Thick fog on the drive up from Stirling.
The skies cleared just before Callander and into the bright early morning sun.
I tried to get up Benvane two years ago, it was not a good day.
After turning left at Balquidder I drove over the Stronvar bridge and then turned left again.
This was the wrong road and by the time I had worked this out it had turned into a narrow and very icy rough forest track.
I was afraid to try and turn the car round in case I slipped of the road / track.
After a very nervous three or so miles of driving I arrived back at Strathyre, rejoined the A84 and went back to Balquidder and made sure I found the correct road to Balimore farm.
I didn't make the top of Benvane that day, got as far as the small lochan halfway up and gave up because of the deep snow.
It just wasn't meant to be.

Anyway, no snow or ice today, just wall to wall sunshine.

Glen Buckie, Balquhidder in the mist by robert irvine, on Flickr

Stob Binnein left, Ben More right by robert irvine, on Flickr

Stob Binnein by robert irvine, on Flickr

Glen Buckie by robert irvine, on Flickr


Nice walk up, steep bit at the start, then a gentler rise up past the lochan, couple of boggy bits to scoot around and then a final steep bit before the summit.


There is a fence line to follow from about 600m almost right up to the summit.
Sat for a while at the top, it was lovely out of the breeze.
Lovely views north and west.

Benvane summit cairn, Ben Vorlich and Stuc a Chroin behind by robert irvine, on Flickr

Towards Arrochar, Ben Lomond centre left by robert irvine, on Flickr

Benvane summit cairn, Crianlarich hills behind by robert irvine, on Flickr

Ben Venue centre, Ben Lomond right by robert irvine, on Flickr

Ben Vorlich, Stuc a Chroin and Beinn Each. Loch Lubnaig below by robert irvine, on Flickr

View to Strathyre and beyond by robert irvine, on Flickr

Glen Buckie to Balquhidder, Meall Ghaordaidh far left, Tarmachan ridge far right by robert irvine, on Flickr

Ben Vorlich, Stuc a Chroin and Beinn Each by robert irvine, on Flickr

Meall Corranaich, Beinn Ghlas and Ben Lawers by robert irvine, on Flickr

Tarmachan ridge by robert irvine, on Flickr

Stob Binnein and Ben More by robert irvine, on Flickr

Glen Buckie, Meall Ghaordaidh right by robert irvine, on Flickr


There was a thick bank of low cloud to the east and southeast.
The tops of the Ochil hills were visible and Dumyat was like an island in the sea.

Forth Valley in fog, Dumyat like an island by robert irvine, on Flickr

Dumyat close up by robert irvine, on Flickr


Looked across to Ben Ledi, it was a busy summit.

Ben Ledi summit crowd by robert irvine, on Flickr

Met a man and his daughter at the summit, along with their two dogs.

Descended by the same route and met another couple almost at the bottom, it was not a busy hill.

Cracking short walk made better by the weather.
Drove back home towards Stirling and back into the cloud.