Very, very steep ascent and the flies!!!.....The Stob

 Hill: The Stob aka Meall na Frean, (The Stub)

Type: Graham

Height: 753m

For various reasons it has been a month without a hill so I knew my pick would bring pain to the leg muscles. I decided on a plan A and B, both near Balquidder but determined by parking. Plan A would be the toughest of the two and according to reports had only one parking space.

With some trepidation I made my way along the single track road alongside Loch Voil. The last time I used this road was a late autumn day where you could see oncoming traffic. Today with the heavy foliage growth I had umpteen close encounters, frantic reversing, stressful.

Finally I reached the start to find another car already there. There is easily room for 2 cars and maybe 3 but numpty had parked without any consideration. Thankfully after much manoeuvring I got parked, should have blocked it.

1st firebreak ahead

Looking at the map there seemed an early firebreak that I fancied but I had not read any reports of its use. When I reached the break it was a no go as the bracken was deep and long, probably ok at another season but not today. The Braes of Balquidder is a rough landscape.

Opening out

Turn here

So on I plodded up and down the track until I reached the big boulder that was my cue to head uphill.

Doesn't look too steep from this angle

But it sure does from this one

This firebreak was without deep bracken but was very steep. The day was very humid and half way up a swarm of flies surrounded my head and stayed with me for much of the walk which spoiled the ramble.

Height gained quickly as a shower blows through

Once clear of trees the ascent just keeps coming and coming. This is a trackless slog that really never gives up until the top is reached. So steep all you get is false optimism, the skyline you see is never ever the top, haha said my accompanying escort of flies. I was feeling quite good fitness wise but my motivation was struggling, a slog without views not a lot of fun.

Finally onto the open moor

Pimple in the middle is the top

Once past a broken fence it is undulating over peat hag moors until the insignificant top of The Stob is reached. Although windier the flies were determined to stay so it was brief food break. This really is a remote wild area, no tracks, just moorland.

Stob Binnein & Ben More tops in the cloud

There is an option to do a circular but for me it was back down the same way, it was a painful descent on the legs.

Common frog hiding

On the descent track can be seen back at the start

Chimney Sweeper moth with damaged wing

So glad to reach the track where only a few hardy flies continued to follow me. Just reached the car as the heavens opened, boots changed in the car.

Glad I did it but it will go into the ticked the box category and won’t be seeing you again. Numpty’s car has gone never got a glimpse of him/her. M&S Turkish delight bar will lift my spirits.

Ascent: 700m

Distance: 12.7km

Time: 3.59

Wildlife: Common Frog; Small Heath; Undertaker moth: Small White; Meadow Pipit; Great Tit; Red Squirrel;