Loch Katrine from Garradh

The overnight temperature dropped to 4degC and by morning the wind had got up a bit. The sky was still overcast but no rain. I set of towards the NW, aiming for the trig post on Maol Mor. On the way I checked out some piles of new fence posts and associated bags of fittings and wire. It looks like a new fence is to be erected over the mountain and at one place there was even a new gate lying on the ground waiting to be fixed. I wonder what purpose a new fence will serve, other than another blight on the landscape.

Trig post on Maol Mor
with Loch Katrine in the distance

I continued towards the trig post across reasonable ground but couldn’t find any sign of a path. Just before the trig post I found one and followed it for a while. After the trig point all signs of the path vanished and finding the best way through the variable landscape of many humps and bumps was quite difficult. Lots of ups and downs made the going slow then I had a long descent to the head of Corrie Arklet which was followed by a very steep climb to Bein Choin.

Cairn on Beinn a Choin

Although I could see the distant hills the weather wasn’t too clear. On a clear day the views must be spectacular. I descended a steep ridge to the north then picked the best way I could towards Lochan Dubh, which I couldn’t see until I was almost there. Then it was another steep climb up Stob nan Eighrach where I could see the next loch to the north. I descended towards it but not up to it. To the NE I could see the top of an electricity pylon at the top of Glen Gyle, which is where I was heading.

On the ridge above Glen Gyle

The ground wasn’t too bad but the top of the pass was quite boggy in places. There was no obvious construction track for the pylons so it must have been a considerable job to erect them. My original plan had been to camp before reaching the Glen Gyle pass but there was no mobile signal so wasn’t able to report my position. I decided to press on until I could report back.

Approaching Meall Mor

I climbed a roughly easterly line up the far side of the glen. There was no sign of a path anywhere so I picked the best way I could. Eventually I got high enough to get a view along Loch Katrine but still no sign of a mobile signal. Further on I got one briefly but there was no water for a camp so I pressed on. I climbed the steep valley side then over the top to get a view down the north side. There was still no signal so I pressed on. The up side was the deer which I could see and although they were off as soon as I was detected I managed to get fairly close to some. I was now approaching Meall Mor and the wind was starting to increase. I got a brief signal at one point but it was too exposed to camp. I pitched the tent a bit lower to try and get a bit of shelter. The weather continued gloomy.

View from the tent.
Ben Lomond to the south