A Winter walk on Beinn Ime

Hill: Beinn Ime
Category: Munro
Height: 1011m
Although we did not have the crisp blue skies of previous days the forecast was still in our favour for this late Autumn walk. I say late Autumn but up here Winter has been around for weeks so snow expected up top.
Today I am rambling with the AYR OIR for a straight forward Munro outing. Traffic delayed our start so it was after 10.30 when we were booted up and on our way. Interesting that with the sheer greed of Dumbarton Councils parking charges there were only 4 other cars in the car park, an unbelievably low number. It went from £1 a day to £9, nice one, not.
Still our walk plods up the zig zags where it was already warm enough for me to take my mid layer off, too early in the walk to be sweating.

Lots of frozen ice sticking to the rocks

It was with relief that we exited the tree line and finally got a view of something that didn‘t resemble a pine tree. A tumbling burn with ice still coating the sides of the boulders.

The Cobbler

Also ahead The Cobbler, even in monochrome was still spectacular.
As far as the walking is going at least the gradient was kind as we followed the excellent path, surprised, but pleased, at how little ice there was.
A quick snack at the Narnain boulders before wandering further up the hill to the junction of The Cobbler, Narnain & Ime. 

Final 400m from here up Ime

Proper snow ahead as Ime now has its early winter coat on. It will have a few more layers soon.

On the icy track now

Spikes donned as the track was icy and the final 400m of ascent is taken on. Surprised that it is mostly hard packed snow but step off line and sinking knee deep was the outcome, hard going so avoid at all costs.
We meet some workers who are rebuilding the path, a very muddy hill track in the summer, but today hardy boys.

On the snowy ascent, Narnain left and Cobbler right

Continued plodding up the white landscape, should put the sun glasses on but lazy, no snaps on the climb, just all white.
Despite the low cloud the light is stunning at times and so variable, what a landscape we live in.

Looking towards Loch Fyne

The long ascent is nearly over, we reached its steepest pitch and finally the long walk was over. The wind was now buffeting us, strong and cold but stand in the cairn top and look around, it doesn’t get much better than this.

The Summit

The snow makes it a spectacular 360 degree view of high summit tops with their snow hats on, too cold to stand and count them. 

Ailsa Craig just visible on horizon

Far away Ailsa Craig shimmers on the southern horizon. All the Arrochar Corbetts look so close as they encircle Beinn Ime, truly beautiful.

Getting gloomier time to descend

For the descent we followed the long walk back to the car park. We descended before stopping for lunch out of the wind and the workers have disappeared, not surprised. Clouds are thickening and the wind is rising.
We spotted a red deer stag in the trees near the finish. It was either not bothered or not well. I suspect the latter but still a magnificent sight to finish the walk.
No complaints about today’s walk, enjoyed by all, another mid week success, well done Dick.
Just don’t talk about the drive home, a nightmare!!

Wildlife: Raven; Robin; Vole; Red Deer.
Time: 5.29
Ascent: 1060m
Distance: 15.2km

A proper ramble to Benbrack

Hill: Benbrack
Category: Other walk
Height: 581m
Today was a bit different from the normal group walk in that we had the company of Ben Dolphin, President of the Ramblers organisation in Scotland. A really nice guy who added value to the outing and hopefully we returned that with our feedback and company. 

Ben & Jeanette

On Thursday I had climbed one of the other Striding Arches at Colt Hill and here I was completing another within a few days. Like Colt Hill I had a previous failed attempt at this hill so second time lucky. The previous outing was another group walk, this time with the Ayr & District group. Heavy snowfall was our downfall that day significantly slowing progress, turning us back before Benbrack.
Today was a totally different experience, you could not have picked a better day to walk in November. Although the temperature dropped to  minus 2 on the drive down there was a crisp but not cold feeling at the start.

