walkhighlands

Ben Cleuch - The Ochils

Fionas: Ben Cleuch
Donalds: Ben Cleuch

Date walked: 04/08/2023

Time taken: 4 hours

My friend Ian and I were fortunate to have another reasonable-weather-Friday. Last week it was south to Broughton; this week north to Alva and the Ochils. I had walked this circuit, and variations of it, 3 or 4 times in the past so I knew the ascents were pretty steep and relentless and the descents much the same. Hills not to be underestimated. We parked in the good-sized car park in Woodland Park just east of Alva and headed west on the good path through the forest to Silver Glen. Then it was up the steep stony zigzags and up the track to the point where a grassy path led up more steeply on to the top of Ben Ever. The views over to Ben Cleuch and down over the small towns and River Forth were well worth the effort.
IMG_20230804_113831.jpg
On Ben Ever looking over to Ben Cleuch
We headed down and then steeply up again until a flatter section just before the summit cairn and trig on Ben Cleuch. The veiws were extensive: all the way to Ben Lomond, the Crianlarich Munros, north to Ben Chonzie and all the way to distant Berwick Law. Here, we sat for a while to have lunch but we didn't linger long as a cold north wind meant it was time for fleeces and hats.
IMG_20230804_121749.jpg
On Ben Cleuch looking over The Law to the River Forth
Originally, we had thought about heading over Andrew Gannel Hill and maybe even King's Seat Hill, as I had done previously, but I think we were both feeling the Thursday gym session in our legs (at least I was) so we opted for a descent over The Law into Mill Glen.
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Ben Ever (L) and Ben Cleuch from The Law
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Descending The Law towards Mill Glen
I have to say that this is not an easy stroll out: it's steep and some of the sections of the path are very loose. The final section to reach the 'Nature Trail' was particularly steep and this trail seemed endless with its crossing and recrossing of the burn. One section had actually been washed away and there were a few awkward steps to negotiate. It was quite a relief to reach a small garden at the bottom where there were some benches for us to sit and finish our lunch and rest our tired knees for a while. Then, it was just a case of following the footpath beside the golf course for a mile or so back to the car.

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Comments: 1



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rob munbett


User avatar
Activity: Hill Bagger
Pub: a good malt in a hostel
Mountain: An Teallach
Place: Kintail
Gear: my Hilleberg tent
Member: none
Ideal day out: A good hill on a clear winter's day on crisp snow - then back for venison, dark ale and a good malt with friends

Munros: 257
Corbetts: 133
Fionas: 70
Donalds: 53
Wainwrights: 40
Hewitts: 30
Sub 2000: 97



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Statistics

2023

Trips: 3
Fionas: 1
Sub2000s: 2

2022

Trips: 13
Distance: 127.11 km
Ascent: 6633m
Munros: 1
Corbetts: 1
Fionas: 4
Donalds: 3
Sub2000s: 5

2021

Trips: 17
Distance: 156.42 km
Ascent: 7293m
Fionas: 2
Donalds: 1
Sub2000s: 3

2020

Trips: 11
Distance: 127.4 km
Ascent: 5451m
Sub2000s: 1

2019

Trips: 17
Distance: 137.07 km
Ascent: 8697m
Corbetts: 3
Fionas: 8
Donalds: 7
Sub2000s: 7

2018

Trips: 17
Distance: 107.35 km
Ascent: 5696m
Fionas: 4
Sub2000s: 16
Hewitts: 1
Wainwrights 1

2017

Trips: 14
Distance: 91.35 km
Ascent: 5418m
Fionas: 5
Donalds: 4
Sub2000s: 7

2016

Trips: 28
Distance: 251.86 km
Ascent: 9643m
Corbetts: 2
Fionas: 16
Donalds: 7
Sub2000s: 11

2015

Trips: 12
Distance: 17.6 km
Fionas: 3
Donalds: 2
Sub2000s: 9

2014

Trips: 23
Distance: 11.5 km
Corbetts: 1
Fionas: 7
Donalds: 4
Sub2000s: 18

2013

Trips: 20
Distance: 22 km
Munros: 2
Corbetts: 2
Fionas: 11
Donalds: 3
Sub2000s: 7

2012

Trips: 3
Munros: 2
Fionas: 1


Joined: Jan 23, 2013
Last visited: Aug 10, 2023
Total posts: 202 | Search posts