Only been on one hill since September, an icy/snowy Chabhair back in December and since then, I've been struggling with knee issues but after some ground walking and a bit of excercise biking I decided that I really needed to get out to something a little more challenging but not over do it. A trip was booked with AMC to the Inbher Fhouilin bunkhouse in Glen Etive and checking what was in the area, with a path, found this route and as it was only a short way up the road from the bunkhouse, seemed a good option.

John and I started from the bunkhouse just before 9.30am on Saturday, a walk up the road to Dalness Lodge and on to the way marked track from there to join the WH route higher up. Prob added about 2k in each direction plus a bit of ascent.




We opted to take the anti-clockwise route up Gartain to the Bealach summit at 489mtrs. Lots and lots of deer low down on both sides of the glen, they didn't seem phased at all by our presence.




Beautiful day and a good path to help get me problem knees back out and moving. So far so good, no pains.

Reaching the bealach we had super views of the wee bookil up to the right, hardly any snow in the area at all.




Its amazing too how such an iconic hill as Stob Dearg looks very undistinct from the glen. We could see the Buachaille car park for the latter part of our descent from the Bealach and nipped down the track to reach the road at the car park further west and crossed over to continue off road. This is the boggiest part of the entire loop but it appeared there hadn't been too much rain recently so it could have been a lot worse.

Lunchtime now so found a big rock to stop and have a munch. Glorious day but cooled down quickly so puffa jacket on while we lunched.





Carried on along the track close to the A82, crossing one of the wee ruined bridges and on further until we were above the big cairn opposite the wee Bookil carpark.




Crossed the river here (very low) and on up past the cairn to the road. Jettisoned the puffa here as we were about to start climbing again.

Lots of people coming off the wee B as we took the right hand fork towards the river. Met a group we had met earlier on the neighbouring Glen, going in the opposite direction. Quick chat then away.

2 river crossings are marked on the WH route as being an issue in wet weather but we had nipped up to the meeting of the waters yesterday and saw a tiny stream of water coming down so we were confident we wouldn't have any problems...and so it was, very low rivers and easy crossings.



Made our way easily up the Glen and could soon see the high Bealach ahead and the curve of the descent going off to the South.




The Bealach cairn is a few yards off the main track so sauntered over and had a wee seat and a look back down our route.



Heading off, we could soon see the river Etive below and the trees around Dalness with extensive views down to Ben Starav and Loch Etive beyond. A few showers seemed to be moving around Starav and up in to the tops to our right. We felt a few drops from them but not what you could call rain so no waterproofs needed.

As we had effectively started this route half way round the published WH route, I was interested to see where the WH route took you here in order to skirt round under Stob Dubh to join the 'return' leg... John checked out what seemed to be a path down to the river at a small gorge, above the deer fence. Reported back it was definitely possible but the WH route takes you further down, into the trees to a junction in the path we didn't even see on the way up lol. (much easier)




Off down the last section of wooded ground and back to the road. A sunny shower was passing now and we stopped under the trees at Dalness to put on our jackets but by the time we got them out, it was clearing up again so just opted for a light extra layer instead.



The hoof back to the bunkhouse seemed longer than the morning walk in. My legs were feeling this, first outing since December and with knees that have been very problematic since Christmas but, made it and still smiling.

This is a fantastic walk, good path but still some ascent and descent (only time my knee gave me any concern all day was the descent from the Eilde Bealach)

Would go back round here in a heart beat.

Fab!