The start onto the moor

Our route to Benbrack followed the Southern Upland Way but for these hardy long distance walkers their day is a lot longer than ours. Our interim bit is part of the longest section of the SUW which goes from St Johns Town of Dalry to Sanquar, a long haul at 41.5km.
Still our walk starts at the old byre and goes past the working farm. There are signs warning of dogs, working collies I presumed, but on the way back I saw the owner walking a beast of a Rottweiller type dog, huge and one to stay clear of. Probably a gentle giant but not for me to find out.
No navigation required as we followed a clear path, muddy and boggy at times. 

Plenty of SUW markers around

Keep looking up and see the yellow topped SUW marker posts for reassurance and head for them.
Up and down grassy trails we wander. Criss cross some of the estate and forestry roads  but basically keep on a straight course.

Manquhill Hill

Finally from Manquhill Hill the Arch on Benbrack could be seen in the distance, looked a lot further away than the reality.

Benbrack ahead

The views were stunning Moorbrock, Carsphairn, Blacklorg and lots of others seen from non traditional perspectives. Can’t describe this properly, it was what getting outdoors is all about without slogging up huge Munros etc.

Moorbrock & Carsphairn Hills

Now we had only one hill left, a steep ascent but a gentle walking gradient and in these warm November conditions gear was being shed as we climbed. The expected humour didn’t disappoint.

Messy top from this approach

Then the Arch was reached and we had views of the other two on Colt and Bail hills. 
Again super long distance views the radar golf ball on top of the Lowthers shimmering in the light. Even brighter was the very white snow covered top of White Coomb, I will be doing that soon, on my winter list. Looking south the low pressure had created grey clouds and limited visibility but looking north the high pressure blue sky, a cracker. We were right in the middle.

Arty shot!! Colt Hill arch in distance

We followed the same route back as there were forestry diversions around and better on the feet to tramp soft muddy paths than hard stone packed forest roads.
A top day out in excellent company but particular mention to our walk leader today, Jeanette. An excellent job in preparation, what home baking. Cannot lose her the bright colour scheme outstanding. As a person true to herself, and with the pressure of Ben Dolphins presence, well done to her, I enjoyed this one.

Wildlife: Buzzard; Crow; meadow Pipit; Blue Tit.
Time: 5.22
Ascent: 1616ft (596m)
Distance: 9.11m (14.7km)

Striding out to visit an Arch

Hill: Colt Hill, Dumfries & Galloway
Category: Sub2k
Height: 598m
Last night over a beer or two I put together my winter list of my local hills and walks. It is a bit of a nerdy thing but it helps my motivation, each to their own I suppose.
So fully motivated I decided that tomorrow I would set out to do one from the list. The one chosen, Colt Hill, was also on last years list and I did set out to complete it. Last year, or maybe early this year, it was a crisp blue morning, scraped the car and the temperature gauge showed freezing when I left. Still took it easy, a slow and safe drive, roads fine until I cut off at Carsphairn on to the Moniaive road. Initially it was ok but it then it was a skating rink and I passed two vehicles already off the road, occupants not around so hopefully ok. Clear glass so they had not been here overnight. A slow 10 mile drive to the village.
From Moniaive it is then a 5-6 mile drive along a worsening B road which becomes a D road then just a thin strip with big holes. Totally iced up in places, steep drops, almost no places to pass I was stressed by the time I got to the parking area. As I arrived the snow started and before I could get the boots on I was covered in white stuff. On my own, concerned about the return on that track so walk aborted.
Guess what I woke up to today, crisp blue skies and the car frost covered.
Lay in bed, read the online paper then gave myself a good talking to, ‘man up’ to quote Boris, so I did.

The start aiming for the green one in the middle

An uneventful drive to Moniaive and then once again along the bumpy unsurfaced track praying nothing coming the other way, not much ice, just coos blocking it but they moved!!
Quote from Walkhighlands ‘The Striding Arches are a series of three massive stone sandstone arches built on the hilltops around Cairnhead, near Moniaive. Built by renowned sculptor Andy Goldsworthy, the arches are complemented by another springing from an old byre at the foot of the valley’. As well as ticking off the Sub2K I wanted to see one of these up close.
Before beginning the walk proper, double back from the parking area and information board to take the parallel track heading uphill, to visit the Byre. 
Walkhighlands quote ‘The track leads past a derelict cottage to enter a walled green lawn - with poems carved into the stones. 
I parked at Benbuie, taking care not to block the house access. Just as well the owner was there on my return and clearly not happy to see my car parked.
There is a gate beside this which can be accessed by a car to the information board, but as said I just started here.

