Hills Climbed - Feb 2003

Geoff, Dick, Ian, Roy and James, based with Isobell & David at Auchterarder. On our first day (Friday) a walk in the Ochills was aborted due to heavy rain and low cloud. Instead we diverted to the Falkirk canal lift, and walked the canal to the Carron River (Grangemouth) and back, then up the abandoned course of the Union lock flight, along the new canal to the top of the lift, and back along the Antonine Wall. Total distance about 10 miles.

The day started with snow over most of Scotland, but a hope of the cloud clearing in the afternoon. The road to the foot of Schiehallion was marginally passable, so we didn't stop there in case conditions deteriorated. After a drink in the Moulin Inn above Pitlochry, we set off at about 2 o'clock for Ben Vrackie. The "fast party" (Dick. James, Ian) reached a windy, snowy but cloud-free summit at about 4, returning to meet the "early party" in the Moulin as it got dark.


Approaching Ben Vrackie from Pitlochry,	Dick & James on the summit	James on the dam.

Geoff, Dick, Ian, Roy and Phil, based at Loch Lomond Youth Hostel near Alexandria.


Loch Lomond Youth Hostel, Alexandria.	In the Drovers' Inn, Inverarnan.	Oysters and Muscadet at Loch Fyne.

This was our warm-up day, a "short" day out and a single peak. After driving over from Auchterarder, we found the road south from Crianlarich closed for emergency repairs. We took it anyway, and stopped at the Drovers' Inn, Inverarnan, to enquire. The problem was subsidence at Ardlui and was expected to be fixed by the evening, so after lunch and a pint of 80/-, we set off for the hill.

The route started at Beinn Glas farm just up the valley from the pub, with a steep path beside a tumbling stream and waterfalls. Two Dutch girls walking the West Highland Way followed us, and would have been pleasant companions on the hill if we hadn't told them they were on the wrong route. After a long peaty path and a lochan with a boat, we climbed onto the summit ridge. This ridge seemed to go on forever, with ups, downs, gaps, and endless false summits. Four of us got there, and were rewarded with superb views in all directions.

Back at the Drovers' Inn, the day was rounded off with a large plate each of beef and Guinness pie.


.	Ian on the summit of Beinn Chabhair, Loch Katrine in the distance.	.

The day started (and continued) warm and sunny. We parked the car just below the Rest and be Thankful pass on the Arrochar to Inveraray road, and headed up over grassy slopes towards the bealach between Beinn Ime and Beinn Narnain. and then on to the summit of Beinn Ime. From there, Phil and Ian returned via Beinn Narnain, while Roy and Dick returned via the Cobbler on Ben Arthur.

We took the opportunity while in the area of sampling Loch Fyne's oysters, washed down with a very pleasant Muscadet (sur lie), and dining in Inveraray on poached salmon with red wine and rosemary sauce.


Dick, Ian, Geoff, Phil, Roy on Beinn Ime's summit.	Phil surveys Ben Lomond from Beinn Narnain.	Ben Arthur and The Cobbler, from Beinn Narnain.

Robert joined us for the day, arriving on his electric bike at the youth hostel while we were still having our breakfast. Our walk started by the Oban road west of Tyndrum, where we crossed the railway and river, and followed a lively stream up through the pine forests, only getting lost once. On the open moor above the forest we continued to the bealach between Ben Lui and Beinn a'Chleibh, where Geoff and Roy turned left for Ben Lui. The rest of the party took a detour to Beinn a'Chleibh before returning to reassemble on the cold and cloud-covered summit of Ben Lui.


.	View from west top to summit of Beinn a.Chleibh.	.

For Phil's birthday, we started near the highest point of the road to Crianlarich, walking with the shepherd and his dog along a forestry road to the lower flanks of An Caisteal. After cake at the least windy point on the ridge, we enjoyed the view of the surrounding hills and lochs from the summit, before Dick left to drive back to Bristol.

The rest of the party continued eastward down to the bealach, where Ian took the steep craggy scramble on to the long undulating ridge of Beinn a'Chroin. The ridge has three peaks, one at each end and one in the middle, and over the years each in turn has been declared the highest by different surveys. To be safe all three were visited, arrival at the final peak coinciding with a short but violent snow-storm. The descent down the end of the ridge to the valley was made more interesting by several more heavy snow squalls.


Phil does the honours with his birthday cake, on the ridge west of the summit of An Caisteal.	Beinn a'Chroin from An Caisteal's summit.	From the east summit of Beinn a'Chroin. Looking back along the ridge to An Caisteal, partly hidden by a passing squall.


.	Five new boot-bags.	.