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Katie and I had done this walk in the summer a few years ago but we felt like getting out into some snow so thought it was worth another go. We followed the usual route as far as the railway line but then carried on up Gleann Auchreoch on a broad track. This climbs gradually and enters a forest after about 1.5km. In fact you have to climb over a huge padlocked gate on which a sign declares that shooting takes place between April and February (i.e most of the year!). We could not hear any guns so decided to carry on. After about another km a track goes off to the right to cross a bridge over the burn. Then it was a case of picking our way up through the trees using firebreaks to emerge on the north -east ridge of Beinn Dubhchraig. Lots of deer around here. Then straight up the ridge to the summit. Had to put on crampons for a steep icy stretch. After a cup of tea and a piece of cake we joined the normal route, descending north-west to a bealach. We had taken our crampons off but had to put them back on again for the descent. Then up a nice long snow slope before descending a little way and then tackling the long plod up to the summit of Ben Oss. Good views across to Ben Lui. Then we retraced our steps to the bealach with the two small lochans at the foot of the north-west ridge of Beinn Dubhchreag. The path down through the corrie was extremely muddy but at least we hadn't had to do it twice!
This was a great walk in the snow.