A wooden bridge saves fording the burn

There is not a lot to say about the walk. Head up to the information board, spend some time reading all the sides it is worth it. Either visit the ruined byre now or leave it until the way back.
You can use this route for both Colt Hill & Benbrack, your choice but combining both better left for longer daylight days and if you are going to do all three you better have Superman fitness or be just plain mad.
Just continue on this track which after the small wooden bridge becomes a forestry road and yes their vehicles were coming up and down, not many, it is operational.

Fire break could join up with Benbrack trail

Nice small waterfall at the firebreak at a small burn that eventually joins  the Fingland Burn, for once I wasn’t having to negotiate this rough ground.

Finally a sign, looks old

Having ignored any possible turn off the track eventually brings you to a vehicle turning point and a signpost. I had wondered at the lack of signage but I suppose you cannot go wrong.

Head up the fence

There is an optional track to the right and one straight on but take the obvious track towards the fencing then simply follow this up to the top. Suddenly the Colt Hill Arch appears a short way ahead.

Colt Hill arch and trig

It was blinking cold with a biting wind which surprisingly had been evident down to the lower reaches.
Super views on a day like this, the other two Arches are clearly seen.
Technical stuff now: the highest Arch is on Benbrack, which I might be going to on Sunday. ‘It stands just under four metres high, and stretches across 7 metres. It is built from 31 blocks of hand-dressed red sandstone weighing approximately 27 tons’, impressive indeed. 

Benbrack Arch

Looking at the snap later I spot two figures at that arch. Now I think about there was a car parked at the normal starting point for Benbrack.

Carsphairn hills from Colt Hill

Looking east the ball on Lowther Hill stands out along with the Durisdeer Hills and further on the Moffat hills. Across the way Cairnsmore of Carsphairn snow clad on this side. Earlier this year I climbed Moorbrock and nice to see it from this angle. Beautiful clear views, just ignore the turbines.
If you are feeling good descend back to the turning point and follow the obvious track to the Benbrack arch adding some 7k but check out your descent route with all this deforestation, might help but likely not.

Bail Hill Arch the remote one

The third arch is on Bail Hill which can also be seen from here. Research suggests that you will not visit it as it is difficult walking, no paths, difficult ground so only for keen/mad walkers.

Still nice colours around

For me it was just a case of retracing my steps and heading to Thornhill for a coffee. 

Wildlife: Buzzard; Bullfinch; Chaffinch; Blue Tit; Blackbird: Robin; Crow; Magpie.
Time: 2.23
Ascent: 400m
Distance: 11.3km 

A gentle Trossachs Corbett with cracking views....Beinn Each

Hill: Ben Each (Horse Hill)
Category: Corbett
Height: 813m
It was another crisp morning as I drove to the start of the walk. Passing Ben Ledi with a dusting of snow, our target, Beinn Each should be likewise.
After yesterdays disappointment I was definitely going to add to my bagging tally today.
The lay-bys already having canoes/kayaks unloaded for adventures on Loch Lubnaig and beyond.
Decision time as I have come fully prepared for winter conditions but I doubt ice axe and crampons required, micro spikes, yip throw in.

I seem to be wandering into trees a lot recently

The Glen Ample path is our initial route and it basically goes straight ahead through the forest,. A muddy track through the forest with the odd fallen tree to negotiate. 
Out of the forest still following the main track, though a gate and enter Glen Ample.

Navigation aid

If your navigation is a bit iffy there a signpost reading 'Hill path' giving you a big clue of where to leave the track and start climbing. Incidentally good views from here down Glen Ample to the snow covered Lawers range.

From the sign follow the track up nice and easy

The narrow path winds its way through an area of dying bracken climbing steeply but a good gradient, not hard. The track is icy in parts but easy to avoid before angling across the steep slopes with good views down below and across to last weeks Graham, can I see my lost Gore-Tex trousers, no?

