29 May 2015 saw us arrive at Edinburgh Airport from Cologne and Berlin on time and full of anticipation. The weather was much better than we had expected it to be. The waiting line at the car rental was short and off we went quite swiftly.

The first hill of the May/June 2015 “campaign” was to be Ben Challum which is a good hill for an afternoon hike since its ascent from Kirkton Farm is straightforward and very quickly done. The choice of Kirkton as the starting point also signalled our decision to skip the slightly longer but likely more interesting approach to the hill via its north-east ridge due to time constraints imposed upon us by the advanced hour of the day. We reached the farm buildings using the minor road that leaves the A82 a few kilometres west of Crianlarich. Right in front of the Farm the West Highland Way runs parallel to the railway line. We parked the Vauxhall in a little parking provided by the farmer (Thanks!). Then the stuff we needed for the short hike was torn from our suitcases and disappeared into the rucksacks. Hiking clothes were found, put on and boots were laced.

After a short glance at the ruins of St. Fillan’s Priory we took the Land Rover track leading uphill towards the rail tracks. We crossed the tracks and continued uphill for a few dozen metres until we picked up traces of a path and later the path proper which we were able to follow all the way to the summit of Beinn Challum. But before we got there seemingly endless slopes of grass interspersed with two deer fences, the occasional squishy section and the odd peat hag needed to be climbed.

This was no problem, though, since the weather had been mostly dry the days before we arrived in Scotland. The views became more extensive as height was gained. An overcast day with high clouds and the occasional ray of brilliant sunlight. Not the worst hillwalking weather at all.

Then the south top of … [Read More]