A circuit of the 7 Crianlarich Munros from Loch Voil side.
The car park at the end of the road to Loch Voil from Balquidder was the starting point at 0530am. A great sunrise on a good track up the mountain toward Stob Binnean. However by the summit the clag came in and we were treated to blattering heavy rain and later on intermittent heavy showers. From here we dropped down to the col and left or bags by a large shelter boulder I last used in 2005. Lighter loads we reached Ben More at 0830. Mathew with whom I was guiding had never climbed a Munro before (or even been to Scotland) so this was a baptism of...water for him.
Picking our bags up again it was cross country. Off the path a difficult descending traverse to the col between More & Binnean and the Ardrain and Tuilachan ridge. The ascent was quite torturous for Mathew, but Martin - a regular took it in his stride to the point I was having to slow him down and wait for his friend. With Mathew I was able to bring in some zig zag techniques and some winter steep ground techniques. The final conical cone of Cruach Ardrain was nearly torture for poor Mathew but his determination was absolutely resolute. I did suggest we could descend from Tuilachan but once up on the ridge with a good track again he was OK.
From Tuilachan we again headed off piste around a Stob Garbh and descended steeply and lower than the col to pick up the scrambly track up to Beinin a Chroinn. I figured that it would be easier going on a track sacrificing 30-40m extra descent as worth it. And it was. However Beinn a Chroinn has a sting to it on descent to An Casteil with some difficult steps. Quite easily managed but it was interesting to see where I had such a winter epic back in 2005 at the end of November with a huge dump of snow. Half way up the ridge to An Caisteil, we dropped bags again. Headed up to the summit to return and pick them up . The descent to the col between this and Beinn CHabhair was straight forward as was the ascent but it was difficult with tired legs all round (and my iliotibial band was playing up). We reached the summit at 5:30pm. 12 hours since we set off.
Tricky descent which flattened out to a plain devoid of peathags to the farm track. 8km along here with headtorches, several full spate rivers we simply waded through and we returned after 15h.
- the individual takes part in the planning and leadership. Quite a lot of guiding, looking after Mathew and introducing him to new skills. I'd even been along here a few weeks earlier to check out the state of the paths and parking.
- navigation skills are required away from marked paths. Apart from the initial ascent over Stob Binnean & Ben More, and up Beinn a Chroinn, the only paths were between the Munro pairs. The rest was off piste.
- experience must be in terrain and weather comparable to that found in UK and Irish hills
-knowledge is increased and skills practised. Teaching some winter techniques (zigzagging etc). Plus encouraging on long routes and building on my experience of such huge days from a few weeks earlier.
- attention is paid to safety. Throughout, especially over scrambly sections, ascents and descents off piste.
- five hours or more journey time. 15h
- adverse conditions may be encountered. Clag, heavy freezing rain and very strong winds
- ascent of a substantial peak would normally be included in the day. The 7 Crianlarich hills.
Area :
Loch Lomond to Strathyre (Ben More)
Ben Lomond (974m) and Ben More (1174m) sit on opposite sides of this area which stretches from Loch Lomond to the western end of Loch Earn. There are two distinct sections, to the north and south of Glen Voil, with the remaining peaks sitting to the south of Loch Katrine. Access to the majority of the hills in this area is commonly from Crianlarich, Aberfoyle or Callander.
