It was just before dawn as I drove along the quiet shore of Loch Earn, heading for Glen Lednock. A glow in the sky ahead turned into the sunrise - the promise of a great day ahead!

IMG_7618 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

(The black line in the foreground water is made of gravel and leaves. A result of the recent torrential rain, it curved gently parallel to the shore, looking like a piece of Land Art.)

I drove into Comrie, with memories of a great stay here with my children a few years ago. The road in Glen Lednock was lined with autumn colours.

IMG_7784 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

Balnacoul Castle looked like a mini Matterhorn above the houses at Coishavachan at the start of the walk.

IMG_7779 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

The glen was looking beautiful.

IMG_7768 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

Birches lined the Invergeldie Burn alongside the rising track.

IMG_7749 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

Looking ahead from the track towards Ben Chonzie.

IMG_7746 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

This is the view back down into the valley from where the track crosses the stream below the little dam.

IMG_7739 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

Above the dam, the burn has cut a deeply incised ravine.

IMG_7731 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

A bit higher, the track forded a mini-stream.

IMG_7724 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

The upper valley of the Invergeldie Burn from the track.

IMG_7723 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

Looking across the Glen Lednock hills.

IMG_7716 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

The view ahead of the track and Ben Chonzie.

IMG_7649 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

After a while I came to the marker cain where the path leaves the track and goes off to the left to make the final ascent to the summit plateau. I was surprised how un-boggy it was, considering how much rain there had been.

From the last uphill section there there was a distant view of Stob Binnean and Ben More.

IMG_7708 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

And slightly closer views of Ben Vorlich and the surrounding hills.

IMG_7707 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

The summit plateau had wonderful views in all directions,with Ben Lawers now putting in an appearance.

IMG_7698 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

Looking up, the cloud which can be seen at the top of the Lawers photo was growing and starting to look quite menacing, but the sun kept shining.

IMG_7687 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

All along the plateau, there is an evenly-spaced line of well-built cairns, leading to a huge summit cairn in the shape of a giant sofa.

IMG_7689 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

The view from the top - this is Loch Turret.

IMG_7683 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

A curious fungus among the turf and moss near the cairn.

IMG_7697 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

Ben Lawers and An Stuc.

IMG_7673 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

A wider view, stretching from the Tarmachan ridge to Schiehallion where I had been the previous day.

IMG_7678 by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

A couple of photos to finish this report. It is unwise to fool about near raging torrents, especially when judgement may be impaired due to a delicious pint at the Falls of Dochart Inn.

But the river and trees were looking very lovely. Mindful of Health and Safety, I took this photo from the security of the bridge.

. by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr

And I took this standing on a precarious slimy rock.

. by Half Man Half Titanium, on Flickr