Loch Lubnaig Canoeing

 This was an enjoyable day canoeing with the guys from Telford College Outdoor Pursuits at Loch Lubnaig near callander. We practised various paddling strokes. Sweeps, solo paddling  Standing up and paddling  solo.  Wade a raft with 2 canoes then 5 canoes using poles and tree trunks which were tied across the canoes. We then did an all out rescue by pulling the canoe over another. All in all it was a great day.

Loch Lubnaig

Enjoying the paddle

 

Loch Lubnaig

 

 

 

Joined together

Meditation

Solo Exped

(8.8.2009) Balloch to Tarbet cycle

This was to be my first solo expedition involving cycling and my first solo Munros. Got the train to Balloch in the early afternoon and cycled to Tarbet ,17 mile, 27 km, mostly on a traffic free path with 3 short stretches on minor roads.The route travels up the old drovers road next to the A82 through tourist villages such as Luss and Inverberg. From Tarbet I cycled back 1 mile to the shore of Loch Lomond and set up a wild camp spot. Made some noodles then had a great nights sleep.

Camp spot

Loch Lomond from camp spot

(9.8.2009) Beinn Narnain 926m & Beinn Ime 1011m,14 km, 9 mile, 6 hours

Packed up the tent after breakfast then cycled into Tarbet to get information on the ferry service. Then cycled another 2 mile cycle to Arrochar village were I got money out of the cash machine. Started at the forestry commission car park at the south side of Loch Long (sea level) at 11am where I hide my bike in the undergrowth and chained it to a tree. Followed the marked path up through the woods and then out into the open with views of the cobbler up ahead. From the junction of paths at the Allt a' Bhalachain I took the faint and narrow, boggy path right in an easterly direction. The path faded and i soon climbed north via the Allt a’ bhalachain which turned into abit of a scramble in places. I then walked in a north east direction around the side of the mountain and then headed north up towards the left hand side of Cruach nam Miseag through the deep heather until I eventually found the path before the rock buttress of the spearhead. From here I followed the path up the rock gully with a small bit of scrambling before I came to the stony plateau and the summit trig point at 13.40. The views of the summit was clear with sunny spells and cloud.

Arrochar

Route up Spearhead Gully

Me on Ben Narnain summit

Loch Long from the summit

The Cobbler from Ben Narnain

Beinn Ime from Ben Narnain

From Beinn Narnain I continued  west across the stony plateau and descended the path north west towards the bealach, looking ahead to Beinn Ime. Various parts were quite stony so care was needed. I then followed the path down then up by Bealach a Mhaim up towards Beinn Ime’s grassy, boggy slopes. The ascent was long with 400 metres from the bealach and I reached the summit cairn at 15.05 to clear views however the mist was closing in fast. Not before I had ran out of water but a Glasgow couple gave me some of theirs. Descended back via the path to the bealach then south east between the cobbler and Beinn Narnain following the well built path down the Coire a’ Bhalachain, passing the narnain boulders which were used by the early Glasgow climbers in the 1930’s for sleeping during the exploration of the Cobbler's cliffs. Followed the path alongside the Allt a' Bhalachain, crossing side streams on large stepping stones at times. Passed the small hydro dam on the right and back to the junction of paths. Followed the main path down through the trees and then felled trees down towards the Loch back to the car park for 17.00. Said my goodbyes to the Glasgow couple then cycled around to Arrochar where I stopped on bought food for the next again day. IGrabbed a chippy then cycled around 3 mile back to the wild camp spot I found the night before. Quickly pitched the tent before the rain came down and made myself some noodles with a cuppa soup. I was in the tent by 10 as the rain began to hammer it down and I felt content with the days walk.

Beinn Ime summit 

Looking back to the Cobbler

(10.8.2009) Ben Lomond 974m,12km,7.5 miles, 3.40mins

After a night of waking up a lot I awoke to rain and thick cloud. I txt from my mother however lifted my spirits as she said it was to clear so I decided to skip breakfast and pack up to get the ferry. Got to Tarbet and the guy helped me on to the small Lomond ferry. It was mostly used for tourists but also acted to ferry those over to Rowardennan. After 7 bucks 50 and a short 30 min crossing I was over at Rowardennan at 11am.

After hiding my bike in the undergrowth at the car park next to the info centre and toilets I set off at 11.10 am up the path through the oak woods then the felled forestry. Passed through an open gate to the open hillside giving good views of loch Lomond. The path then zig zags  north up the broad ridge of the mountain with a couple of false summits. The path climbs steeply on the final ascent to the summit ridge. It then levels off to curve to the left around the rim of the eastern Corie a Bhathaich, hidden until this point up to the summit trig point which was reached at 13.20. The day was cloudy with occasional sunny spells and the summit was clear but the mist drew in quickly. There were cracking views of the surrounding arrochar alps and Loch Lomond islands. I descended by retracing my outward route back down the path as I still had a 20 mile cycle back to Balloch.

