Ben Lui

Last Sunday saw 16 members and two guests heading off to the West Highlands, their main objective one of the most beautiful hills in the region, Ben Lui and its near neighbour Beinn Chuirn. Munro and Corbett respectively. The C Walkers were dropped off in Crianlarich to walk a section of the equally well-known West Highland Way to Tyndrum and beyond.

The weather was set fair and remained good for the rest of the day, unusually there was little or no breeze and even more unexpectedly, no midges! Visibility was excellent all day and everyone enjoyed great views.

he walk in to the two hills from Dalrigh on the A82 is long and passes Cononish and its active gold mine, the only one in Scotland.

The A & B Groups split shortly after passing the mine, the B walkers (8) heading north up an unrelenting grassy slope to the summit of Beinn Chuirn, the views south and west were spectacular and helped take minds off the slog! The summit offered panoramic views of the higher Ben Lui and behind it, Loch Awe and its many islands, with Ben Cruachan at its northern end. The route off the hill was as the way up but leaving the vehicle track in the glen and cutting up through a plantation to Tyndrum, refreshments and the waiting coach.

The A Group (5) continued up the glen to find the path up Ben Lui via its northern ridge, there was an arrow, marked out by white pebbles, that pointed to the correct path but this did create debate as confusingly another path appeared to be more frequently trodden. At the higher section of the path the group were joined by a raven which seemed unconcerned about human company, no doubt used to titbits from walkers. It even posed for photographs! The view for their airy perch was a good reward for reaching the summit. The return route was via the upward path and again heading off the main track and through the plantation as did the B walkers.

The 5 walkers that formed the C Group enjoyed a great walkalong the WHW to a point beyond Tyndrum, then returning to the Green Wellie carpark where all three groups of walkers re-joined the coach. That section of the route is associated with various historical events and features in and around St Fillan’s including the battle of Dalrigh, The Bruce’s sword and old lead workings. Plenty of signs of the seasonal changes in the woodlands with various fungi much in evidence. Trout were seen in the River Fillan with dragon flies and a good cover of montane plants along the way.

The next club event is the autumn weekend away on 16-18thSeptember, this time to SW Scotland. The next regular walk is to An Socach on Sunday 9th October.