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Mam Na Gualainn(796m)

Saturday 19th July 2014

7.5kms

4hrs 30mins

As we gathered at the small parking area on the north side of Loch Leven there was a definite sense of making the best of what could be a pretty horrendous day weather wise, with very heavy rain and possibly thunderstorms forecast. Nevertheless we set off through the short stretch of woodland and were soon on the open hillside on the through path from Loch Leven to Lairigmor.

At around the 350m height, we left the path, taking a direct heading north east up the heathery, and often steep, slopes aiming for the unseen Callert Lump, a prominent knoll just to the south west of the summit ridge of Mam na Gualainn. The threatening clouds had been gathering as we gained height, but the heaviest of the rain seemed to be to the south of us, with only a steady drizzle and thick mist greeting us as we entered the low cloud base.

By the time we reached the main summit area, visibility was restricted, but I had a very definite impression that it was an "untidy" summit, with a series of small troughs and ridgelines which we either walked along or walked through until the summit cairn and Trig Pt suddenly appeared just in front of us. An "untidy" summit it may be, but we made best use of the small troughs as we huddled below one to take a short break for lunch, sheltered as best we could from the rain.

Given better weather, we may well have lingered on the summit area, or even proceeded further along the ridge beyond the summit, but, as it was, we were happy to make our return, initially retracing our steps to just beyond the Callert Lump before we made a dog-leg north west and then west to rejoin the Loch Leven - Lairigmor track nearer to the bealach, and so higher up than when we left it, giving us slightly more gentle slopes for the descent from the summit.

We considered ourselves rather fortunate with the weather, it had been wet and cloudy, but it was not until we were driving through Glen Coe on our way home that the heavier rain that was forecast made its mark, and by the time we had made our watering stop at Kingshouse, just making a short dash from the car into the hotel was enough to get a soaking.

Thanks Trish, even the weather could not dampen the enthusiasm, great walk.

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