Heading up Ben Lomond

Loch Lomond

Summit view West to Arrochar Alps

Summit view East

Loch Lomond Islands

(10.8.09) Rowardennan to Balloch 20 mile 32 km 2 hours 40 min

I reached the car park at 3. Unchained  my bike from the tree, grabbed some warm water from the toilets then started cycling out of Rowardennan in a south easterly direction at 15.30. Cycled along the quiet B837 passing a few walkers walking the west highland way. There were also good views towards the islands of Loch Lomond. I also had to get off and push my bike up a few hills. At one point I ran out of water and wanted to get to Balmaha quickly. Got there soon enough for a couple of bottles of water. Further on there were good views of conic hill where I walked over back in sept 2007. 11 mile later I stopped off at the town of Drymen. From here I followed sustrans NCN 7 to Balloch. The route then went south east following the west highland way along to Easter Drumquhassle farm, south west along a dismantled railway and quiet country roads. The sun was out so there was great views towards Ben Lomond and Loch Lomond. Finally I cycled into Balloch country park then onto the train home. 

Ben Lomond 

The Cairngorms National Park

Cairngorms Exped

3/7/2009

Started the cairngorms expedition at the ski centre car park and set off around 3 pm. Me, Steve, Fitz, Kenny, Paul and Graham. Followed the obvious path in a south easterly direction up Miadan Creag an Leth-choin and opposite Cairn Lochan and Stob Coire an t Sneachda. The weather was cloudy with strong bursts of wind averaged 40 mph which took us off our stride at various points on the walk. The path then levels off at the plateau around 1083 metres. As the mist was coming in thick and fast along with rain we decided to pitch up camp 1200 metres up next to an icesheet somewhere near Lochan Buidhe. Got the tents set up, chilled the bevy in the ice sheet and slide down it. We then had a scran and then listened to the knowledge of the Wise tent (aka Kenny). Rained quite abit at night and was also very windy. I had an uncomfortable nights sleep due to the cold and the high altitude.

 

Setting off

camp spot

bevy chilling

camp spot

fun in the snow

4/7/2009

Woke up to glorious sunshine and got sorted with breakfast and coffee. The started the ascent on up to Ben Macdui. Followed the obvious path up but took a bearing south east to see the memorial and the engine of the B52 that crashed on the plateau  in 1942. The summit of Ben Macdui (Beinn Macduibh), 1,309 M. 4295FT. 2nd highest in the UK was surrounded by mist so visibility was zero. From the summit we followed the path east near the cliffs of  Coire Sputan Dearg then ascended down via the path towards our 2^nd camp for the night, in between Loch Etchachan and little Loch Etchachan. After lunch in the afternoon we took a 3km stroll down to the Hutchison memorial hut. After we got back we cooked tea and polished off the cider. After much banter we called it a night. The rain was heavy at times and it was another cold wild camp as Loch Etchachan lies 3025ft above sea level. 

on the move

lads paying respects

Ben Macdui summit

on the descent

view to Derry Cairngorm

camp spot at Loch Etchachan

de-tour to the Hutchison memorial hut

Hutchison memorial hut

evening beers

5/7/2009

Woke up to heavy mist, which was soon to clear by the time we started walking. Had breakfast and around 9pm set off for Derry Cairngorm. From Loch Etchachan we traversed south east up the steep slopes to the top ‘Creagan a’ Choire Etchachan’ 1108 metres. From here we followed the slight path down then up over the rocky boulders  to the summit of Derry Cairngorm 1155 metres. Visibility at the summit was clear with sunny spells We returned via the path but skirted around the top back down to Loch Etchachan for lunch. Average time 3 hours.

en route to Derry Cairngorm

lads at the summit

chilling at the summit

on the descent

  Beinn Mheadhoin. 1182M Climbed via Loch Etchachan and  zig zagged up the very steep path onto the summit ridge plateau. Walked over flat stony tundra towards the massive granite tours. A short easy scramble was involved to reach the true summit. Another granite boulder was scrambled up giving good views towards Loch Avon and our camp for the third and final night. Descended back to Loch Etchachan the same way. Average time 2 hours.

approaching Beinn Mheadhoin summit

Loch Avon from the summit

lads at the summit

descent back to camp spot

                       After lunch we packed up and started on the path to beach camp follwing the path north west beside the burn Allt nan stacan Dubha then down the steep ground beside Castlegates Gully to the shelter stone then around to Loch Avon. Here we set up the tents, had a wonder,  lit a fire, had some scran and had a good bit o banter.

descent to Loch Avon

Loch Avon

Lads at Loch Avon

Setting up camp

Loch Avon beach

chillaxing

6.7.2009

The next day was the trek home so after breakfast we packed up our tents then headed around Loch Avon. We walked up east then north, a  grade 1 scramble up the waterfall from the bowl of Coire Raibeirt.We then headed west around Stob Coire an t- Sneachda, descended the very steep and eroded goat track into the corrie then followed the path back to the car park. Into Aviemore for food, a pint then homeward bound.

 

the climb home

Morning clag

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