5 and got down to Loch Fyne for about 8.20am, I actually considered driving past the parking area and heading down to Inverary for a wander round the jail.
Looking round and about there was a fair amount of cloud around with some summits clear and others shrouded in the claggy stuff - a bit of pot luck.
Off and walking for 8.30am, over the bridge, left turn and up the tarmac road towards the brewery.
- River Fyne
- Heading up the glen
I read some reports on this hill and I think it was bobblehatkenny who met a local who stopped his car and gave him some route advice - I think I met the same guy. Really nice chap, really helpful, but morning could turn to afternoon at this rate and I'm only just past the brewery so I thank him for his help and head on up the road.
- Breakfast time?
- Ok mate, you have the road, I'll take the bog
The guy in the car was telling me to use the new hydro track, as I was in a lazy mood I was always going to be using it anyway and even with a short detour off the road in to a bog thanks to Angus, it didn't take long to reach the point where I would leave the flat tarmac road and start what looked to be a pretty steep climb.
- River Fyne
- The start of the steep climb
I should know by now that when these tracks go in they are not designed for hill walkers, none of your zig zags, just straight up the hill and no messing about.
- Looking down to Loch Fyne
- And again
It was a slow plod up the track, warm work with no real breeze to speak off. There was the odd period where the track would level off but then it would kick off again - it was starting to annoy me. Eventually I was far enough along the track where I could see the top of Beinn Bhuidhe and it was time to leave the track behind.
Once off the track the feet quickly got wet. The path is clear and obvious but there was a lot of surface water around. Once on to the steeper climb up on to the ridge it was a little drier but at times it felt like I was walking up a burn.
Once up on the ridge it was an easy and enjoyable walk along the tops to the summit.
- The final climb up on to the top
- The path along the tops
- Final climb ahead
I was lucky that the summit was clag clear, the views weren't the best but they were still good with decent views in all directions.
- Summit cairn
- View from the top
- And again
I only spent about 10 minutes on the top, there was a little bit of a breeze and cool with the short sleeves so turned and headed for home.
When I got back to the cairn just at the point where I would start the drop off the tops I stopped to put the waterproof bottoms on so that if I took a dive on the way down I would at least keep my trouser dry. The walk down off the top was slow going and it felt good to get back to the main track where I could take the waterproof bottoms off and get a decent stride on.
- Hydro works
- Big toy
I chose to just take the same track down that I used on the way in and it was hard going down to the power station close to the River Fyne. I was glad to get down to the glen floor, it was really steep and hard going. It would have been tempting to have a dip in the river but then again maybe not.
The final walk down the glen was easy going and it was nice to be on flat ground and get the stride going again.
- Looking back to the track I used
- Brewery
I was back at the car quicker than I expected to be and headed off for the drive home. The other half is Welsh and having lived in Wales for 3 years I consider them to be my "wee team" so how bloomin marvellous was that tonight - absolutely fantastic Saturday night. My mood has definitely improved................