My waterproofs are somewhere on that hill

There is a good track to follow all the way up, narrow and eroded at times but the grassy verges mean no ice. Good views of the range opening up.

Ben Each foreground with Stuc a' Chroin on left

There is a short flattish area to get a breather but the ascent continues across another icy contour but still climbing. 

Respite before the final climb

The top is now in sight and looking close. Only challenge is a gently meandering path which brings us to the summit.

Stuc a' Chroin from Ben Each

Cracking views across to Stuc a’ Chroin which is in and out cloud but looks stunning. A hard walk if you combine these two hills.
The summit cairn is disappointing just a small pile of stones.

Stob Binnein and the Crianlarich range snow covered

However, the views more than make up for it, particularly those North and West. Ben Lomond snow covered stands out in isolation. The Crianlarich Munros all show well as do the Lawers Munros all special. Dumyat, well it is over there. Way out in the distance more snow topped peaks, the guessing begins! 

Descending past nice crags the path goes very close to them

After lunch we descended by the same route and the weather started to warm up, de-layering time, far too warm. Going down care required as the steep hard bare grassy slopes did catch out a few but thankfully no serious slips.

Head for the trees and back to Loch Lubnaig

All the traffic was now coming up we must have passed over a dozen walkers ascending.
Not as much snow as i anticipated. Beinn Each is straightforward Corbett but still walking exercise and a good day out, in fine company, some old and some new friends, with all the usual banter.

Wildlife: Raven, Meadow Pipit
Time: 4.11
Ascent: 2134ft (m)
Distance: 4.29m (km)

A failed Craig

Hill: Lime Craig circuit, near Aberfoyle to Craig of Category: Sub2K Height: 400m

On my way up I decided to take a small detour to try out my new boots. Well not that new but they have not had an outdoor outing.

A quick look at the map and I found the ideal Sub2k from Aberfoyle, Craig of Monievreckie. Well, that was the plan and as it turned out a quick glance at the map is not always the best.

With the new boots laced up tightly I started from The Lodge car park and followed the Lime Craig trail.

What can you see in the picture?

Initially this is a forest walk with lots of sculptures and things to keep kids happy.

A few people around but I soon lost them as I headed up the steepening red marked trail.

Perfect blue skies

It was a beautiful morning and the autumn colours just stunning at times combined with a vivid blue sky. Nice waterfall.

As I climbed I heard rather than saw much bird life but one exception a stunning male bullfinch was low down, a while since I have seen one.

Autumn colours stunning

The track twists and turns through the trees with many cross junctions just as well there are red marked posts as I had not plotted a route.

At the furthest end of the red trail there is the option of a steep ascent to a viewpoint which I wanted to use as the platform to get me to the Sub2k. Standing on the top and the OS map shows a mast, now gone, just a concrete platform how old is the map?

Stob Binnein with Ben more behind

Still have a good look around. Last week's Stob Binnein looks to have more snow on it. Ben Lomond also well covered, a great contrast with the trees and bracken.

Enough of the views what about my sub? However, failing to plan is planning to fail. I could see where I wanted to be but the terrain looked awful. From the OS map I thought I would be going along a flattish top. The problem was not the height but the head high ferns and hidden holes. I started up beside an old fence but this was not safe, I was on my own, no poles for support.

Craig of Monievreckie in distance

Back to the viewpoint from where I could see a head bobbing along going up the damned sub. With the binos I could see he was on a track through the bracken coming up from the other side of Aberfoyle. There were a few curses.

Later, when I looked at some walk postings and their mapped routes I realised I was not a million miles away from the trail the walker had taken but it does not show on my OS map. Had I taken a GPS route no doubt I would have gone for it.

Warming leaves

Still the hill will be there for another day and the boots were fine. The weather was great and the views stunning.

Tomorrow will be a different day and I might see some of that snow action.

