walkhighlands

Rocky Ben Vane

Route: Ben Vane, from Inveruglas

Munros: Ben Vane

Date walked: 02/09/2023

Time taken: 6.25 hours

Distance: 11km

Ascent: 930m

Munro number 50 for me. I'm not bagging, more counting as I go, and 50 seems worth mentioning given it's taken me 14 years to get to it! Ben Vane from Inveruglas. Only the second munro I've done on my own (did Ben Vorlich in June, so waved to it on my way up this one). According to WalkHighlands it was “a steep rocky little mountain with real character”. Not kidding there! I knew it was going to be a sustained steep climb from the profile, but it was a bit tougher than I thought it would be. Still very doable though, just hard work on the old wee legs!
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It was a warm day, the September sunshine had come out to play and there was no breeze, so it was a warm climb. But with a path all the way, the route was easy enough. A couple of slightly confusing bits where there were just some big rocks to climb up, that I wasn't expecting. Took a minute to figure out how best to get up one section near the top, my first attempt I got stuck at a bit that was too high for a short person, so had to try a different way, but take two was easier to humph myself up! I need to carry less in my rucksack though, the weight meant I nearly lost my balance so had to grab the rock and kneel on it. It's not a "proper" hillwalk without a few new bruises on the knees and a sore thumb though.....
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I'd started the day early to get parked ok at Inveruglas, so was on my way for 8.15, so there weren't many people before me, but I made friends with Tom and Richard, and we used teamwork and cheerleading each other on the bouldery bits! I shared my Henry Hippo sweeties with them. The views were glorious on the way up. You get such an amazing view all around, it was nice to grab a breather and take in the sights. Bit cloudy at the top though which was a shame, so the view came and went, better on the way back down.
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And nice to have company on the way down, as the steep rocky way meant you really had to pay attention to every step, no respite until you got back down to the tarmac path bit. It was quite busy by then too, the weather and the "shortness" of the hill bringing lots of people out to play. With half an hour for lunch it took me about 6 hours 15, normally downhill is a bit quicker, but with the steepness it wasn't really. Felt like hard work on the legs, up and down, but I really enjoyed the day! It was the first time with new boots (soggy feet from my last walk, realised new boots were in order), so they got a good work out, and a complete bog dunking for one foot when I totally sank into the mud. Felt the legs a couple of days after though. And I definitely strained my thumb. Ach, the good thing about pain is that you know you're not dead yet! (a quote from the wonderful movie GI Jane if I recall correctly)
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Big round of applause to the WalkHighlands app by the way. I have a GPS, but the app gives a bigger screen view, it's fantastic, really helpful and saves you getting the map and compass out. I recommended it to my new pals. Anyone doing this walk, please note, it really is a constant steep uphill all the way! Not sure I'd fancy it on a day when the visibility was dodgy, but on a clear day it was fab.
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Comments: 1



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AlyBalyBee


User avatar
Location: Glasgow
Place: no place like home
Gear: my buff!
Ideal day out: a not too steep hill, trees, and a loch, not too hard going!

Munros: 50
Corbetts: 18
Fionas: 5
Donalds: 7
Sub 2000: 5
Islands: 7
Long Distance routes: West Highland Way    St Cuthbert's Way   



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Statistics

2023

Trips: 1
Distance: 11 km
Ascent: 930m
Munros: 1

2012

Trips: 1
Distance: 12 km
Ascent: 1130m
Munros: 2

2009

Trips: 2
Munros: 1
Corbetts: 1


Joined: Jun 26, 2009
Last visited: Mar 13, 2024
Total posts: 11 | Search posts