Over The Hill

I never get tired of walking in two of our local hills at Arrochar, The Cobbler and Beinn Narnain, and they have been go-to hills on a couple of occasions during the last two Covid restricted years. And, so when Idris was taking a group up Beinn Narnain via the Spearhead route I was initially quite jealous, as the Spearhead is a great route, but I was very aware of my lack of fitness just at this moment in time, and the Spearhead is quite a demanding climb. However, taking a leaf out of Baldrick’s book, I devised a cunning plan! While Idris and co were making their attack up the Spearhead, I would out-flank them and take the much easier route via the Narnain Boulders and Bealach a’Mhaim. If it worked out I could at least join them on the summit.

Giving myself ample time, I left the car park at Succoth quite some time before the arrival of the Spearhead group and took a sedate pace up the zig-zags to the small hydro dam on the Allt a’ Bhalachain, by which time the early morning haze had dispersed and An t’Sron was bathed in clear blue skies, as was The Cobbler as it came into view a few metres further along the track. Just stunning, I am always in awe of that first view of The Cobbler, clear skies, rain, hail, mist and snow, it is quite beautiful.

It was still quite early and apart from a couple of other like minded walkers, I had the path to myself, passing the Narnain Boulders, up the slightly steeper incline to the bealach, and then the short descent to the three-way split, where The Cobbler, Beinn Ime and Beinn Narnain walkers take their respective paths for the final climb to their chosen summit.

I was pleased with my effort, a little heavy legged on the first section up the zig-zags, less so on my way to Bealach a’Mhaim, and a couple of brief stops on the final pull to the summit, but all in all, I was happy; and how could I be otherwise, just look at the skies and views in those summit photos, magnificent. And, I could now sit back and relax while I awaited the arrival of Idris and the Spearhead bunch. I was adequately informed as to their progress as I quizzed any new arrivals at the summit as to the whereabout of the group on the Spearhead route. Some interesting conversations were struck up on the subject, but those have been regaled already over coffee, so there is no need to repeat them here; other than, I heard the laughter and banter of the group approaching the summit long before I saw them traverse the final flat, rocky top from the Spearhead to the summit cairn.

The cunning plan had worked, I made the summit, and met up with the Spearhead bunch; all that remained now was to make the descent, which we did, simply retracing my ascent route, we had a very leisurely walk back which included a late afternoon tea break at the Narnain Boulders, and the usual, never-ending descent of the zig-zags.

Fair to say, a great day by all, and a nice coffee and scrumptious cake in Slanj to end the day. - Brilliant