[Trip Index] [Munro Index] [Home] 13th May 2001   Ben Lui Beinn a' Chleibh Ben Oss Map On holiday for two weeks, Callander/Fort William, with Trisha; climbing every other day. Today, Sunday, I left Callander at 7:50, drove to the car park on the A85, then booted up and set off for the hills at 9:00 on a gloriously blue-skied, sunny day. Because of the outbreak of Foot & Mouth disease down south there were access restrictions in place which meant that the Ben Oss/Beinn Dubhchraig pair were no longer accessible from the east, the usual start being Dalrigh on the A82. It looked possible, however, to do them and the Ben Lui/Beinn a' Chleibh pair all in one day from the A85. Ben Lui (left) & Beinn a' Chleibh from the A85 I crossed the railway line and had a 40 minute plod through awful conifer forest followed by a long, gradual slog up to the bealach between Ben Lui and Beinn a' Chleibh (or Ben a Chillblain as I kept thinking of it). Turning right it was a straightforward trip up to the top of Beinn a' Chleibh which I reached at 11:00. Sat and gazed for a while then girded loins and left the top at 11:20 to return to the bealach. Summit of Beinn a' Chleibh   On Beinn a' Chleibh with Ben Lui in the background I had my tatty sun hat on, of course, and the macho sun cream Trisha had bought for me, but beneath the clear, blue skies it got very hot and as I started up Ben Lui, a much higher mountain, I was soon dripping with sweat, gasping for breath and my heart rate was constantly over 130 beats per minute. It was very steep and knackering and the pauses for breath got more and more frequent as I neared the top. Got there by 12:25. There were over a dozen folk sitting around at the top taking in the view, including a couple of girls about 28 or so wearing shorts and with just light rucksacks. I, of course, had hauled up my usual rucksackfull of food/drink, anorak, fleece, overtrousers… hohoho. Well, conditions can change…! Although I had to admit to thinking it a little silly under that heat - never needed more than my t-shirt (and trousers). The summit of Ben Lui Most of these people were content with doing the usual pair (Ben Lui and Beinn a' Chleibh) and set off down back the way they'd come. And I was a bit used up by now too; still I looked over to Ben Oss and considered. There was a fair drop between the hills and also a wide semi-circle walk to skirt the head of the Allt Coire Laoigh (Allts are streams for anyone who doesn't know). The view from Ben Lui I thought I'd give it a go though so set off 12:40. Dropping down Ben Lui I was nearing the point where the ground levelled out and led on to Ben Oss when I heard something behind me. It was the two girls - sturdy lasses they were off to Ben Oss too only they were actually jogging down the hillside! They passed me with a 'Hi' and I carried on, watching the bouncing buttocks drawing away from me. Then to my horror I saw them reach the point where the ground levelled out and began to rise again - and they carried on jogging! Aghhh! Downhill fair enough but this was rubbing my nose in it, I thought. Made me feel all of my 51 years. Ah, well - good luck to them. Finally got to the top of Ben Oss, very knackered (2:30). My two fair joggers were there at the top - they must have slowed down somewhere or maybe they'd done the next one and returned for all I knew - but they were sitting there on the rocks, sunning themselves. Sweaty and gasping I observed: 'I'm getting too old for this.' And the blonde one, lying there lazily like a sleek, well-fed cat, smiled, looked at me and fibbed: 'Rubbish' she said. Ah... what a nice, discerning girl :-) I considered the next mountain - Beinn Dubhchraig. From the summit of Ben Oss it seemed a daunting, long drop down before the next ascent, plus it would leave me another 1.5 miles from the car for I was going to have to retrace the route afterwards; plus I was getting to the pretty done-in stage with quite a way to go back already. I hummed and haaed and decided to carry on. 3:05 I set off and descended 200ft before seeing sense. I was just too knackered. So I re-ascended, went back down Ben Oss then hankered round the shoulder of Ben Lui back to the bealach. Going round the shoulder of Ben Lui - to avoid having to reascend it - seemed to take ages. I could see the rotten bealach and it never seemed to get any nearer! I got there at last at 5:00 and phoned Trisha on the mobile to tell her I was OK. Ben Lui Then a long tiring descent to the forest area and back round the longest possible route per the way I'd come (on the initial leg I'd followed some idiots) I think the real path would have saved me about 1.5 miles. Never mind. Got back to the car 7:00 having had to take frequent rests on the way. Was glad I hadn't gone for the last one.