[Trip Index] [Munro Index] [Home] 15th May 2001   Stuchd an Lochain Meall Buidhe Map These two hills are on opposite sides of Loch an Daimh, a loch which was formed by the merging of Loch Daimh and Loch Giorra. The Giorra Dam is at the east end of the loch. The Giorra Dam It was a cloudy day but dry and with the cloud lying low enough to obscure the tops of the hills it looked like there would be no grand views today. I drove along Glen Lyon, stopping at one point to spray disinfectant on wheels & boots because of the foot & mouth troubles. A red squirrel bounded across the road in front of me as I was driving along. When I reached the dam I parked the car and set off towards Stuchd an Lochain at 10:40. It was very steep climbing up the hillside but by 11:40 I reached a line of fence-posts; this was about 100ft into the clouds by now though, so I couldn't see much. I eventually got to the ridge and it was easy after that, with a distinct path and fence posts to follow most of the way. Saw a few ptarmigans. After one final steep bit I reached the summit (12:45), a flat area about 50ft across with a cairn at the eastern end. There's a steep drop to the northern side of the mountain and about 780 ft below lies a small, circular lochan called Lochan nan Cat. According to Cameron's guide book many years ago (1590) the local laird, 'Mad Colin Campbell' of Meggernie, used to amuse himself by chasing goats over the edge to fall, if they were lucky, into the lochan. His shepherd was said to have narrowly escaped the same fate. Me on the slopes of Stuchd an Lochain A ptarmigan on Stuchd an Lochain I had a sandwich, said hello to two chaps who turned up at the top, and set off back down at 1:10. It was easy getting down, though a bit tough on the legs because of the steepness. Near the bottom I met a Lancashire lad, about 50, whom I'd seen setting off up Meall Buidhe as I was starting. He'd done that one and was now about to do Stuchd an Lochain, whilst I was doing them the other way round. Had a chat with him - he'd just retired and was intending finishing off the Munros over the next 3 months. He'd already done about 150, he said, but today was the first day of his expedition. He was going to live much of the time in the tatty old yellow van he'd parked by the dam. He had a pink fleece on and also knew Ware - had been to Ware College and lived in Hertford. Now living on south coast. Anyway I had been thinking of calling it a day at this point as the climb had been quite hard but he said the other hill was easy so I got back to the car (2:55), girded my loins and set off (3.05). He was quite right, it was lots easier. I couldn't see an awful lot because of the cloud but there was a path, albeit a bit vague in places. I had the compass, however, so no real problems. Crested a lesser eminence called Meall a Phuill and was unsure for a moment if it was the top so set off west to see if there was a col there. Got a bit lost there despite the compass and counting steps - it's not easy when you can see no reference points - but eventually I managed to get back on the right ridge and came to a cairn. Again for a moment I wondered if this was it, but it seemed unlikely so I kept on and sure enough the ground began to rise again. Easy-going progress after that, following a series of cairns till I got to the unmistakeable summit cairn (4:50). At the summit of Meall Buidhe I phoned Trisha as I was behind schedule again & left the top at 5:03. It was an easy descent although I lost the path near the end. Breaking through the cloud, however, I could see the loch below and just yomped down a bit of hill in the right direction. I got onto a landrover track and followed it all the way back to the car (6:10). As I was about to leave the Lancs lad turned up again - he agreed that Stuchd an Lochain was a lot more demanding than Meall Buidhe.