Over The Hill

Who could resist a walk to a rounded lumpy hill with points such as The Irishman’s Loch, The Irishman’s Leap and Rob Roy’s Putting Stone all within a few hundred metres of each other, so inviting, one not to be missed.

Our starting point was Ledcharrie Farm on the A85 a few miles east of Crianlarich where we were greeted by a herd of deer on the hillside immediately above our parking spot, a wonderful start to the day. However, it should be noted that parking at Ledcharrie is not a simple matter. Although the area by the farm has a Visitor Parking sign with what would seem ample space for seven or eight cars, we had only reached three cars when we were approach by someone from the farmhouse who informed us that no more cars should be parked in the area, and that all others should use the layby some few hundred metres back along the A85. We then adjusted our parking needs, and finally set off for the hillside. But, it was not over, we had barely gone a few hundred metres up the broad stoney track leading away from the farm when an ATV came up behind us and a further conversation was had between Trish and the ATV driver as to our parking arrangements, such that for a few moments we wondered whether our walk would proceed. Thankfully, Trish was as ever the diplomat and with some very skilful negotiations came to a satisfactory agreement with the ATV driver, and we were finally on our way to the anticipated wonderful day in the hills.

The stoney farm track rises quite steeply over the next few kilometres to a small dam and weir were we had a short break to take in the views west towards the snow capped Ben More. It was a fairly bright morning, but certainly the coldest yet this early winter, as was borne out by the fact that I had my gloves, hat and body warmer, or gilet, whichever you prefer, on for the first time this year. But, it was dry, and visibility was good, so much better than our most recent walks in mist shrouded hills.

Departing the weir, the stoney track is left behind and a faint grassy track, with occasional marker posts, leads across the rough hillside and climbs steadily towards the undulating tops on the skyline, eventually topping out at a small bealach between the undulations, and there immediately in front of you are the calm waters of Lochan an Eireannaich, The Loch of the Irishman. I had been here before, back in February 2016 when we had a wonderful winters walk to the Corbett Meall an t-Sealaidh, when the whole lochan was frozen over and covered in a layer of thin snow in contrast to todays calm blue waters. Swinging south we climbed up and round the lochan and onto the rounded lumpy summit of Meall an Lochan, the rounded humps providing a couple of false summits enroute to the unmarked small knoll which sits just a metre of so higher than it’s neighbours and can therefore claim the summit title.

Upon arrival at the summit the merest of snow flurries past over to be followed by a beautiful blue sky and sunshine, just in time to warm us as we sat enjoying the sun’s rays for a welcome lunch break. Wonderful.

In contrast to our route up from the lochan to the summit of Meall an Lochan, the eastern edge of Meall an Lochan is lined with a row of rather impressive crags which we skirted well below to make our descent to join the track to the east of the lochan and make a short climb up to the impressive boulder that is Roy Roy’s Putting Stone, a huge mass of rock which at some point in the distant past has dislodged itself from the towering Leum an Eireannaich, The Irishman’s Leap, and tumbled down the hillside to it current resting place. From the Putting Stone, we completed the circuit around the northern end of the lochan, our visit having taken in those quaintly named natural features of this wonderful spot.

Rejoining our ascent route, we then retraced our step across the rough hillside, with one final short diversion as we visited the area of the Old Shielings and enjoyed an afternoon break it what was still a gloriously sunny winters afternoon.

Thanks Trish, I enjoyed this walk enormously, a great day. John