Crianlarich - Ben More (1174m)
Distance: 6km; Ascent: 1000m; Time: 4h45m
16/04/2022 - Took the ferry from Port Ellen (Islay) to Kennacraig, and drove to Crianlarich where we checked in to Glenbruar House, which is run by the Best Western Crianlarich Hotel, for a 2 night stay. The main purposes of staying here were to climb Ben More and to break our journey home. There is a short walk from just behind our accommodation along the course of a dismantled railway alongside the River Fillan (which is where the above photo of Ben More was taken from) - the bridge carries the railway that continues to operate. Food at the Best Western was very good. Staying at Glenbruar House rather than the hotel across the road was better for moth-trapping.
17/04/2022 - The Walk Highlands route for Ben More takes in a second Munro (Stob Binnein) and, if circumstances were more propitious, it was our plan to do the full circuit. However, I had fallen over in a bog while setting a moth trap and aggravated a knee problem, and most of Ben More was in cloud, so visibility especially in the summit area was very poor (and continuing would have meant an extra 300m of descent and ascent). Ben More is very steep, but there is a fairly good path for much of the route. Views of Strath Fillan (incidentally also the name of our room in Glenbruar House), and Lochs Dochart and Lubhair were good, especially on the descent. The steepness of the incline (and the condition of my knee) meant that it took almost as long to descend as it did to get to the summit (2h30m up, 2h15m down). |