A fine easy Munro in Perthshire with stunning views and overlooking the most beautiful part of celebrated Glen Lyon. We climbed it on a sunny October day, stags roaring below us and the hills in autumn colours of amber, tawny and gold. It was glorious.
For more photos:https://flic.kr/s/aHsmveoFeZ
We parked at the end of Glen Lyon’s single track road at Loch na Daimh (loch of the stag) where a reservoir has been created.It’s big lonely country here , stunningly beautiful.A good track took us up towards the hill for the first 15 minutes but we were on the look-out for a boggy path which headed up the mountain. Sure enough we found it and began the slog up the wettish slopes and onto the ridge itself. The going was a lot easier now though we still had some small ascents before Lochan na Cat came into view far below us. Already, it was difficult to keep walking for long without stopping to stare at the vistas around us. The light was wonderful, as it often is in autumn. One of those days when I feel so lucky to have found hillwalking and to enjoy that connection with a wild place that seems to make the spirit soar.
Way in the distance Ben Nevis was clear….the wedge shaped mountain on the left.
We ambled along the ridge, longer than we’d thought, then made the final short, steep pull up onto the wide summit itself. The views all around were breath-taking, just so beautiful.Mountains as far as the eye could see, in every direction. Glencoe lay to the north west, the distinctive mountains there very clear rising out of the watery expanse of Rannoch Moor.
Below us on the ridge were two stalkers with rifles, out looking for stags. We sat enjoying some lunch, surveying the scene from our high perch when a peregrine shot across the corrie below us, setting 20 or so golden plovers into panicking flight. Far below came the grunt and roar of a stag, a primeval sound. It was a summit that was hard to leave but leave we had to, taking our time on the descent and savouring another special day in this less frequented part of the Scottish Highlands.
Glen Lyon feels far off the main tourist trail though it always attracts Munro baggers though we met none on that perfect day. In all , we were around 4 hours total for the walk given the 400m high start and with only 726m of ascent. In total, just over 5 miles return. A beauty of a hill walk.Superb country.
THE BEST OF SCOTLAND 