A trek up Ben Ledi

Hill: Ben Ledi (Hill of the gentle slope OR God's Hill)
Category: Corbett
Height: 878m
Out with the Ayr OIR high level walking group today for the walk around the lovely Ben Ledi circuit. Nice to get a clear drive through Glasgow both up and down fair shortened the travelling time.

Good steps

A warm balmy start to the day as we set off up the hill on a clockwise circuit. It did not take long before the banter subsided as we take the almost single file trek through the bracken and then the open mountain.

Gaps appearing

 Steep at times, the brow was dripping and the breathing slightly more laboured. The National Trust have done an excellent job in refurbishing this track.
Still opportunities to look around and back and enjoy the superb landscape.
Not alone on the hill today as 3 pairs can be seen ahead at various intervals.

Final zig zag

One downside was the fresh toilet litter left alongside the track, not nice.
As we turned around and headed higher the tops were now shrouded in cloud. Very atmospheric but we want the views we were enjoying on the ascent to still be there at the top. A good pace kept up to take away the chill from the breeze and the low cloud, definitely not balmy now.

Memorial Cross

Before long the memorial cross was in view and the trig beyond. Dedicated to a mountain rescue guy who died but not on this hill.

Borrowed from Ian French group shot

After the posing the milling around

he groups ahead of us were resting including a nice French couple who took the group picture at the trig. One guy with his young lad the highest he has been, first of many?

Is that really the way down?

Sadly the clouds stayed low, nae views here, so on we plodded to find a sheltered spot for lunch where we did enjoy the scenery.

Scenic descent

It was a quick stony scree descent into the bowl of the glen, I love this part, surrounded by the hills. We rejoin the good path to head back through the trees, some deforested, back to the car park. 

Sods Law the top is now clear

Just as well a track is here as the bracken is rather high and alongside the heather would be awkward walking.

Life hangs on

I admired this little tree, almost bonsai like, where its seed has planted itself into a crack in this huge boulder. Butterflies were abundant and the machair like wild plants alongside provide plenty of colour to lift the scenery even higher.

Marsh orchid I think?

Clouds threatened but we made it back to the cars without rainfall. Lower down it was sticky hot once again.
A super walk, in excellent company, on a good day, no complaints.

Wildlife: Meadow Pipit, Wheatear, Raven, Ringlet, March brown, Peacock, 
Time: 4.03
Ascent: ft (m) 2526 (766)
Distance: m (km) 6.55m (10.4)