Inspired by the weather, the grassy hills and the amazing views from Stob an Eas just over a week ago we made the return trip to Hell’s Glen, and, parking in exactly the same spot, only this time crossing the road and taking the forest track heading south south west we started out on our ascent of Cruach nam Mult whose northern gullies and long north west ridge had held our gaze from Stob an Eas and set our minds on a hill worthy of a closer look.

As we found with the forest track onto Stob an Eas, there has been a great deal of felling taking place on the forests along Hell’s Glen, and so it was as we headed along the track with areas of clearance, especially on the lower hillside, but there were also areas of replanting which together combined to leave little choice of a good path through these areas and onto the open hillside. Researching the internet before our departure both Mike and myself had found a couple of possibilities and it was to one of these that we were heading. A kilometre and a half or so along the gently rising forest track we found the “markers” we were looking for, three sawn off tree post on our right-hand side and the remains of an old log bridge to the left-hand side of the track indicating a possible cut-off point from which to gain access to the open hillside.

It was mid-morning, and hot, the UK was in the grip of a heatwave, with June temperatures like to be at record highs by the later part of the week, so we took the opportunity to have a short hydration break (Yes, I’ve been watching the World Cup too!) and to check out the described “logging track” that should be there beyond the log bridge. It was there, but certainly no longer a clear track but more of an overgrown barely distinguishable path, although on close inspecting there were areas where the remains of a stone track were visible, and these were an ideal means of ensuring we were still on the right “track” as we progressed through shrub and young plantation to a stile in an old fenceline. We are often grateful for stiles in deer fences, but this was not one to cross but rather the next marker we were looking for at which point it was advised not to cross the fence, but to continue uphill along the fenceline to the open hillside just a few metres further along the fenceline.

We were now around the 400m height on the western flank of the northwest ridge of Cruach nam Mult whose summit, at 611m high was just over a kilometre away with some 210 metres of climbing left. Rather than do a dog-leg to take us onto the broad ridge proper, we simply took a bearing directly on the summit and set off at a steady pace uphill. Progression was a little slower than hoped, it was a knobbly hillside with a few unseen dips, humps and a few dry peat hags to negotiate enroute to the grassy and unmarked summit with just the spot height on the map to indicate the high point.

Stob an Eas had inspired us with it’s panoramic views, and Cruach nam Mult lived up to expectations as once again we had spectacular views in every direction, views over to Loch Goil, Loch Fyne, and beyond Stob an Eas to the Arrochar Alps, magnificent views, amazing weather, it was hot but thankfully on the summit there was a light breeze, enough to cool us and keep and the midges and other creatures at bay as we settled down for what would be a leisurely break on a fine little summit. A break that was suddenly interrupted by the roar of two Eurofighters that roared across the bealach below us and between the summit of Cruach nan Capull and our top before diving down to fly up Loch Fyne towards Glen Fyne, no doubt doing a bit of low level navigation at speed.

The day was getting hotter, there were options to extend the walk, but our objective had been Cruach nam Mult, and we were very satisfied with the day as it was, and so after our break we simply retraced our route back down the grassy hillside, onto the “logging” track through the plantation and back along the forest track to our start point in Hell’s Glen.

A brilliant day, thanks for your company Mike.