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.