To the summit of Ben Lawers

The climb gives excellent views of Loch Tay 

Ben Lawers Perthshire

Technically Ben Lawers was my second munro, but that's only because you have to climb Beinn Ghlas to get to the summit! Before then I had never climbed any mountains or munros, so I was a complete beginner. Cara had done the Brecon Beacons, but this was her first Scottish Munro.

I hope you are lucky like me
to have an amazing hiking
partner

If you are thinking of climbing both the munros Walk Highlands has a lot of good info on all the hills and munros in Scotland. The info for this climb is here: http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/perthshire/ben-lawers.shtml

I am really lucky to have a lot of friends who know lots about the outdoors and we did this climb based on a recommendation from my friend who does a lot of hard climbing. I was looking for something that was near to Loch Earn in Perth as that was where I was collecting Cara from, but also something fit for beginners.

The turning is just off the A827 which runs alongside Loch Tay and the car park is easy to find. The turning is sign posted. There's a donation that I think?! is compulsory, but also completely justified. The national trust have done an incredible job at maintaining the walk and making it one that is easy for all levels of walkers! The route is really straight forward and easy to follow. On the way down, we took a different route and it took us just under five hours (walk highlands reckons 5-6) and that was with plenty of time for us to rest going up and take cool photos at the summit etc. The route upwards takes you over the summit of Beinn Ghlas, and then onwards to Ben Lawers. Then, if you are facing Beinn Ghlas from the BL summit, to the right hand side of the munro you can see an alternative, much lower altitude path which you can take down, which is a real treat having climbed two munros because it is all a nice gentle down hill walk, instead of re-climbing Beinn Ghlas. I believe this is called the Erdamucky trail.

From the summit of Ben Lawers you get some amazing views of the rest of the Grampain range, and also of Loch Tay. There are a few other lochs that become visible from that height that you don't see on the way up. Apparently lots of people don't realise that Beinn Ghlas is a munro which is crazy because you can't actually see Ben Lawers until you get to the top of it.... The Erdamucky trail gives you an awesome view of the valley below as well, and there are lots of picturesque little streams etc. that make it an equally nice walk down, as the one upwards.

I made paella for lunch and the carbs were greatly appreciated

One of the things I found as an inexperienced climber was that you honestly can't be too prepared! We started off wearing lots of warm clothing with spares in our bags, only to take it off for the first few hours of the climb as it was actually really nice weather for Scotland! wooo. Then, as you get closer to the top, because it is more exposed we ended up putting on water proofs just as a wind break because the wind was proper going for it! Another thing I thought was that having enough food and snacks to keep you going was important. I wish I had bough more water anyway, and then I ended up dropping my water bottle and loosing a load at the Beinn Ghlas summit which was obviously less than ideal!

But to be honest, only that and the fact that I had a cold were the only faults I could find in the day, and I would definitely recommend the climb!

Such a majestic eagle

From what I remember I took this from the middle point that joins the two munros, but that's Loch Tay

What a trooper

Ben Lawers ( I think) as seen from Beinn Ghlas. Ben Lawers is the highest munro in the Grampian Range

Throwing shapes in the clouds