Route description: Ben Vorlich and Stuc a'Chroin Munros included on this walk: Ben Vorlich (Loch Earn), Stuc a'Chroin Time taken: 6 hours Distance: 13.5 km Ascent: 1145m |
You are able to have a good look at the hill all the way up from the start, which I like, and found that after 90 mins or so we had about 200m of ascent left….200m of steep ascent, or it certainly felt steep in the rising sun. As you climb you find yourself egged on by the sunlight glinting off the top of the trig point. Stopping for a breather every 10 mins resulted in excellent views back down the path on which you had traveled, the Loch and to the Munros further North.
It was at this point that my companion realised he had left his irreplaceable sunglasses some 500 yards back during a drink stop. Their sentimental value must have been considerable as he divulged that they cost a princely 7 quid out of Sports Direct As he returned for his shades I began the scramble, easily reaching the large grassy area about a third of the way up. Here I rested as I waited to be reunited with my now bespectacled mate.
Again, I was rewarded with amazing views especially back over to Vorlich and down the Glen towards Stirling and the Ochils. It was here I had the most relaxing 20 mins or so whilst I sat down and watched the effort required for my mate to ascend the scree path in the full sun. It may be a bypass route but it still looked bloody hard work, which he confirmed as we reunited for the 1/2km walk to the summit of Stuc A’ Chroin. More cracking views, couldn’t really be anything else given the weather we had.