Autumn Colours and Rain near Crianlarich

Dorothy and I returned to Crianlarich this week to try to bag some more Munros but the weather was not good. We have been very lucky over the years on our trips to Scotland so I guess we were bound to get a week like this sooner or later. Nevertheless, just because it's going to be wet doesn't mean you shouldn't give it a try. You are often rewarded.

 

We found that early in the morning gave us the best weather and on several days we managed to get up high enough to see the incredible autumn colours in the shifting light that only sunshine and showers can provide.

Once we were away from the road we never met a soul. Walking like this you feel as if you are stepping outside of time. I know the landscape is man-made but there's nothing 2013 here. Certainly my 1991 SMC District Guide Book to the Southern Highlands doesn't feel in the least bit out of date but it's more than that. Time itself seem irrelevant somehow.

I haven't added captions to the two pictures above because I didn't take them of a place. It's the lighting and the colours that are so superb not the location. Although where else could this be but the Highlands of Scotland?

 

Loch Lyon from Beinn Mhanach

However, this spot just near the top of Beinn Mhanach, looking down at Loch Lyon really is a fantastic location. You can see the ridges that lead up to Meall Ghaordaidh that we'd been up the day before and in the distance Ben Lawers. 5 minutes later it was snowing!

We found some lovely walks in the valley on the days when a forecast of high winds and heavy rain meant that it would be plain foolhardy to go above 3,000 ft. Look at this view of Loch Katrine from Ben An (454m) and the disused railway line in Glen Ogle must be cycling heaven.

Loch Katrine from Ben An