A good leg stretcher.....Lochan Beinn Damhain

 Walk: Lochan Beinn Damhain

My mindset was such that it hadn’t felt like a long winter so far but it had felt like a long time since I had a non local walk. Unfortunately I had limited time today but decided to not waste it and do a recce of the 1^st half of a walk that I planned to do in full in the near future.

There has been a lot of snow around so I was uncertain of what I was going to be faced with. One thing about solo walking is that the boot space is all mine to use. So everything thrown in and I would decide when I had sight of the terrain. So big and small rucksacks, 2 pairs of boots, 3 jackets, crampons and spikes and everything else I could think of.

Dashboard said -5% as I drove left home.

As I rounded Loch Lomond the Ben was on my right and had a snow covering a long way down which I expected. However the Luss hills on my left were mainly clear with only snow visible at the highest levels, food for thought.

I parked up at the start at Inverarnan Farm, very limited parking but I got one of the two obvious spaces. Looking forward the Crianlarich hills were heavily snow covered but again close by was relatively clear. Decision time but I was not going to get any proper sight of the terrain until I was higher up. So big rucksack was my choice stuffed with lots of just in case items. Spikes not crampons, trusting what I was seeing.

I had been up this track once before when bagging the Corbett of Meall an Fhudair. It would be ideal bike/hike but the gate at the start is always locked and too big to get my bike over. So shanks pony it was.

Just after I started I heard a Jay calling and then spotted a pair of them. I reckon I have seen more Jays in the last 3 months than I have in my entire life, no exaggeration. Locally I noticed that most corvids seem to have had a late brood hence greater numbers, maybe the same for Jays.

My lack of walking was telling, this is a right in your face start. I was huffing and puffing. Thankfully the local herd of Highland coos were not around to witness my sufferings.

Gained height with views being better looking back

The hard packed track is for hydro workers but I was grateful to use it. A T-junction was reached and at my last visit it was turn right for the Corbett but today I was going left. A couple of kilometres on the track was no hardship, stunning blue skies and not another person around.

I reached the dam which is where I was originally going to stop. But looking at the map I decided to suss out the route to the lochan which I could use when I returned for the full climb.

Much of the lying water had frozen solid creating some big ice patches underneath so spikes donned.

I decided to follow the burn assuming it came from the lochan. I was surprised to find an on/off narrow track, surely animal rather than human. This Fiona would not get that sort of traffic.

Even the waterfalls were partially frozen

The burn was spectacular as although it was running quite fast large patches were still frozen solid. It did cross my mind that it could be an awkward risky crossing but as I was not doing the full hill it was not an issue.

The track was found and disappeared just as quickly and there were a few right beside the water issues wondering if the ground might give.

The going was actually better than expected and on a non winter day would be straight forward.

At the picturesque lochan I could see the top of Beinn Damhain which from here looked very icy but not snow covered. I knew I didn’t have the time to get it done but I was tempted. Also the predicted weather change was happening, blue sky disappearing, low dark clouds scudding through and western hills tops were disappearing.

The Corbett of Meall an Fhudair top left

So time to backtrack but the objective had been achieved. I had seen enough to know that when I returned the Fiona should be straightforward.

Ben & Loch Lomond

As I approached the bridge I heard the rumbling and the driver even waved and tooted his horn

On the descent spectacular views of the winter dressed Crianlarich hills helped pass the time. Never saw another person and a disappointing lack of wildlife, almost non existent. But it was another short workout which my hill fitness will benefit from.

Ascent: 484m

Distance: 10.4km

Time: 3.38

Wildlife: Jay; Great Tit; Blackbird; Wren