Over The Hill

A change in my mid-week walking companions this week as I joined up with Bernadette and Jack for a welcome return to Ben Ledi, a fine Corbett just west of Callander. The ascent of Ben Ledi is uncomplicated on a well defined path, that is the positive aspect. There is however a negative point too, that is that the path is steep and has long stretches of man-made boulder steps which resemble high stepping stairs; but, the views are wonderful and the steps are left behind as you reach the shoulder of the south east ridge at around the 600m height.

Once on the 2 kilometre long ridge the gradient eases somewhat as the track takes a fairly direct line for the summit, with just a few short, sharp dips and climbs as the final approach is made, passing the knoll upon which is the memorial cross to Police Sergeant Harry Lawrie who was a member of the Killin Mountain Rescue Team and was killed when the helicopter he was travelling in crashed while attending a call-out to an injured climber on Ben More. It is just a few steps from the memorial cross to the Trig Point marking the 879m high summit of Ben Ledi.

The weather as we climbed was slightly overcast but quite muggy, and the midges were out; not overwhelming, but just enough that when we paused for a drink they allowed you a few minutes grace before you started to feel their presence and were glad to move on again. We reached the summit in dry conditions but had now longer posed for the summit photo, courtesy of a young lad who took the photo, than the rain swept in from the west requiring us to don waterproof jackets while we sat and had a very welcome lunch break.

We departed the summit still in waterproofs, but had barely begun the descent when the wind dropped, the rain stopped and we were back in fine walking weather. We were heading for Coire na Fuaire and the indistinct grassy path which descends via Bealach na Corp to Stank Glen. The “indistinct path” that I remembered from previous visits as a rather wet affair was surprisingly easy to find and not as wet at anticipated, it is still only a rough grassy and at times rocky path but is obviously drawing a greater footfall as it is now quite easy to pick up and follow down to Stank Glen.

In Stank Glen, we had a short break beside Stank Burn before following the heather clad path through the heather and scrub to gain the forest track down the gorge beside the waterfalls of the lower Stank Burn as it flows towards the southern shores of Loch Lubnaig, from where a final short leg stretch along the tarmac shore road lead us back to the car park and the completion of yet another very enjoyable day in the hills.

Many thanks to Bernadette and Jack for your company on a fine mountain.

Further information on the memorial and helicopter crash can be found at:

BBC Killin MRT