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SCHEDULE
 Sunday 16th April - Beinn
Dubh and the Horseshoe. Height of Climb 692m and overall walk
of 9.3miles. Park at Luss in the visitors car park. There is a bridge over
the bypass road which at the other end instead ofveering left to the Glen
Luss road walk straight ahead on a path to the gate. Turn right and over
the stile which has a notice indicating the walk. A reasonable climb to
the top of Beinn Dubh which levels out for a ridge walk round the
horseshoe. The path at the top is not well marked and although not
difficult the walking is not easy. On a good day the view down Glen
Douglas is superb and when round the other side of the horseshoe the view
over Glen Luss is also very good.
Completed by Norman, Monty, Isles and Wee Barzie in 3
hours.
Sunday 30th April - Beinn
Tharsuinn and Beinn Charoach from Glen Fruin. Height of Climb
626m and overall walk of 9miles. A steeper ascent and once on the higher
ground there is a lot of marshy peaty ground. Boots are a must. The view,
on a half decent day, from Beinn Charoach of the Clyde Estuary and the
Firth of Clyde is the best there is. Quite a steep descent to Auchengaich
Reservoir and then by road back to the start.
Completed by Norman, Monty, Wee Barzie, Ian and
Jaimie in 3.5 hours.
Saturday 6th May - Ben
Lomond. Height of Climb 950m and overall walk of 10.3 miles.
This is a general tourist route walk and is a nice but not to strenuous
walk. This turned out to be more of a challenge than expected. Although flat
and viewed as more of a gentle walk in parts there are still some steep climbs.
Time factor also played a part as the view was it should be completed in 3 1/2
hours.
Completed by Monty, Wee Barzie in 3.15 hours Ian and Jaimie 3/4 complete in 3.15 hours. Norman completed Tuesday 9th in 3.45 hours
Some images of Ben Lomond - Click on the thumbnail to view the full image
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Saturday 13thst May -
Beinn Bhreac and Ben Reoch. Height of Climb 801m and
overall walk of 7.3miles. This turned out to be a stiffer walk than anticipated with the climb up being quite hard.
The view at the top was worth it especially since it was such a nice day.
Completed by Monty, Wee Barzie and Isles in 3 hours.
Sunday 14th May - Beinn
Eich and Doune Hill from Glen Luss. Height of Climb 757m and
overall walk of 10miles. This walk starts from almost the end of Glen Luss road. Parking is limited and care should be taken not to park using up all
the passing place area. Apart from a late start due to some confusion over the
meeting time the walk was pleasant and not to strennuous. The group participating in this walk included some people
who were not doing the challenge and this resulted in a fairly widely scattered group on the hill. A lesson here for future walks
with a number of walkers with different ability is to make sure that there is a means of communicating with the lead and
the tail, mobile phones are a good idea but do not always get a signal especially in some of the more remote glens.
The walk of the hill and back down the glen to the car was heavy going and it would have been better to stick to slightly higher
ground on the left side of the glen. The bottom of the glen being very boggy.
Completed by Monty, Steve, Wee Barzie, Colin and Norman with Monty, Steve, Wee Barzie and Norman doing an extra
peak for a view over Glen Douglas.
Some images of walkers, hills and glens - Click on the thumbnail to view the full image
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Sunday 21st May -
Ben Vorlich (Loch Lomond) . Height of Climb 900m and
overall walk of 7miles. This can only be considered as a climb. The only real hill walking involved was for a brief spell at the top and
on the way down when we got into a glen half way down. It was hard work but enjoyable but definately not for anyone wanting a nice pleasant hill walk.
On this walk not only did 'wee barzie' get the usual admiring glances from the more impressionable young lambs but a couple of highland cows became a bit frisky when
he passed them.
Completed by Monty, Wee Barzie ( both with new boots and no major foot problems), Jaimie, Ian (who has now discovered vertigo) and Norman.
