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Ben Lomond from Loch Dhu(974m)

Sunday 24th June 2018

24kms

9hrs 15mins

When Alan put this walk in the programme he noted that it would be "weather dependant", and as this amazing summer weather went on and on Alan was never going to have to call on Plan B, whatever that may have involved; amazing weather for a brilliant days walking.

Walk-ins can be an evil necessity or a delight, and thankfully the long walk-in from Loch Dhu to Comer, at the base of the northeast ridge of Ben Lomond is on a good track with open woodlands, a river and very fine views of Ben Lomond to keep the eyes and mind interested enough to ignore the distance traveled underfoot. It is of course an entirely different prospect once you leave Comer and take to the rough open hillside of the north east ridge; the initial stages of which involved battling our way through some rather tall and thick bracken before we broke free and started to make our way up through the rocky knolls and crags of the ridge.

Taking the more popular ascent routes of Ben Lomond, via the "tourist" path or Ptarmigan Ridge the views over Loch Lomond are quite beautiful, but what these routes do not show the walker is just how spectacular the crags and coiries of the north face of the mountain are as they drop almost vertically from the summit ridge down into the base of the coire; it is these views, and the remoteness of this ridge which make this route stand out from all others.

Remote the ridge may seem, but this illusion is quickly shattered as you crest the top of the ridge for the final short section to the summit, at which point you join the main throng of walkers ascending the path from Rowardennan, swamping the summit Trig Point such that all we did was touch the stones and promptly departed to the quieter regions of our descent route beyond the 900m high shoulder to the head of Coire Fuar. The broad, grassy ridge which runs south southeast from Coire Fuar makes for a fairly gentle descent towards the distant forest boundary and the head of the Bruach Caorainn Burn which would be our handrail through the forest to join up with the forest track which would take us onwards through the forest, albeit for quite some distance, and back to the waters of Loch Dhu.

A fantastic day, amazing weather, and the best of company - Thanks Alan.

Ben Lomond from Loch Dhu - Photo Gallery

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