Another visit to the Craig of Monievreckie

25 March 2015

Participants: Neil and Ben
Where: Craig of Monievreckie, 400m/1,312', Sub-2k Marilyn, Map 57, NN 547020

Just a short hill walk today taking advantage of the good conditions. This is becoming a favourite trip but it's a good viewpoint. The forest roads are being improved so it looks as though they are getting ready for some serious felling. Here are a few photographs; Ben at the trig, Ben Ledi, Ben Venue, Crianlarich hills, Campsie Fells.

 

In the shadow of Nevis- Bidien Bad na h-Iolaire

18 March 2015

 

Participants: Neil and Ben

Where: Bidein Bad na h-Iolaire, 528m/1732', Sub-2k Marilyn, Map 41, NN 090713

 

This one had been on my radar for some time because of the view that it was bound to give of Ben Nevis. It can be approached from Glen Nevis but that way seemed to involve a lot of forestry walking; the better route was obviously from the narrow road that runs from Fort William to Lundavra. Looking at other blogs and walking sites, most folk seemed to start from well down the road and to follow the south-west ridge; however, that involved crossing fields and fences and I had Ben with me. So I opted for the longer route via the track to Cow Hill and the lumpy north ridge.

 

I followed the track to its highest point just before the start of the forest. My hill was in view most of the way and as I got higher Ben Nevis also came into view.....

 

 

 

The sun was out and it was warm, unfortunately it was also hazy. There was a steep, rough, heathery section immediately after leaving the path but once up that the walking became a bit easier. There were also a succession of humps that I mostly climbed over although I managed to skirt some of them on the way back. Part way up I came across an old path crossing the hillside and disappearing into the forest, it must have been the old route across the hill before the trees were planted and the new path network was put in place. There is not much to say about the ascent apart from that it was a bit of a plod! Just as well there was a good view of the Ben on one side and of the Corbett, Stob Coire a'Chearcaill across Loch Linnhe on the other side.....

 

 

And then at last I was on a narrowish ridge and the cairn appeared ahead- two cairns in fact. Here is Ben at the top...

 

This would be an amazing viewpoint on a crisp, clear day. The afternoon would be best from the point of view of photography and the position of the sun. Even today with the haze it was good and certainly atmospheric. This is the view up Glen Nevis to Sgurr a'Mhaim.....

 

 

Across Loch Linnhe to Stob Coire a' Chearcaill.....

 

 

and down to Fort William.....

 

 

And of course to Ben Nevis. The zig-zags of the tourist path were clearly visible, and the snow on the upper reaches looked really deep. I was looking almost straight at the big south-east face which unfortunately has seen a number of accidents over the years. From this angle, you could see just how close it was to the tourist path and how easy a small navigation error in thick mist would lead you into trouble. Certainly, when I did Nevis by the tourist route I didn't realise that any of those gullies and cliffs were there.

 

 

Did I say that it was warm? I sat about at the cairn for a while and then it was just a case of reversing the route. 4 hours and 45 minutes- a good walk before setting off down the road home.

Beinn an t-Sidhein

10 March 2015

Participants: Neil and Ben
Where: Beinn an t-Sidhein, 572m/1,877', Sub-2k Marilyn, Map 57, NN 547179

It is  a few years since I climbed this one and in the intervening period, a lot of the forestry has been felled. The forestry folk have also kindly built a new path that goes a lot of the way to the col below the first top. I parked in Strathyre and crossed the old bridge over the River Balvag; the start of the hill path was directly in front of me. Here is Ben on the path and a view to the north from a bit higher up.....

 

 

The big advantage of the forestry work is that you now have a view of Loch Lubnaig most of the way up. The sun was in the wrong place for good photography but you can't have everything......

 

 

It was a bit wet once off the main path; the old path has almost disappeared but the route is obvious. I rounded the south top and the main spine of the hill plus the summit was now in view.....

 

 

Unfortunately, the forestry land ended there and it was separated from the rest by a fence. There was a style for me but not one that Ben could manage. However, after a bit of searching I found a gap under the fence at a wet area and he managed to wriggle through. Ben More and Stobinian were now in view (the second and third photos are zoomed). There were a few showers about but also strong sunlight and the colours were really vivid. The snow that had been down to about 200m on the Campsies a couple of days before had had a severe fright, that should surely be it now for another winter.

 

There was a rough path along the ridge and it was a grand walk with the Crianlarich hills on one sideand Ben Vorlich, Stuc a'Chroin and Beinn Each on the other. Ben found a nice pool to provide a foreground to the latter hills.....

 

 

There was a very small cairn at what might or might not be the highest point with a view north to the Corbetts of Craig Mac Ranaich and Meall an t-Seallaidh.....

 

 

We returned by the same route; there is a good view of Strathyre from lower down....previously obscured by the forest.....

 

 

A good short walk of 3 hours duration.