Some images of Hills and People - Click on the thumbnail to view the full image
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Sunday 28th May -
Ben Arthur (The Cobbler). Height of Climb 881m and
overall walk of 6miles. Because this is a well trodden walk the well defined path makes it easier for walking. The early part is a
reasonable steep climb with some awkward parts due to water and erosion. A comfortable flat walk changing to a gradual climb makes it a popular walk for most people.
The remaining climb is steep among boulders and latterly among scree and loose soil. At the top the view was spoiled by low cloud which descended. Along with this came a wind which
made it to cold to hang about on the top. The usual suspects were joined by Andy and Mary and Cheryl and Sara. Cheryl who is down to do the challenge did well for her first walk but
because of new boots blistered her feet and will be doubtful for next week. Andy, Mary and Sara all did well and enjoyed the walk despite the dull and cloudy day. Andy was inspired to complete
by the promise of a treat from Mary, a Steak and Ale pie tea at the Inverbeg Inn.
Sunday 4th June -
Ben Vane, Beinn Ime, Beinn Narnain. Height of Climb 1550m and
overall walk of 12.5miles. This was always going to be a tough walk. It now remains as the next challenge after the three peaks. Due principally
to the weather which covered the peaks with cloud we took a wrong turn and deviated by a couple of mile and ascended the wrong peak after Ben Vane. By the time
this was rectified and we reached the top of Beinn Ime. Conditions had deteriorated with very strong cold winds. Because of the low cloud and poor visibilty we missed the pass between Beinn Ime and
Beinn Narnain. It was to late to rectify by walking back up and so remains an outstanding challenge for later this year.
A full team of boys out on this one including Matthew Morton who has joined the challenge team. Ian had to return before completing Ben Vane still suffering from
his end of course celebrations on Friday night. Matt turned back before the top of Beinn Ime because of cramp and Isles went down to ensure they both got back OK.
Some blisters for Monty and Wee Barzie may mean the next walk will have to be changed.
Sunday 11th June -
Ring of Steall (An Gearanach, Stob Coire a'Chairn, Am Bodach, Sgurr a'Mhaim. Height of Climb 1219m and
overall walk of 5 miles. Four Munro's four seasons all in one day. The day started with the usual attack by midges followed by a pleasant walk into Steill Meadow. This is a pleasant walk in it's
right especially on the day which was very sunny. A reasonably stiff climb up to a rest which gave excellent views of Glen Nevis and the south east side of Ben Nevis.
Continue to the peak of An Gearanach and I promised not to mention the Bealach now known as Steve's folly. From here a ridge walk with a nasty scramble along the side of the
hill. A scramble down from here although not difficult it was time consuming. Then a reasonable walk and climb back up to the top of
Sob Coire a'Chairn. From here it was a straight forward descent and ridge to the foot of Am Bodach. This climb looks worse than it is which although very steep has a well worn route. From here there is a walk to
Sgor an Iubhair which although high enough is no longer classed as an individual Munro. The walk is then along the Devils ridge to the last Munro Sgurr a' Mhail. We were fortunate to clear this ridge before the
weather became really bad although the wind did cause problems while crosing this ridge.
After their was short shower of snow/hail which turned to rain and continued for the whole descent to the car park. Changing was a bit of fun since everyone was sodden.
We all felt pleased to have completed this especially Cheryl who has not had as much previous climbs.
Completed by Monty, Steve, Isles, Wee Barzie, Colin, Calum, Cheryl and Norman.
Sunday 18th June -
No walk this week. Wee Barzie's birthday meant a celebration weekend for the boys in London.
Sunday 25th June -
Ben Ledi - Height of climb 739m and overall walk 7.2 miles. A nice easy walk today in very pleasant weather. This route has changed slightly
because the usual route through the forest has changed due to tree felling. This makes it a longer walk before any climbing but it was a nice day and the boys, in particular,
needed the time to work last weeks alcohol out of their systems. Even our mascot Emily managed this whithout any problem
and her only protest being when Steve changed her nappy.
Ben Ledi including our mascot Emily - Click on the thumbnail to view the full image
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Saturday 1st July -
The Challenge - What all this training has been for. See 'HOW WE DID' for information on the Challenge
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