With a long weekend and a rare day off together, we decided to have a night away and planned a day in the hills. Booking a cancellable room, we had until midday Friday to make a decision. The weather wasn’t looking fantastic but we figured we’d give it a bash. Fifty percent chance of light rain = fifty percent chance of dry conditions; always opt for the glass half full.

As it transpired, we got wet but this was more to do with the heavy mist than anything falling directly from the sky. Now home and writing this it appears that the weather was definitely better in the east! We’re sitting outdoors as it’s warmer than inside our house!

Ben Lawers

Parking at Ben Lawers this morning, there was little sign of life. Bruce asked if I thought we’d meet anyone on the hills. I gave a resounding, ‘no!’ Unsure why there would be many folks out on a foggy day like this.

Leaving the car park, we gained height quickly on a very good path. The paths here are well made and make for very easy navigation! Views were lacking.

We quickly realised that we’d overdressed, me in my ‘winter’ waterproof jacket, waterproof trousers on, and a base layer / mid layer combo. Needless to say, a layer off and the pit zips and leg vents opened made for more comfortable conditions. Despite this, I was still wet from the inside out.

The usual route being Beinn Ghlas initially, we chose to bypass it, skirting around rather than going up and over the summit. Had it been a day of views it might have been tempting; alas, today was not that day. With An Stuc being the only one of the Lawers munros I’ve not yet been up, today it was the goal.

Our route guide had suggested a faint path to bypass Beinn Ghlas. However, it’s obviously a well trodden route (and not just by the sheep that were milling around the hillside) as the path was very clear and easy to follow.

Just as well really given the conditions. The sun did attempt to break through at points, or maybe we just imagined that, as it never quite succeeded. We stopped as we gained more height to add on additional layers for warmth. Ben Lawers being the 10th highest munro, it was likely to be chilly, the wind strong in the bealach.

After a brief moment of shelter, the wind really picked up as we neared the summit. We opted not to pause for long, instead continuing on to An Stuc after a summit photo.

Wind Blasted

Leaving the summit of Ben Lawers, the wind blasted us from the side. Our forecast had suggested gusts of up to 25 mph but this felt more than that. The path was good and there was width for movement, no significant drops to be seen, so when Bruce yelled at me to query if I wanted to turn back, I was ‘happy’ to continue on for a bit further. My hope was that we may come out of it again. Failing that, if I got blown sideways rather than just buffeted, I was set to bail.

An Stuc

We lost some height (approximately 300 metres) before climbing up once more. There was a good path zigzagging up the steep slope to the summit of An Stuc, threatening in stature and shrouded in fog. This made for easier walking, our legs glad of the reprieve as we approached the summit.

Again, the summit was enveloped in fog, no views to be had.

Thereafter, all that was needed was to retrace our steps. Back down we went, again glad to be dropping height to lose some of the wind.

Out and Back

The joy of the out and back route is on knowing where you’re going. The challenging part of the out and back route can also be in knowing where you’re going! That was the case today, knowing that there was just a wee tricky bit to get back up and that we’d be blasted by the wind as we walked towards the summit of Ben Lawers once more.

We made it in fairly good time, the return leg feeling faster and easier, possibly just through knowing we were now on the home stretch.

Until this point we’d not seen a soul. However, heading off Ben Lawers we met and chatted to a group of three; thereafter we met quite a few folks, some heading up, others we passed on the way down.

As we dropped down, the sky cleared a bit and the wind eased. By the time we were nearer to the car park, there were beautiful views, rowan berries in abundance, and the sun was in full view. We enjoyed this and hoped it might dry off some of our clothing (it didn’t)..

Back at the car, we stripped off our wet layers, amazed at how good a dry top could feel. Homeward bound, the lovely day continued and the drive home showcased the beautiful day that’s been enjoyed by everyone in the east.

Do I regret it? Most definitely not! These days (Type 2 fun) are the memories we can call upon when things get tough, reminding myself that I can do hard things!