Route description: Ben Starav and Glas Bheinn Mhor Munros included on this walk: Ben Starav and Glas Bheinn Mhor Time taken: 6.25 hours Distance: 16km Ascent: 1395m |
After 10 miles of meandering single track road I reached the small and rough parking area at the start of the walk. Leaving the car to fetch my boots saw me instantly savaged by everyone's favourite biting insect. My God ! They were as numerous as they were vicious. I dived back into the car with the swarm in hot pursuit, raked out the Smidge and proceeded to drown myself in the stuff. Suddenly the images I'd perceived of idyllic camping in the glen were replaced with scenes more reminiscent of a horror flick. Hats off (and midge nets on) to those campers ! Feeling reasonably protected I tentatively left the car, got the boots on as quickly as possible and hot footed it away towards the gated track which marks the start of the route.
It was good going along the ridge until the steep and very loose drop onto the ridge below. I never feel too secure on my big size 12's as I slip and slide down the loose scree. The descent is fairly short and I was soon faced with the jagged section of arete. There is an option to take a by pass route to the right but where is the fun in that ! The rock was extremely grippy and very easy to cross and soon I was over and on my way up to the summit of Stob Coire Dheirg.
I was soon joined again by the young couple and we had an enjoyable chat about some of the Munros we'd climbed and our future plans. Conscious of time I decided I would push on and try and complete the circuit in 6 hours, meaning I'd be back before the school bell rang. My least favourite part of any walk was now laid clearly out before me on the grassy Eastern ridge below.