More straightforward than expected.....Ben Lui circuit

Hill: Ben Lui (Calf Hill) (1130m) Beinn a’ Chleibh (Hill of the Creel) (916m)

Type: Munro x2

A month or so back, on a beautiful day, I drove towards Tyndrum and over on our left Ben Lui looked stunning, every bit a pointed Alpine peak. I remarked to the good lady that I was negligent to have not bagged this peak already. I reflected on why this should be as it was on my original 100 list. The main considerations were to do Ben Lui as a solo from Dalrigh or both with the day being potentially stopped in its tracks if the River Lochy was running too high to be safely crossed. The river crossing was the main deterrent.

So onto the new to-do list it went.

A month or so later the opportunity arose and my decision was to do Ben Lui as a solo by bike/hiking from Dalrigh. Everything was packed and prepared for that adventure. Bike attached to the car and all set to go early in the morning.

Then after dinner that evening I watched the weather forecast which had changed from a reasonable day until 3pm, instead being high winds from early doors and rain by 1pm. The Dalrigh route has 4 possible route options with some routes being exposed and some routes with significant scrambling. Despite watching videos I was still not convinced of the best route from Dalrigh in poor conditions so I changed my plan.

The Munro double was now on from the River Lochy side, river allowing.

I made an early start and as I drove north it was clear that the low clouds were unlikely to lift much. I still had the bike attached so if it came to the worst I would just go for a cycle, no hardship in this beautiful countryside.

Approaching the Glen Lochy car park the positive was that the river was running low so one potential obstacle ruled out. However looking upwards Chleibh was clear but Lui was well covered. Decision made, I am here so go for it.

Crossing the river was fairly straightforward apart from testing my balance on the boulders. Crouching low enough to get under the railway bridge was not so easy, my old body not as flexible as it once was.

Just after the river spotted this Scotch Argus hiding in the grass

Over the river the track was narrow and the growth full. After a burn crossing Walkhighlands recommends crossing another burn and going into a new plantation. The trees looked well established and from this side of the burn and I could see no obvious path in the plantation so just continued on the track this easterly side. On this muggy morning it was probably full of nasty beasties after my blood. A good decision as it was boggy in places but straightforward and brought me to the forestry road.

The next track was straight across the forestry road where I was now on the boggy path from hell. Walkhighlands describes it as ‘some sections are very boggy’. Really, almost all of it, for about 30 minutes is one of the worst mud fest I have walked through. At times I was prodding my pole to test the terrain and it was disappearing easily knee high length into the gloop.

It was a major relief to reach the deer fence gate albeit with muddy legs.

Heading up to the cloud doesn't look steep from here, snaps are deceptive! 

I decided to to take the easterly route and make a circuit of it. This was the grassy slog of all slogs, around 600m straight up. The faint track came and went before disappearing altogether. 

The ridge finally appears

Summit clouds were joined by these scudding through, made for a nice snap

Unrelenting grassy slopes were getting tiring, not helped by the clouds coming in and the route ahead becoming a grey vista with the odd big shape looming out of the gloom.

Soon be time to use my hands

Finally I met up with the western ridge track from Dalrigh, but the track did not last too long. It was still a steep ascent. Poles away as a section of light scrambling beckoned good fun. The track occasionally flirts with the edge with glimpses of grey crags but no downward views. After some minor hands on the good news was that the summit of Lui was unexpectedly reached. 

Summit cairn looking back the way I had come

Sadly no views in the clag and with a strong gusty cold wind I did not hang about. A brief chat with a couple of guys before heading back to find the track to Chleibh and lunch at the bealach. 

A brief glimpse of Chleibh & Fionn corrie

The clouds parted briefly to give a good sighting of the way ahead and as most people have said Chleibh looks an underwhelming Munro from this perspective. Not that I was complaining an easy ascent I was looking forward to, I had done my hard work.

This type of rocky, stony gravel track is not my favourite descent terrain but it does zig zag so not a severe downhill. After around 200 metres of descent I was below the clouds which lifted my mood as I had views again.

No climbing that erratic today

Final track to summit

I had my nutrition break at the track junction, thankfully now out of the wind, before making the final short ascent of my second Munro Beinn a’ Chleibh. Nice to have such a short hike to bag another Munro. 

Cruachan hills & Loch Awe

More passing clouds the rain is due anytime

The 1^st cairn is the summit but I wandered along to the 2^nd to take in the views, no rush now as my climbing over, time to enjoy the views. There is a 3rd if you fancy and if the rain had not been due soon I would have. Good views down to Loch Awe and across to the Cruachan Hills but not with great detail, still better than nothing.

Lui still under cloud

Back down the corrie to the trees, Ben Nevis can be seen back right

Spotted another walker on my ascent ridge

Back to the bealach where the descent track, initially steep, was a mixture of stone and grass, all with a flow of water, of course it disappeared from time to time.

The only section of gloop with some boards for assistance

Glad to have the odd section of trees

The descent through the gloop section was slightly easier as I could spot better lines and make better use of the trees but as soon as I felt smug another gloop section barrier was reached without an alternative.

Thankfully I reached the forest road and followed my original track back to the river and the parking area. As I approached the river light rain started to fall, good timing. The river was ideal for boot cleaning.

A good but tough ramble. A shorter distance than most double Munros but that was offset by the very steep climb to Lui.

Ascent: 1124m

Distance: 11.6 km

Time: 5.55

Wildlife: Scotch Argus; Golden Ringed Dragonfly; Meadow Pipit; Raven; Robin; Wheatear;