Sunday, June 9, 2013

Stuchd an Lochain

The weather forecast was for a stunning weekend (a rare thing in Scotland!), and with my knee feeling quite good, I was keen to get out and at least try to get up a decent-sized hill. I was a little restricted with time, as I was due in Glasgow for a certain 4-year-old's 4th birthday party. I scanned the map for hills that were close to Edinburgh that I hadn't yet ticked off and my eye was soon drawn to Stuchd an Lochain.
Highland Cows in the River Lyon, Glen Lyon
Highland Cows in the River Lyon, Glen Lyon
Highland Cows, Glen Lyon
Highland Cows, Glen Lyon
Giorra Dam, Glen Lyon
Giorra Dam, Glen Lyon
Loch an Daimh
Loch an Daimh
I left Edinburgh just after 9am but a few delays meant that I only set off from the car-park below the Loch an Daimh dam at 12:30pm. The cloud was still low and so was the temperature - although things were beginning to warm up. As I rounded the South shore, leaving the track at the cairn, small patches of blue sky were visible above me - hopefully the cloud would burn off and the afternoon would be a scorcher.
Loch an Daimh
Loch an Daimh
Loch an Daimh
Loch an Daimh
Heading up above Coire Ban
Heading up above Coire Ban
Looking East down Glen Lyon
Looking East down Glen Lyon
The path wasn't exactly brilliant - rough, boggy, and steep - I was surprised at just how wet it was, considering how little rain there had been lately. My knee was feeling good, despite the steep incline, and I was pleased to find that my fitness hadn't seemed to suffer too much… I was at the top of the main ridge in only 30 minutes. I passed a few large groups on their way down, and I was thinking that they can't have had much of a view. For myself, however, the sky was clearing all the time and the views were becoming more stunning by the second. From the spot height of 887m, I had a great view looking down on Lochan nan Cat. My eyes were then drawn along the remainder of the ridge to my left and along to the summit in front of me.
Stuchd an Lochain summit above Loch an Daimh
Stuchd an Lochain summit above Loch an Daimh
Looking back towards Creag an Fheadain
Looking back towards Creag an Fheadain
Looking North towards Meall Buidhe above Loch an Daimh
Looking North towards Meall Buidhe above Loch an Daimh
Looking Northwest towards Ben Nevis and the Mamores
Looking Northwest towards Ben Nevis and the Mamores
As the sky turned blue and I headed along the easy slopes to the summit, I passed above a large patch of snow that remained on the steep North slopes; still shaded from the sun's reach. After a short steep section, I was standing next to the small summit cairn admiring the extensive views in every direction.
Stuchd an Lochain and Lochan nan Cat
Stuchd an Lochain and Lochan nan Cat
Stuchd an Lochain with Beinn Sheasgarnaich in the clouds behind
Stuchd an Lochain with Beinn Sheasgarnaich in the clouds behind
Looking Southwest to Loch Lyon and Beinn Sheasgarnaich
Looking Southwest to Loch Lyon and Beinn Sheasgarnaich
Meall Buidhe and Loch an Daimh
Meall Buidhe and Loch an Daimh
The air was now clear and the sun was burning off the remaining cloud and haze. I could see hills in every direction. Meall Buidhe to the North; Ben Lawers to the East; Ben More & Stob Binnein to the South; Rannoch Moor & Buchaille Etive Mor to the West; and Northwest to the magnificent flat-topped Ben Nevis. I sat on a boulder, opened my lunch and looked out towards the Ben - not a bad spot for lunch, I have to say!
Stuchd an Lochain summit cairn
Stuchd an Lochain summit cairn
On the summit of Stuchd an Lochain, Beinn Sheasgarnaich behind
On the summit of Stuchd an Lochain, Beinn Sheasgarnaich behind
Looking East from the summit of Stuchd an Lochain
Looking East from the summit of Stuchd an Lochain
Looking Northeast from the summit of Stuchd an Lochain
Looking Northeast from the summit of Stuchd an Lochain
On the way back along the ridge, the view really opened up to the East and down into the heart of Glen Lyon. I can't say I enjoyed the path any more on the way down, and - more importantly - neither did my knee! I'm not sure if it was because the path was so rough and steep, or if I descanted too fast, but I do know that I was extremely grateful to reach the track by the reservoir at the bottom of the slope.
Ben Nevis from the summit of Stuchd an Lochain
Ben Nevis from the summit of Stuchd an Lochain
Looking West towards Glencoe and Buachaille Etive Mor from the summit of Stuchd an Lochain
Looking West towards Glencoe and Buachaille Etive Mor from the summit of Stuchd an Lochain
Looking West towards Glencoe and Buachaille Etive Mor from the summit of Stuchd an Lochain
Looking West towards Glencoe and Buachaille Etive Mor from the summit of Stuchd an Lochain
Beinn Sheasgarnaich and Loch Lyon from the summit of Stuchd an Lochain
Beinn Sheasgarnaich and Loch Lyon from the summit of Stuchd an Lochain
I got back to the car at 3:30pm feeling a bit sore and rather frazzled by the sun. I was glad that I'd remembered to buy suncream at Stirling services earlier this morning on the way. I was very pleased with how the day had gone and I really felt like I had timed it just right with the weather - the car told me it was 29 degrees Celsius!
Creag an Tulabhain (left), Sron Chona Choirein (front centre) and Meall Ghaordaidh (right)
Creag an Tulabhain (left), Sron Chona Choirein (front centre) and Meall Ghaordaidh (right)
Looking East down into Glen Lyon
Looking East down into Glen Lyon
Looking along the South shore of Loch an Daimh
Looking along the South shore of Loch an Daimh
Loch an Daimh
Loch an Daimh
Unfortunately, the drive to Glasgow wasn't the smoothest - a couple of accidents delayed me and I arrived a little late for the birthday party. However, a short and fairly easy day but a good test for my knee - perhaps it's not quite match-fit again just yet! I was also surprised at how underrated this particular Munro is - on a nice day, the views in all directions are some of the best I've seen - well worth the effort.
Loch an Daimh
Loch an Daimh
Loch an Daimh
Loch an Daimh