Beinn Bhuidhe - The Tourist Trail

[Gordie12]

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................

[teaandpies]

I was happy to see England getting beat, I love seeing the hearing the commentators masking their obvious disappointment

[Silverhill]

I met Angus’ sisters, they also kindly let me have the bog instead of the road.
The hydro track looks like a slog, I think I prefer the traditional route!

[Gordie12]

I was happy to see England getting beat, I love seeing the hearing the commentators masking their obvious disappointment

I worry about Ian Robertson the commmentator on Radio Five Live. He's Scottish but he seems to get very excited when England do anything decent.

The other half seems to be calming down a bit now (24 hours after the end of the game).

[Gordie12]

I met Angus’ sisters, they also kindly let me have the bog instead of the road.
The hydro track looks like a slog, I think I prefer the traditional route!

Hi Silverhill - yip, it's a slog sure enough and the traditional route looks like it's a bit more scenic.

[Chris Mac]

Nice report and some great photo's, especially the big Heilan Coo!!

Ok mate, you have the road, I'll take the bog

Hahahaa brilliant stuff!!

I love the pic of the truck too, I honestly thought it was a Tonka truck for a moment, quite hard to judge the scale in the photo!!

Probably a good thing you avoided those Heilan Crocs too...

[ancancha]

Thankfully I never met Angus when I travelled up this way, but did bump into the clag
Interesting to see the hydro works, were they at the end of the track
The traditional route up the valley was interesting.
Great long kick for the welsh to win

[jmarkb]

I came down the same track a few weeks ago and didn't enjoy the lower section much. I think it may be better (and slightly quicker) to use the more westerly track that joins the existing forestry track shown on the OS map, but that means not going past the brewery!

[Gordie12]

Nice report and some great photo's, especially the big Heilan Coo!!

Ok mate, you have the road, I'll take the bog

Hahahaa brilliant stuff!!

I love the pic of the truck too, I honestly thought it was a Tonka truck for a moment, quite hard to judge the scale in the photo!!

Probably a good thing you avoided those Heilan Crocs too...

Thanks Chris - it feels like most days when I'm out just now there are big toys to photograph - Hydro schemes popping up everywhere. I wish somebody would leave the keys in one of them, they look like good fun to have a go on.

[Gordie12]

Thankfully I never met Angus when I travelled up this way, but did bump into the clag
Interesting to see the hydro works, were they at the end of the track
The traditional route up the valley was interesting.
Great long kick for the welsh to win

Hi ancancha - to be honest, it's a busy place. Just above the point you can see from the brewery is where the dam is but there are also a couple of new tracks being built as well.

Best rugby match I've watched in years - had planned to go to the gym early on Sunday morning but celebrations continued in to the night ruling out any thoughts of getting on a cross trainer or an exercise bike.

[Gordie12]

I came down the same track a few weeks ago and didn't enjoy the lower section much. I think it may be better (and slightly quicker) to use the more westerly track that joins the existing forestry track shown on the OS map, but that means not going past the brewery!

Hi jmarkb - it's the first track I've had to stop at the bottom of for a rest so I can well understand anyone not enjoying the lower section. The local guy I spoke to on the way in suggested I used the track you are talking about for the way out, it certainly looked like an easier gradient. In the end I went for my route in as I didn't want to walk through the quarry and I fancied another few shots of Angus and his extended family.

[teaandpies]

I worry about Ian Robertson the commmentator on Radio Five Live. He's Scottish but he seems to get very excited when England do anything decent.

The other half seems to be calming down a bit now (24 hours after the end of the game).

I was happy to see England getting beat, I love hearing the commentators masking their obvious disappointment

I'm only just calming down too. This World Cup has been decent. Sorry this is well off topic.

[Graeme D]

FFS!!!! Is there anywhere where there AREN'T hydro works going on in the hills at the moment!!!!?????

[Gordie12]

FFS!!!! Is there anywhere where there AREN'T hydro works going on in the hills at the moment!!!!?????

Hi Graeme - not sure if there are hydro works everywhere or just everywhere I go walking

[Graeme D]

FFS!!!! Is there anywhere where there AREN'T hydro works going on in the hills at the moment!!!!?????

Hi Graeme - not sure if there are hydro works everywhere or just everywhere I go walking

Yeah, me too these days Gordie! Now, why do I never seem to get round to doing this hill????