Ben Vorlich & Stuc a' Chroin
Route: Ben Vorlich and Stùc a' Chròin
Munros: Ben Vorlich (Loch Earn), Stùc a' Chròin
Date walked: 12/07/2015
Time taken: 5.5 hours
This was my 15th & 16th Munro. Feels like a long journey to get to this point but it's worth all the effort.
Started all this hillwalking with http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/blogs/dallas a few years ago and caught the bug. A few guys from work decided to come along on a few so we started them off gently (Dumgoyne/Earl's Seat, Ben Chonzie). It was about time we gave them more of a challenge.
Got parked up at 9am (a bit late for us but as someone forgot their boots we had to make an emergency detour, I'll make sure he opens an account here soon).
Noticed this small headstone. (More info: http://gohistoric.com/697780-ardvorlich-haugh-mcdonald-glencoe-stone-comrie)
Ardvorlich, Haugh, Mcdonald of Glencoe Stone
There will be a theme in these pictures where everyone looks as if they were well ahead of me (they were).
A view of the guys heading over the bridge
Loch Earn looked great. Was surprised with the amount of fishermen and tents dotted along the shores of the loch (but not the Buckie bottles). Could see this place getting pretty mobbed.
View across Loch Earn
It's always a good start to a walk when it isn't a relentless uphill struggle. I'll definitely be taking the family here for a walk soon.
Ardvorlich House
Remember I said most pictures would look like everyone was in front of me? This was probably the only time they weren't.
Me, in front.
I think the reason I liked this walk so much was that it had really varied terrain and things to say "aw aye" at. Like this wee dam.
Wee dam
Jaikets aff, jaikets on. Definitely a Scottish weather day where we didn't have a clue what it would be like.
Suiting up.
I told you I was behind.
At the back.
Took this to pretend I saw something interesting, just needed a rest.
Boring
Loved the surrounding landscape here.
Looking east.
A change in the weather and underfoot conditions as it got a little rocky.
Almost to the top of Ben Vorlich. Became surprisingly hard at this point. Quite a relentless upward struggle for half an hour.
Almost there.
Notice how alone I am.
A few more steps.
And we're there.
Well deserved rest and a feed.
Here's a couple of views as we descend into the bealach.
We were all happy at this point, joking, laughing at people falling. We didn't know what was still to come.
Looking back at Ben Vorlich.
And on our way to Stuc a Chroin.
This looked ominous.
Simple enough start. We met a guy who said we should definitely take the route that bypasses the scramble.
We didn't listen.
Loved the ruggedness here.
Jaggy
Now, unfortunately, I was so shattered on the final ascent of Stuc a Chroin I couldn't even reach into my pocket to get my camera out. I had to baby-step it for about 30 minutes. That final part for not for the faint or un-fit of heart. We still managed the ascent of both hills in 3.5 hours. Which wasn't bad at all.
But I did get some pics of our surrounding hills and lochs.
Loch (puddle)
Looking back to Ben Vorlich
Pondering life. No better place to do it.
A great day all in and Ben Vorlich is a hill I would definitely do again. Although next time I think I'd leave Stuc a Chroin well out of it.
Started all this hillwalking with http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/blogs/dallas a few years ago and caught the bug. A few guys from work decided to come along on a few so we started them off gently (Dumgoyne/Earl's Seat, Ben Chonzie). It was about time we gave them more of a challenge.
Got parked up at 9am (a bit late for us but as someone forgot their boots we had to make an emergency detour, I'll make sure he opens an account here soon).
Noticed this small headstone. (More info: http://gohistoric.com/697780-ardvorlich-haugh-mcdonald-glencoe-stone-comrie)
Ardvorlich, Haugh, Mcdonald of Glencoe Stone
There will be a theme in these pictures where everyone looks as if they were well ahead of me (they were).
A view of the guys heading over the bridge
Loch Earn looked great. Was surprised with the amount of fishermen and tents dotted along the shores of the loch (but not the Buckie bottles). Could see this place getting pretty mobbed.
View across Loch Earn
It's always a good start to a walk when it isn't a relentless uphill struggle. I'll definitely be taking the family here for a walk soon.
Ardvorlich House
Remember I said most pictures would look like everyone was in front of me? This was probably the only time they weren't.
Me, in front.
I think the reason I liked this walk so much was that it had really varied terrain and things to say "aw aye" at. Like this wee dam.
Wee dam
Jaikets aff, jaikets on. Definitely a Scottish weather day where we didn't have a clue what it would be like.
Suiting up.
I told you I was behind.
At the back.
Took this to pretend I saw something interesting, just needed a rest.
Boring
Loved the surrounding landscape here.
Looking east.
A change in the weather and underfoot conditions as it got a little rocky.
Almost to the top of Ben Vorlich. Became surprisingly hard at this point. Quite a relentless upward struggle for half an hour.
Almost there.
Notice how alone I am.
A few more steps.
And we're there.
Well deserved rest and a feed.
Here's a couple of views as we descend into the bealach.
We were all happy at this point, joking, laughing at people falling. We didn't know what was still to come.
Looking back at Ben Vorlich.
And on our way to Stuc a Chroin.
This looked ominous.
Simple enough start. We met a guy who said we should definitely take the route that bypasses the scramble.
We didn't listen.
Loved the ruggedness here.
Jaggy
Now, unfortunately, I was so shattered on the final ascent of Stuc a Chroin I couldn't even reach into my pocket to get my camera out. I had to baby-step it for about 30 minutes. That final part for not for the faint or un-fit of heart. We still managed the ascent of both hills in 3.5 hours. Which wasn't bad at all.
But I did get some pics of our surrounding hills and lochs.
Loch (puddle)
Looking back to Ben Vorlich
Pondering life. No better place to do it.
A great day all in and Ben Vorlich is a hill I would definitely do again. Although next time I think I'd leave Stuc a Chroin well out of it.
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