Beinn Narnain and Beinn Ime

[Caledonia84]

This is the first time I've tried more than one climb in the same day since the torture of I felt doing the three peaks challenge 5 years ago, I was looking forward to it having climbed Beinn an lochain Ben Donich and Ben Arthur over the previous months and seing the views from those climbs.

There were still a few low clouds hanging around and the cobbler was completely obscured at this point, was hoping this would clear

The path was very overgrown, had me worried id choosen the wrong path

Once I spotted the remnants of the old railway I knew I was on the right track!

The climb is steep here and not much fun the views start to open up though

This was the first easy scramble

First view of the Cobbler

The walk at this point is still steep but far more interesting with brilliant views all round

Another scramble up a rocky gully

The higher you get the better the views get

The final push

Last Scramble

Summit Beinn Narnain with Beinn Ime in the background

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOFtld4yhzY[/youtube]


Now on to Beinn Ime, my legs felt ok but as I descended down to the beallach and started the ascent my legs really started to burn, not reaching the summit wasn't an option after coming this far so I just pushed through it. I didn't take many pictures here as I was using all my concentration to defy my legs. The path was verry boggy and slippy in places and was hard work, it got easier nearer the top with better views and more solid ground.

video I took of the summit of Beinn Ime
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmYvyt60flY[/youtube]

[Malckyb]

Great report and pics...we did Beinn Narnian a couple of weeks ago in a gale with sleet,hail,rain the lot!!..its a fine hill...carried on and got within a half hour of Ime summit and had to give up though as the weather just got really silly....they are wet and boggy hills though..not pleasant underfoot at all....would like to go back on a sunny day though.

[Caledonia84]

I did think (especially on the Narnain ascent) that this would be a nightmare in adverse weather, credit to you for getting that far, I found it hard enough and I had a good day for it. Think high winds and hailstones would have meant breaking point for me! I almost brained myself coming down Beinn Ime, thought I'd be clever and try and jump a boggy patch only to end up slipping on the one leg I landed on , honestly it was like something out of a Mr Bean sketch both feet were above my head, ended up very wet and muddy

[Malckyb]

Not surprised you slipped on Ime,we had a few near misses as it was just a quagmire at places,you did well to bag both as its a bit of a leg burner!

Narnian was a bit of a nightmare for us..certainly for me anyway...I have never been out in winds like that,we got stuck for a while on the plateau just before the final push to the summit due to not being able to stand in the wind,had to seek shelter behind the large stones..it was that strong that I got blown off my feet and dislocated my thumb ,managed to pop it back in though,was agony but didnt fancy the walk back down in that state!..then,after some t and a wee rest to get myself together we decided to go for the summit when the wind dropped a bit...we probably shouldnt have but we were sheltered at the scrambly parts near the top...the wind on the summit was bad though and we had to shelter for a while before going down then trying to ascend Beinn Ime.

Its days like that though that you learn a bit about yourself,tough at the time but satisfying afterwards....its a great hill and deffo wanna do Ime sometime...think would be good to do it along with the cobbler.

[Caledonia84]

Its days like that though that you learn a bit about yourself,tough at the time but satisfying afterwards....

I think theres been a point on most hills I've climbed so far where I've thought " I need a different hobby" but then you turn a corner and are smacked in the face by breathtaking views, or when you reach the summit and miraculously forget the pain in your legs and are allready planning your next climb. Its definately a bitter-sweet experience at times, always feels worth it though.

Hope the thumbs heals ok, dislocating it sounds nasty

[jamesjones]

Hi,

Well done with Beinn Narnain and Beinn Ime, Hoping to do first Munro next week and hoping kids will tag along. Can anybody give any advice regarding the best Munros to do at this early stage. Have fair bit of experience of walking in Lake District and abroad but Scotland looks excellent. Kids are 9 and 12 any Munros which the kids would enjoy would be appreciated. It's pretty important that I get this right otherwise they might never do another one.

[Caledonia84]

Really sorry James, just saw your post, you thought about ben lomond? The ones around arrochar and crianlarich are steep and rocky by nature, some of the corbets are just as chalenging also, i'd recomend beinn an lochain and the cobbler if you get the chance

[JTweedie]

Beinn an Lochain would be fine in good weather (although not a Munro), but I think if it was windy the relatively narrow ridges near the top might be a bit scary for young children, depends on the experience they've had in the Lake District of course.

Ben Vorlich at Loch Lomond would be an easy introduction to Munros, it's not the most exciting, but that makes it an easy one to recommend.

Another Munro, but one of the very best in my opinion, is Beinn Dorain at Bridge of Orchy. It's easy to get to by car, bus or train, and depending on fitness, combining it with its neighbour Beinn an Dothaidh would be a really good day out.