Wildlife: Bullfinch;  Jay; Wren; Blackbird; Redwing; Greenfinch; Robin; Treecreeper.
Time: 2.01
Ascent: ft (319m)

Distance: m (7.4km)

First snow of the season on Stob Binnein

Hill: Stob Binnein
Category: Munro
Height: 1165m
After yesterdays low cloud this morning was the brightest blue sky you could wish to see. Along with the red-orange-brown hill colourings it was absolutely stupendous.
The temperature gauge was zero and the steam was gently rising off Loch Voil as I negotiated the very narrow twisting single track road to Inverlochlarig. Trying to keep my eyes on the road was so difficult, as this was as impressive a drive to start a walk as I have had this year. The snow topped Corbett of Stob a’ Choin dominates at the end of the water, just wow.

Start or finish stile

Today the destination was Stob Binnein, normally doubled up with Ben More from the other side. But on this shorter winters day our route was a circular from Inverlochlarig. Most walk descriptions go straight up from the car park but we left that for our descent. Two cars here already but walkers gone.
Instead we walked through the farm, presumably the site where Rob Roy Macgregor spent his latter years. If you continue along the glen this was the Macgregor coffin route to Balquidder.

Inverlochlarig glen

We crossed the river and headed up Inverlochlarig glen, the burn noisily running on the right and the Munro of Beinn Tulaichean on your left. Just enjoy the views, Scotland at its best.

Steep ascent up the right side of the burn

We continued until the track ended where we had good views across to the slopes of our target. From here we would be climbing the grassy slopes almost to the top. The sun was shining, cracking views but the summit was snow covered and currently in cloud.
A double burn crossing, deep marshy grass, follow the deer trails as much as we could then onwards and upwards.

First crag line almost reached

We were angling towards the crags of Coire Dhaidh but for now taking our time slowly ascending the slopes.

Snow capped ridge of the twins

A welcome coffee break to take in the views opposite of Tulaichean (left) and its usually conquered partner Munro of Cruach Adrain.
This is a constantly steep ascent with minimal relief and it was good to get level with the crags, a long way to go but an objective reached. A red deer hind appeared and ran away the only one seen on the hill today.

Heading for the low point of the ridge right the slope looks benign from here!!

We decided to take the ‘easier’ looking route up a grassy rake which would being out closer to Stob Coire an Lochain, but that was fine. As it turned out this was probably the steepest ascent and was a real effort. Not helped by the wet grass and soft snow patches which meant great care required to avoid a big slip.
Finally we met up with the normal track. We had been sheltered on the ascent so now got the full force of the cold wind. 

Got to the ridge as the clouds dropped

A look back at the ridge we were going to descend, some say one of the best cornice ridges when in full snow covering, still impressive today.

Snapped the ridge in case I didn't see it again

Suddenly the clouds dropped and we made our way to the summit with nae views. 

Impressive patterns near the summit

The snow was so dry making great patterns but also knee deep drifts in places. Snow cornices forming so be wary. Finally after the short zig zag the summit was reached. At that point two walkers emerged out of the gloom having come over from Ben More. A quick chat then off the top to find some shelter for lunch.

Lochain

The descent followed the attractive ridge which was fab with great views all round but particularly into Coire an Lochain.

Cornice and a big drop

 Just take your time to enjoy the views on this early winter day.

Heading down

Looking along Loch Voil the Munros of Ben Vorlich and Stuc a’ Chroin stand out. Also clear views of Ben Each and the unmistakable shape of Ben Ledi.

Lochs Voil and Doine

It is a good descent for the most part until you reach Stob Invercarnaig. From here you get a glimpse of the road and it is a long, long way below.

Just about to take the big drop Stob a' Choin ahead

Well, it is a drop of 700 metres. Take your pick it is either a steep and relentless ascent or descent.
At least the track does wind its way down but there is a lot of erosion and it is very steep so takes longer than you first think.
My knees were complaining by the time it was all over.
A fantastic day out, brilliant weather for the most part and my first meeting up with snow this winter.

Wildlife: Red deer; 
Time: 6.02
Ascent: 1162m
Distance: 12.5km