South of the A83 as far as Dunoon and sandwiched in between Loch Fyne and Loch Long are a number of peaks, none of which qualify for Munro status. The southern half of the Arrochar Alps includes Beinn an Lochain, which at 901m was wrongly included in Sir Hugh Munro’s original list of 3000ft peaks in Scotland. The mountains list contains all peaks above 600m.
This solo expedition involved bagging several Munros, starting at the Succoth car park. The weather was clear and sunny, with stunning visibility throughout the day. Setting off up a glen path towards Ben Vane, I initially missed the start of the climb and had to double back. The initial route was undefined, requiring some off-path navigation before I found a more established track leading to the summit. The hot day and lack of wind made the climb physically demanding, but the incredible views and occasional drone footage made it worthwhile.The ascent involved a bit of scrambling near the summit of Ben Vane. From there, I headed west into a valley without a defined trail, which slowed my progress significantly. After navigating this section, I ascended Beinn Ime, again making my way up an undefined path to the saddle north of the Munro before reaching the summit. By this point, I was feeling quite hungry so I stopped for Lunch. It wasn't enough though and I realized I should have packed more—a valuable lesson for future trips.The descent from Beinn Ime towards Ben Narnain was much more enjoyable, with a well-defined trail that allowed me to break into a jog and fully appreciate the surroundings. The final climb to Ben Narnain wasn’t too difficult, but the descent back to the car was rugged and technical, involving some scrambling. The challenging terrain extended the time it took to return, and by the time I reached the car, I was tired, hungry, and very thirsty.Overall, this was a highly rewarding day in the mountains, combining physical challenges, navigation, and stunning views, all of which contributed to a true Quality Mountain Day.
