A morning start was taken at the end of reading week so that a walk could be undertaken on the way up to Crianlarch although not everyone remembered this was the case but after some quick packing from Oskar we all set off.

Arriving at the foot of Loch Lubnaig for lunch we then set off to tackle Ben Ledi (879m). We wound our way up the well made path through the pine forest into the thick cloud. As we got higher the trees gave way to open hillside and we reached the summit cairn, which was built in 1887 to celebrate Queen Victoria’s golden jubilee and an iron cross in memory of Sgt. Harry Lawrie a mountain rescuer killed on duty in 1987, as we started to descend we put on our headtorches as dusk fell returning to the vans in the dark. After driving on to the bunkhouse (Ochils mountaineering club cottage) we drove to Tyndrum for dinner. After a nice meal at the Real food Cafe we headed to the Tyndrum inn for pool and to watch the rugby where we also encountered some paparazzi.

After a relaxed start to Saturday morning we headed off to Falls of Cruachan to walk the Dalmally horseshoe. A nice steep muddy path led up the wooded lower slopes and as we emerged from the trees offered excellent views down over Loch Awe. Continuing on across the hydroelectric dam we entered into thick cloud as we approached the bealach. Just before we reached the summit of Ben Cruachan (1126m) we emerged from the cloud and were greeted with a stunning cloud inversion. Looking across the see of clouds Ben Nevis and the tallest Scottish peaks protruded from the white cloud blanket that covered the glens and ridges below. After soaking in the sun we had some lunch before continuing along the ridge dropping back down into the cloud and enjoying some easy scrambling steps and some nice slabs before summitting Stob Daimh (998m). On the descent of Stob Daimh we once again donned our headtorches as we picked our way down through the bog back to the Cruachan dam wherefrom we descended down the access track where we waited for Dom and Laurie to come and collect us in the vans. After almost leaving George asleep by the side of the road we returned to the bunkhouse for Jacobs delicious Spagetthi bolognaise and a relaxing evening playing card games around the fireplace.

Sunday morning dawned with thick cloud and drizzle but after we had cleaned the bunkhouse we set off in high spirits excited for the walk to come. We parked in a layby 5 minutes south of Crianlarich and set off under the railway track and then up the boggy lower slopes of An Caisteal (995m). Upon gaining the main ridge we had 2 minutes silence at 11 as it was Remembrance Sunday before continuing on along the drier ridge as the rain stopped but the thick cloud remained. After adeptly negotiating the easy notch we summitted An Caisteal in time for lunch enjoying the wind. We then split with half the group returning back to the vans via the ascent route and the rest descended off the back and up the nice rocky side of Beinn a’ Chroin (942m) where the cloud lifted in the strng winds revealing the beautiful Scottish scenery all around. After being buffeted by the wind along the ridge we then desended backdown the glen to the vans. On the way home after passing the Kelpie statues we stopped at Dalkeith for a takeaway and then at the English border to look at the stars.

Overall an amazing trip with great weather and great company. Many thanks to all who came. – Josh

Above: Memorial cross on Ben Ledi

Below: View from Cruachan dam

Both above: Cloud inversion on Ben Cruachan summit

Below: Descending from Stob Daimh in the dark

Above: Enjoying the wind on Beinn a’ Chroin

Below: View from An Caisteal descent