1st Report - Ben Vane

[Riskbreaker880]

Hello folks!

This is my first report but I have been using the site for some time I hope you like it!

So I picked my mate Mo up about 0830 and headed upto Inveruglas, Ben Vane was the last of the Arrochar munros for me to bag. Needless to say the heavens opened when I was driving as we passed Luss. We reached the Cafe Lochan car park and stopped for a coffee and a bite before gearing up and heading along the long windy road toward the Sloy dam.

As we reached the start of the extremely boggy path the rain stopped and the cloud lifted a bit giving us a chance to get what we thought would be our only photo opportunity.

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We carried on along the boggy path and were happy to see when it cleared a bit to more open ground, we stopped in the small cave and caught our breath. For such a small hill the ascent was short and sharp. Just as we passed the cave the sun started to poke its head from behind the clouds and we decided it was time to take off the jackets and cool off a bit, we managed to the top in just our tshirts and it was great! As we began clearing the false summits we hit the small rock scrambles which were amazing and made the hill all that more interesting, once we reached the summit and got to the cairn unfortunatly the cloud dropped and we managed to get a quick few snaps before we decided to descend the way we came.

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We scrambled our way back down but again the sun began to shine so we decided to grab a few more shots before finishing the return journey.

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Anyway I totally underestimated this Munro and would probably say its my favourite of them all in Arrochar, i hope you enjoyed my first report

[Merry-walker]

Great first report, shame the weather was a bit naff for you but we're into some gorgeous autumnal walking now. That's where I started and what a season to start eh...

[Valerie]

Great report and looks like the weather cleared enough for you to get some good views I've probably underestimated this hill too but after your report It's definitely on my to do list

[lomondwalkers]

Good 1st report! Love Ben Vane (once you get past the bogs!!) great wee scrambles, and fine views along the way

[tomyboy73]

well done, i like the last wee scrammbly bits too, as you say makes it more interesting.

[Riskbreaker880]

Thanks for the replies folks, iv got some time off work coming up so im not sure where to aim for next. Was thinking some of the hills near Crianlarich but any advice is welcome!

[spiderman]

Enjoyed your report of Ben Vane. Can I suggest An Caisteal and Beinn a' Chroin for the Crianlarich Hills. Park at the big lay bye on the A82 just before the farm Keilator and on the opposite side of the road from the farm. Cross the field which is very muddy and head for the underpass for the railway and you are on a good landrover track. Come off the track about 5 to 10 mins and head up An Caisteal to the summit on a good well trodden path. You can return the same way for a fairly short day or if you have the inclination you can continue on to the beallach between An Caisteal and Beinn a'Chroin and go directly up Beinn a'Chroin at first but start heading left so you go up the hill diagonally and you will only have a walk onto the summit ridge of Beinn a'Chroin. This avoids the akward scramble on the direct route up from the beallach. You walk across the plateau to the summit cairn of Beinn a'Chroin. Come down the north ridge of Beinn a'Chroin heading for Coire Earb, taking care as the wet grass and moss can cause you to fall on your posteria. When you get lower down plod through rather boggy ground until you pick up the landrover track you started out on and this takes you all the way back. If the mist is down when on An Caisteal it would be better to give Beinn a'Chroin a miss as the navigation to the beallach could be a problem. Hope this helps.