7-8 June 2008
The village hall in the idyllic setting of Cairndow on the shore of Loch Fyne hosted fourteen members for the June weekend meet.
A few of the party took opportunity of the fine forecast for some hill action on the Friday: Andy Williams and Dave Galloway used the visitor centre at Inveruglas on Lochlomond as the starting point for Ben Vorlich, disturbing millions of crane flies in the process.
Graeme Morrison and John Henderson used it as their liaison point before proceeding to Beinn Bheula. They started on what they thought was the wrong path and adjusted their route up the boggy side of a river before discovering that the new path through the forest took them to the same place. On completion Graeme’s foot needed some first aid so he retired while John carried on to do Beinn An Lochan following a clear path to the summit.
In the evening the Stagecoach Inn provided luxurious hostelry facilities with good beer and excellent food and was the ideal meeting place for new arrivees. Four dined out; unfortunately Dave and Andy in their enthusiasm for a nightcap in the hall forgot to pay before leaving, thus managing a 24-hour free meal. Cap in hand on Saturday though.
Saturday morning, despite the har over Loch Fyne, saw Dave and Andy join Amanda Strang, Caroline Chaplin, Evelyne Droege, Ali Erginsoy, and Daniel Moysey head off for the horseshoe traverse of Ben Vane, Beinn Ime and Beinn Narnain. Dan managed a close up photo of a tame ptarmigan under a rock before dropping down to the bealach Uaine below Beinn Ime. They gained the steep summit of Beinn Ime finding much needed water on the way up. The final ascent of Beinn Narnain was completed with four of the party ticking three new Munroes while two others added just the one. Back at the visitor centre the closed café and toilets was the only mild disappointment of the day.
Graeme and John went up to the cobbler via the Narnain boulders and made an easy scramble to the summit, through a hole. They then dropped down to the col and made their ascent of Beinn Luibhean via the western ridge before dropping down to the A83 at Butterbridge and the base of Stob Coire Creagach. This proved to be a tough push to the top in warm weather, so they afforded themselves the luxury of a ten minute collapse on the soft grass at the top.
Drummond Beattie and Margaret Paterson enjoyed a late start, taking Maddie (Maggie’s dog) first up Beinn Narnain and then out to A Chrois. Retracing their steps back over Narnain, they met the party of seven for a social chat before making their way over to the Cobbler to complete their day.
Chrissy McKay wore her Forestry Commission hat, exploring several routes up the craggy hills of Ben Dornach and the Brack from three different car parks. She discovered two new routes through impenetrable forest, saving a few miles.
Graeme Gunn ticked off two more munros, Meall Buidhe and Ben Vorlich, in his countdown to completion. Eight more to go!
Alan Duncan enjoyed a short day climbing Beinn Bheula. He found the new forestry path not mentioned in the book making his initial assent easier. Having enjoyed the solitude of the hill, a beer in Lochgoilhead mingling with tourists brought him back to reality.
Sunday brought light drizzle first thing and it dampened the enthusiasm of Saturday. Drummond, Graeme G and Maggie had a retail therapy day in Aviemore, Evelyne went touring Lochlomond, Chrissy and Amanda cleaned the hall for the handback.
Ali, Dan and Caroline went back to Inveruglas to do Ben Vorlich , taking a steep narrow track to the summit from near Loch Sloy. Despite the chill wind which accompanied them, by the time they got back the sun was out so they enjoyed ice creams all round before the long haul home.
Alan, Dave Greame M and John had trouble locating Glen Falloch Lodge and the start of their day on Meall an Fhudair. They made the triple summited Corbett, passing a fleet of white vans below the pylons on the way up. As they reached the track on return they where greeted by teams of painters covering up the rust on the pylons, no doubt on double time.
In conclusion, with good accommodation, good hills, and good walking, the journey was well worth it.
Dave Galloway
For more photos from this meet click here