The Stob via Kirkton Glen

A day off and initial thoughts of Skye drifted away with the wind and rain. As I drove North, I wasn't sure which hill I'd decide upon. At Crianlarich, I decided to head back down to the Balquihidder region and opted for the Kirkton glen approach to either the Stob or Meall an t-Seallaidh. If the weather gods smiled, I'd do both. I was 2 minutes out of the car park, when I happened upon a Forestry commission sign indicating no way through due to 'confusing pathways'. I abhor rules and regulations on a hill experience and continued forth. As it was, this was as straightforward a route through a forest as I've ever encountered and a previous horse trekker thought the same. It's mushroom season and Autumn is approaching.
I emerged from the forest with an interesting crag ahead. Not marked on the map, there was a nice boulder/cave that I sat in and watched the rain hammer down. I decided from this point that I'd head to the Stob as the Corbett was shrouded in clag and I might get a view from the Stob. The cross-country trek over to the Graham was remote and a small herd of deer shot away into Glen Dochard. One last ascent to the small summit was not rewarded with the kindest of weather and the rain persisted once again. However, on a good day, this would be a fine and remote perch. As is typical, the descent to the forestry path saw the emerging sun and the glen was enlightened. The walk back to Balquihidder was enjoyable and this was a nice little outing.
I decided to reward myself with a lunch in mhor-84/ and hard a very tasty burger with an equally refreshing Mhor 84 Lager tops. The meat is locally sourced, 8 miles up the glen and it really comes through. Beetroot, fresh lettuce and pickles compliment the blue cheese and meat beautifully. Fries were lightly seasoned and the portion size was perfect. These hills are only an hour away from the house now and I look forward to the 7 or 8 Grahams and Corbetts this Winter.

Cruach nam Mult

Initially, I had intended to do this as part of a combo with the other Lochgoilhead Grahams and I had planned to spend the evening up there too. However, I have never before been so plagued by flies in my existence than I had upon exiting from the forest and it was to have a significant contribution to my decision to cast this trip into the category of single hill sojourns. The meander through the forest was pleasant enough although the heat was quite incredible on this July evening. It was relatively straightforward to pick the way South on to the hill but the dark path through was a little claustrophobic and I was glad (not for long) to emerge into the daylight once again. At this point, you are more or less faced with a steep, grassy wall which affords no idea of the route ahead. However, after about 10 minutes of hard climbing, you are roughly at the bealach between the Graham and the Hump to the West. 

As the flies erupted around me, I got the head down and began the climb hoping for a breeze to strike up and dispel the invertebrate hoard. Within an hour of leaving the car, I was a sodden, sweaty beast and stood atop the highest part of this hill, although there was no cairn to signify this. The views across to Stob an Eas and the Arrochar alps were particularly impressive as were the distant Paps of Jura. I killed 40 flies in 15 minutes but their numbers were replete within second. I didn't fancy the descent and ascent over to the 2nd Graham if I was to have such chitinous company and therefore decided at 2045, to head back to the car and home. A great wee hill but it has to be repeated in Winter, I think for me to truly enjoy its character.

Beinn Fhada

This was documented in the Munro blog post here: http://www.munromadness.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/ben-more-via-beinn-fhada-and-chioch.html

Meall Mor to it than meets the eye

After our early rise at 0530, we began the walk over to the bealach nan corp. It was a hard old slog up to the bealach and from there, it was a very wearisome up-and-down to the summit of Meall Mor. A number of small valleys and coires had to be crossed to reach this very remote and small cairn. However, the view North to the Crianlarich Munros is a very rewarding experience. We descended east over the ridge and down to the valley floor before Stob a Choin. All thoughts of re-ascending this were banished as we were both a little tired and the re-ascent looked horrific after the previous 15 hours efforts.

Beinn Damhain

Far from the Easter madding crowd. A morning stolen, alone. The walk into the hill is uncomplicated, along a land rover track and aside from the initial ugly pylons, the climb up on to this Graham, is excellent. The highlight of the trip apart from the fantastic views from the summit, is the lochain at about 500m. It provided a beautiful foreground to Ben Vorlich and would also be a lovely area for a summer wild camp. At one point, I was actually lying on the ice and it felt 'right'. There was nobody else on this hill except me, which is a shame as it offers a lot. Even with a relaxing meander, the walk only took me 4 hours. Views to Beinn Bhuidhe, Meall an Fhudair, the Crianlarich hills, the Paps of Jura and of course, Beinn Chabhair across Loch Lomond mean that the summit is an excellent place to while away some time. A gem, only 1 hour from Glasgow.

Cairnsmore of Fleet - a game of two halves

I had long been itching to do this Graham, the most Southernly and one which had a significant memorial stone at the top. More than 20 airmen have died on this hill since the 1940s and each and every one is accounted for. I parked near the A75 and began the gentle stroll through the farmland, stopping to chat to a bloke who appreciated my not parking behind his house - again, the guide book says to do this. Perhaps it needs updating. I found the walk through the forest quite depressing as there is little to see and the track was a muddy bog. I took my first bacon sandwich just as I emerged from the forest at about 400m. From here, I could see the sun splitting the skies over the South but to the North, Cairnsmore of Fleet was shrouded in cloud. Typical.

The path was excellent from here and zig-zagged up the mountain. Wild goats emerged from the gloom but ran away as soon as they heard the unzipping of my...camera sac. Once I reached the plateau, it was a pleasant amble over to the memorial stone whereupon the sad fate of those airmen was written in history. I was surprised by the lack of snow at 700m but was glad for the large shelter, where I took lunch and pondered life and its whims. I ventured over to the crags on the NE face but with poor visibility, I could not make these out very well. I am sure that this is a nice hill on a summer's day but I found it a a little depressing in such conditions. In saying that, the memorial put everything into context, particularly with the relatively recent loss of Captains' Seagren and Spalding of the United States Air Force on 28th March, 1979.

Timber on Millfore!

On holiday in Dumfries-shire (d'ye ken the Glenkens?) Craig and I set off from the Black Loch car park, which appeared to have become a logging site. This wasn't in the guide book, which admittedly was 10 years old. Anyway, we put signage and common sense behind us and strode manfully around the loch until a 100ft conifer was felled 100m from us. To say the pair of us purged our bowels was an understatement. After running 60 metres in a time that Usain Bolt would have been proud of, we got the 'helloutathir'. An uncomplicated meander up the forest track saw us at a point where we could leave man-made tracks behind and commence the relatively gentle ascent up on to Millfore.

At about 500m, we entered the snow line and the wind from the South battered us until we hid behind the ridge, to the North. It was the first time in a while that Craig had been out so we took plenty of wee stops for tea and sandwiches. This allowed us to catch up on life, risk and business. His camouflage was also excellent as can be evidenced in the photograph. Finally, we emerged on to the ridge proper just past the precariously perched cairn-on-boulder. From here, it was a simple stroll into the fierce wind to the trig point whereupon some Warrior 1 was enacted. A quick descent saw us back at the car in just under 3 hours and a nice start to the holiday.  Just take heed of the signage.