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I wanted to pick something a bit special to get me into double figures in the Munro stakes. After doing Ben Vorlich back in April my mind kept drifting back to Ben Vane. Just the shape of it, when I first saw it, it just relly appealed to me.
So I set off the back of 8 this morning from the Inveruglas car park next to Sloy power station. Weather reports had said cloud free summits were greater than 90%. Somebody was telling a porkie !
- Setting off
As I had done previously with Ben Vorlich I doubled back down the A82, past Sloy Power station until a Land rover track takes you through a locked gate and under a railway bridge.
- This way !
Again I followed the track and got my first look at Ben Vane, shrouded in mist !!
- Ben Vane shrouded in mist
I continued on past the power station and when you see a track leave the main path over a bridge you follow this route.
- Go over the bridge !
left over the bridge
I then followed onward checking Viewranger to see when I should leave the track for the path onto the hill. I didnt really need to as you cant miss all the footprints !! Just after leaving the track you need to cross a burn and enter a bogfest !!
- Over the burn into a bog
It is certainly a steep little hill and quite relentless !!
- Steep from start to end !
After the boggy section a well defined path opens up and is quite easy to follow. I took my first breather at the cave.
- Cave is on the bottom right
The views from the cave are quite good. I got a view of Loch Lomond, Loch Arklet and a glimpse of Loch Katrine.
- Views fromm the cave !
I continued up the steep path and got a look at Loch Sloy dam.
- Loch Sloy dam
Onwards and upwards.
- Steep, steep, steep !!
Then came a few scrambles !!
- Scramble anyone ??
Views were still good at this stage although I could see the summit was covered
- Loch Sloy
Then came another scramble
- Another scramble
I continued up the path then came to a rather vertical wall !! As I was standing pondering it a chap on his way down told me the summit was just over the top. So I took a deep breath and went up.
- Summit is just over the top
And then I was on the summit and in the inside of a cloud !!
- Summit
I didnt hang around for long and made my way back down. The views on the way down got better as the cloud cleared.
- Loch Lomond
- Ben Vane
- A` Chrois looking splendid !
- Ben Lomond
Getting into double figures in 6 months is good going for me as I have a young family and getting "me" time is at a premium !! Im delighted !!