Crianlarich Hill Run

Made the most of the good weather forecast, early start and on the hill before 7, just as the sun was rising. 

Looking east to Ben Vorlich and Stuc a Chroin

Stob a Choin over Inverlochlariog Farm

Started at the end of the road to nowhere,  Inverlochlarig. Stob Binnein first, steep climb to start, nearly 2000' in the first mile.

Looking towards Stob Binnein's top from Stob Invercarnaig

Stob Binnein from Stob Corrie an Lochain, Ben More behind

Looking along Glen Dochart from Stob Corrie an Lochain

Gradient eases and undulates up over the minor tops of Stob Invercarnaig and Stob Corrie an Lochain on the way to Stob Binnein's table top.

Ben More from Stob Binnein

Stob Corrie an Lochain from Stob Binnein

Short steep drop to the high coll Bealach eader dha Beinn with a short steep climb from there to Ben More's craggy top. Busier now, had only passed 2 people on Stob Binnein, about a dozen here.

Stob Binnein from Ben More

Cruach Ardrain from Ben More

Back down to the bealach to cross the glen towards Cruach Ardrain and Beinn Tulaichean on pathless ground, had been on good paths up till now,

Ben More glen

Descending traverse to the head of Ben More Glen then a steep climb up the flank of Stob Garbh, didn't fancy the climb under the crags, looked a bit too steep and went round to the North of this top, had to lose a bit of height going into Coire Ardrain but familiar ground as I had come off Cruach Ardrain the same way a few years ago.

Ben More, left, Stob Binnein, right, from Cruach Ardrain

Crianlarich from Cruach Ardrain

Beinn Tulaichean from Cruach Ardrain

Twisting path gradually forms for the last short steep climb to Cruach Ardrains top, plenty of people here. Back on good paths its a short jog from here to the last top Beinn Tulaichean.

Cruach Ardrain from Beinn Tulaichean

Descent off Beinn Tulaichean

Loch Doine & Loch Voil in Balquhidder from Beionn Tulaichean

Large cairn at the bottom of Beinn Tulaichean, Stob Binnein behind

The path runs along the crest, South at first then swings South East down to the farm at Inverlochlairig. Interesting mix of quiet and busy, paths and pathless, stunning views, about 6 hours all in. 

Stob Binnein, Ben More

Inverlochlarig to Ben More and back crossing Stob Binnein twice. Tried this run a few years ago, very misty, into cloud about 1500' , popped out above the cloud on the last 20 yards to SB's top, by BM's top the cloud had risen, no views, returned to the beallach and dropped into the glen back to the car avoiding the run back over Stob Binnein. Better outlook today, sun and high cloud, very warm, first part of the climb no breeze just lots of large clegs, through the crags of Stob Invercarnaig and past a path repair team rolling huge boulders about. Gradient eases, still no breeze and more insect swarms, probably crane flies. Gradually a gentle breeze came along and kept them away on the approach to the minor top marked 890m.

 

View from 890m top along Na Staidhrichean ridge towards the next top of Stob Coire an Lochain and a steep wee climb to SB's summit.

View from Stob Binnein back down Na Staidhrichean ridge and across Inverlochlarig Glen to Cruach Ardrain and Beinn Tulaichean with the rest of the Crianlarich Munros behind.

Sharp drop down a brocken rocky path to Bealach eader dha Bheinn before the climb back up to Ben More's trig point. Stopped for a drink, some food and photos before the return.

 Crianlarich from the top of Ben More.

Dropped quickly to the bealach and started the last climb back up Stob Binnein packing my cap with snow seemed to help and kept up a quicker tempo, combined with big raindrops from clouds further North, quite refreshing.

 Stob Binnein from Ben More

Sat on SB's top for another quick refuel, thunder rumbling around got me back on the move. Started to rain in earnest as I approached the 890m top and with some lightning flickering in the clouds above picked up the pace down gentle slopes past Stob Invercarnaig and into safety of the valley, finished in about 4 1/2 hours. More pictures here.

Ben More

I tried Ben More back in May when I couldn't get to the top for snow, Sat morning forecast was pretty good and I  left the Vale nice n early driving up the side of a glassy Loch Lomond in the sun. Arrived in Crianlarich blue skies above except for a big grey cloud sitting on top of Ben More and Stob Binnien. Ran up the forest road and found the trail marked with white tape through the trees, lose sight of the tape and I have to fight my way through the last few trees. Onto the open hill at last, a more direct route this time, throughn tussocks, bogs and over moss covered rocks, steeper too. Cross the deer fence and onto the Sron Nam Forsairean ridge at about 2500' where a faint path winds me up and along the craggy ridge. Thermal top, hat, gloves and jacket on as I climb up into the clouds. I'm soon past where I stopped last time, a good decision as the summit is some distance further along the ridge. The path fades in and out over bouldery ground and eventually the summit trig looms out the mist where I stop and catch a breath and something to eat sheltering from the cool breeze. The run off  easy at first down the ridge and I soon warm up when I drop below the cloud. Over the deer fence and I stop to pick a line back into the forest, the tussocks make for a slow careful descent before a steep scramble back into the forest and I find the lucky white tape again. Finish in 3 hours and 1 minute. Some pictures here.

Chasing Ptarmigan

Late run yesterday, left the house about 2, I wanted some steep hills and Ben More from the Crianlarich side sort of fitted. The route was to be a circuit over Ben More, Stob Binnien and back via Stob Coire an Lochain and Meall na Dige, didn't quite make it. Start point was a path from a layby 5 miles past Crianlarich. Soon onto forest roads winding up under Glas Leathad, saw a path saying "open hill access" that's what I took, it led back onto the forest road further up, decided to head uphill through a brashing filled gulley towards the ridge Sron nam Forsairean, had to turn onto a forest road to avoid a lot of fallen trees then took another track marked "open hill access". Happy as long as I was going uphill. A faint path went off to the right alongside a stream, it was marked with white tape, checked the map and it looked ok and should cut out some of the forest road switchbacks. After a few minutes I came out of the trees and onto the hill side, picked my way up beside the stream over lumps and bumps, climbed a deer fence and eventually onto the ridge. A path picked its way along the ridge, I missed a turn and soon onto steep slopes surrounded by snow patches. Worked my way back on to the path on the top of the ridge, Ben More's summit looming out the cloud ahead. Near the top a Ptarmigan ran across the path, probably leading me away from its nest, followed trying to get a picture, they only let you get so close.

Now on the last steep climb to Ben More's rocky summit, the path disappears in the snow, tried to go round on a boulder field below the snow, didn't work, then tried to go above through small crags, decided it wasn't to be and turned back, leaving the route for another day. Ran back down the Sron nam Forsairean ridge to the forest. No real path or track through the forest but found more white tape leading me a fairly direct route through the trees and across forest roads back to the tracks I started from. 2 hours up, 1 hour down. A few pictures here.