free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
With Munro bagging making up the majority of my free time and almost all the nearby munros exhausted I was starting to realise that I've neglected the smaller hills in pursuit of becoming a Munro Compeationist. Being a Scout leader I've always wanted to try and get my scouts onto the hills with me to gain an appreciation of the outdoors and the stunning beauty of the Scottish landscape. To kill 2 birds with one stone I gained a hillwalking permit through scouting to allow me to take youngsters up mountains to the height of Corbetts. Now I could start ticking off some of the sub 3000ft hills with a company of kids who really need time away from games consoles.
Ben Venue was a good starting point for us to challenge the youngsters on their way to achieving the coveted hillwalker badge. 5 hills required to complete and this would be the starting point.
We set off from the car park at 9:30am to reasonably dry weather. Everyone was excited as we have organised low level walks in the past with a few having completed the West Highland Way and many enjoyed this experience so climbing a mountain was the next challenge.
From the car park there is a nice little section of the path over wooden panels which had a great view of our target hill.
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Matthew Thorburn, on Flickr
Small groups of kids started to form as we made our way down the track. Some more eager to be at the front. Some taking their time and others switching between the two.
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Matthew Thorburn, on Flickr
The mood of the morning was clear to see. But how would they be when the real leg work began.
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Matthew Thorburn, on Flickr
We walked past the footbridge usually used to gain access to the mountain until we reached the end of the road. Here there is a little dam which we used to cross the river.
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Matthew Thorburn, on Flickr
A short path from the dam leads over a fence where we joined the path leading towards the Bealach nam Bo.
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Matthew Thorburn, on Flickr
The walk through the small forest and the high ferns was a little boggy due to recent rain but nothing too bad.
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Matthew Thorburn, on Flickr
The trees begin to fall away and then we get a glimpse of our route up onto the mountain. The Belach nam Bo.
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Matthew Thorburn, on Flickr
With the view of the Bealach ahead, to the right you get a brilliant view of Loch Katrine and the amazing autumnal colours of the Trossachs.
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Matthew Thorburn, on Flickr
Untitled by
Matthew Thorburn, on Flickr
The groups of walkers now dividing into the speed categories.
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Matthew Thorburn, on Flickr
The higher we climbed the more we started to appreciate the spectrum of colour on show.
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Matthew Thorburn, on Flickr
The rocky section had a clear path up through the boulders with a few of the boys eager to climb all over them.
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Matthew Thorburn, on Flickr
Once at the Bealach nam Bo the terrain changed to grassy slopes and a slight breeze now we were no longer sheltered by the sides of the hill.
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Matthew Thorburn, on Flickr
The pace now began to slow as the realisation sat in that they had walked for 2.5 hrs and still had 2 more to go until we reached the top.
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Matthew Thorburn, on Flickr
A few moans and groans developed when I pointed up and proclaimed the top was away up there.
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Matthew Thorburn, on Flickr
Morale was starting to dip but that might have been because they were getting hungry.
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Matthew Thorburn, on Flickr
We found a little shelter from the wind and had our lunch as the sun began to peak through the clouds intermittently.
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Matthew Thorburn, on Flickr
Another few hundred meters up and now some mist was forming to give the scouts a taste of all the weather we usually expect on a Scottish mountain.
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Matthew Thorburn, on Flickr
Loch Achray and Loch Venachar getting a little sunlight.
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Matthew Thorburn, on Flickr
Looking across Loch Katrine to the north.
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Matthew Thorburn, on Flickr
Really proud of all the scouts getting to the top! We didnt stay very long as the wind was quite strong.
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Matthew Thorburn, on Flickr
Heading off the summit.
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Matthew Thorburn, on Flickr
Looking up Loch Katrine.
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Matthew Thorburn, on Flickr
The Sun starting to cast shadows on the mountains as it begins to set.
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Matthew Thorburn, on Flickr
Our pace quickened as we descended the mountain.
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Matthew Thorburn, on Flickr
Our route back to the car gave us good views of Loch Achray and Loch Venachar before we entered the forest paths lower down.
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Matthew Thorburn, on Flickr
Looking back at our conquered hill and hopefully the first of many this group of youngsters will complete on their way to completing the hillwalker badge.
Untitled by
Matthew Thorburn, on Flickr