Monday 19 May 2025 - A walk up Glen Fyne

Today Sue went up another 'new for her' Munro summit - Beinn Bhuidhe, from the head of Loch Fyne. En route to drop her off we got delayed for half an hour by the closure of the Rest and be Thankful road, requiring a time consuming one way system on the old military road. That scuppered my plan to return over the pass and do a walk near Helensburgh. So while Sue dashed off up the glen, I took a scenic stroll up it, taking lots of pictures of flowers as I went.

This is the home of the Achadunan Deer Farm, pictured above. Well cropped grass but no sign of any deer.

The first of today's flower pictures is this Ribwort Plantain. I'll add captions to the others when I get home, and will probably do a separate 'flower' posting.

I was planning to walk up the Glen as far as the start of a steep ascent to the Munro summit, then walk back down and wait for Sue. In the event, I encountered some mountain bikers who were heading up to a nearby reservoir. That looked attractive so I followed them up.

The reservoir looks fairly full, despite the lack of rain.

It was cooler today, with some high cloud. I wasn't complaining. 

Is that Ben More through the gap?

I joined the mountain bikers for lunch. A jolly lot, they are from a mountaineering club in the West Midlands. "You must come and do the Dudley parkrun" they insisted. "I know, my friend Colin Davies keeps telling me that."

After a lengthy break, I headed back down, away from the dam.

The cyclists soon followed. I was rather envious of their speedy 3km descent. It took me rather longer on foot.

Sue's hill crept into view, as did a message informing me that she was near the summit.

Descending to the main track up the glen, I took my time. Lots of flower photos were taken. They need to be edited when back at home.

Loch Fyne was visible in the distance for a while. 

I was soon back in the main valley. There were even a few people about today. Probably on account of Beinn Bhuidhe being a Munro summit.

Passing the deer farm - the inhabitants had come out of hiding. There were lots of them.

Arrival at the Loch Fyne Brewery was most welcome. Let the rehydration commence. I spent a happy hour drinking tea in their courtyard, watching the staff readying themselves for the imminent onslaught of 3,000 visitors to a music festival that starts very soon.

Then Sue arrived and we stayed a little longer before making our way back along the old military road to Loch View in Tarbet, and a nice salmon meal.

Today my route, shown below on a thin blue line, was 17km with 300 metres ascent. I was out for six and a half hours, including a long lunch, lots of short stops, and a lengthy spell in the Brewery café.