Beinn na Caillich
Pathfinder Guide: Fort William/Ben Nevis
Walk#13 8.7 Miles
A sunny Friday morning and a high level walk was planned (at last!).
Early-ish start after buying pack up from the local Co-Op, we set off walking directly from the house as the destination was a local peak: Beinn na Caillich. Not quite a Munro, but over 2,500ft so not a small hill either.
Turning left at the street end we followed the mass of other hikers onto the West Highland Way joined just off the loch road.
http://www.west-highland-way.co.uk/home.asp
The West highland Way runs 96 miles from Milngavie to Fort William, and is most often walked in short sections over several days. The path was busy with many other hikers.
After a couple of miles the objective was clearer with the hump summit of Benn na Caillich getting closer, and the zig-zag path clearly visible.
A left diversion off the West Highland path was required going down into a lower valley to gain access to the 'Stalkers Path'. This path was indistinct coming off the main path until a wooden bridge was crossed, after which the path to join the actual Stalkers Path became clearer.
Sue had decided she did not like the look of the route or how prepared she was for it (mainly after a winter of very little exercise), so elected to wait while I went adventuring. The dot going up the zig-zag path IS me!
The path is as it looks both stony and zig-zagging, careful placement of feet required as there was plenty of loose stuff.
Lots of stops to admire the ever opening view back down on Kinlochleven village.
Nice day for it though!
The zig-zag path did finally flatten out onto a plateau for a while, and here that path became more indistinct. A few 'off-piste' moments, but the GPS soon got me back on track again and finding a more stony path once again rising even more steeply, the summit getting nearer.
It did seem a long way to the top, as the summit cairn was gained by sweeping around it before finally approaching from the opposite side, so not seen till the last minute! Finally there, sandwiches and a bottle of cold Mountain Dew tasted good while I enjoyed the fine views.
I did ring Sue a few times with "progress reports" and let her know the views she was missing - sorry!
The view at 2526ft, not a Munro but pretty good effort for me.
Kinlochleven seems such a long way away!
Good views along Loch Leven.
There was still snow on peaks nearby.
A second cairn a little further over, had to go over for a look before setting off back down again.
This gave some different view points.
Soon it was to head back down again, did not want Sue to get too bored at "Base Camp", think she'd been waiting about three hours!
Very quick initial descent down from the top cone looking back now from the flatter plateau.
Then the zig-zags again, slowing progress with much big loose stuff to negotiate.
Keep an eye out for me Sue, I am the dot coming down.
After the last zag, I was not finished, down into the valley bit before another short climb up to the main West Highland Way path and re-united at base camp with Sue.
The view back to Kinlochleven from the main path, and just a two mile hike back down now to the village. We/I arrived back tired mid--afternoon and most definitely an early bath, followed by a fish supper from the local chippy (and a beer or three). By tea-time it did actually start to rain pretty hard - waterproofs on for the short walk (trudge) to the chippy.
From my point of view a thoroughly enjoyable if not tiring day, possibly the (or one of the) highlight/s of the trip, not so sure that Sue would agree with that as "Base Camp" was possibly not quite so thrilling.
My Walk Score: 8.5/10
Saturday 17th May
Turfing out time at the house by 10am. Saturday morning was dull and light rain.
Managed to shoot a few shots of Loch Leven using that dark 10 stop filter.
Got bitten by midges in the process - got away with it all week to get attacked on the last day - covered in bites head and arms, and Sue did not get away lightly either. Maybe worth looking like a pizza to get some nice atmospheric photos? As always, if you want a closer look click on the photo for a better view.
We were booked into a Premier Inn near Carlisle for the night to break the journey back.
The weather was miserable all the way back through Scotland. A stop at a place called the Green Welly Stop for food and a decent bottle of 15yr old Balvenie Whisky and we exited Scotland to finer weather. By Carlisle the sun was "cracking the flags" (phrase regularly used by the Scouser in-laws to mean the sun is shining!)
It was 9°C when we left Kinlochleven, over 20° when we arrived in Carlisle.
Sue's treat was visiting two craft shops in one day nearby, the agreement being whatever I spent on whisky she could spend on craft stash - can't say fairer than that, then we checked in and dined at the Premier Inn.
Weather looked good for Sunday, so a final bike ride was in the planning stages before heading home.
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