Sunday, June 5: Ben More - Stob Binnein

Route on this morning was well shown in the first photo; Ben More off on the other side and, via a beautiful path, up on the Stob Binein.

After that, things got trickier.

Normally these 2 are run separately where I (in the saddle between the 2 Munro’s, in Scotland they (we) call that a Ballach) also saw in route that went around the Ben More (from the same starting point where I started to the right) and then from the saddle/Ballach (through the back) so up. After that, you can also take Stob Binein or return via the same route.

I understood from people I talked to that this is an easier route.

So I myself have done the 7 Munro’s in this area, as I will show them on the last map, in succession which is easy because I have my tent with me and so I am not in a hurry.

On the route I got from Walkhighlands I couldn’t believe the descent (very steep) so traversing by myself I sought a route to the valley. When I was eating dinner on the Saturday night I talked to someone who had done all 7 of them in 1 day but from the other side. He had slept in his car (he had parked it in Crianlarich) and still had to drive over 2 hours that evening. The website above has more reports of people doing this but so they don’t have a heavy backpack with them!!! (Just to exonerate myself for taking several days).

Fact that I walk very, very quietly also contributes to that, of course, fair is fair.

Back to the descent: the tricky thing about descending without a trail/route is that from the altitude you can’t always see where you’re going which can mean having to backtrack a bit. In this case, that went well and this was my next place to sleep. This may sound more exciting than it is but especially with a waterfall, a few feet to the left or right can suddenly mean a steep section. (So I also stay away from that as much as possible).

Below is another video of the roost.

Still “un-Scottish” weather, but lovely!

To the next day