Outdoor Adventures with Ancient Brit
Munro 2007 - Day 2, 17th April
Tuesday 17th April
Ben Vorlich 986m NN 62920 18910 (Munro 2)
Stuc a’ Chroin 975m NN 61680 17420 (Munro 3)
Mountain Names:
Ben Vorlich Pronounced: Ben Vorlich Translated: Mountain of the Bay
Stuc a’ Chroin Pronounced: Stook a Chron Translated: Peak of the Sheepfold
Parking: Ardvorlich, Loch Earn NN 63310 23230
Distance: 15.5km
Ascent: 1250m
Time: 5:05 hours
Route: The route follows the track through the grounds of the Ardvorlich Estate then
follows an estate track up the hill through the woods of the lower slopes of Glen Vorlich.
At the top of the woods this track becomes a well maintained path which leads easily to
the summit of Ben Vorlich. Ben Vorlich has a secondary summit about 100m to its
southeast. The descent down the SW ridge of Ben Vorlich is steep along a small path
which winds through scattered small crags. There seemed to be two relatively easy ascent
routes to Stuc a’ Chroin, neither of which is obvious. An alternative is to climb directly up
the crags of the nose of Stuc a’ Chroin. I followed a rough path up to the big crags
protecting the north ridge of Stuc a’ Chroin and then followed a small path contouring
round to the left of the crags before climbing steeply to the ridge at the top of the
buttress. Stuc a’ Chroin has two tops, the one on the west is probably higher. I descended
by the alternative route down the NW ridge to a small cairn then followed a small path
steeply down into the corrie and which contoured across to the col on the NW ridge of Ben
Vorlich. A path contours above Coire Buidhe to rejoin the ascent route.
GPS waypoints:
NN 63310 23230
NN 63010 21870
NN 62920 18910 (Ben Vorlich)
NN 62690 18920
NN 62180 18340
NN 61800 17840
NN 61680 17420 (Stuc a’ Chroin)
NN 61800 17840
NN 61550 18130
NN 62110 18430
NN 62110 19340
NN 62900 19840
NN 63010 21870
NN 63310 23230
Weather: There was a Heavy shower at 8am. There were sunny periods throughout the
day with brief showers driven by a strong westerly wind. A shower on my approach to Ben
Vorlich was of sleet. It felt very cold in the wind, but warmer in the sun out of wind. I
needed to wear three layers all day with full waterproofs plus hat and gloves needed above
about 600m to protect from wind rather than rain. There were white caps on the waves on
Loch Earn.
Ben Vorlich 986m NN 62920 18910 (Munro 2)
Stuc a’ Chroin 975m NN 61680 17420 (Munro 3)
Mountain Names:
Ben Vorlich Pronounced: Ben Vorlich Translated: Mountain of the Bay
Stuc a’ Chroin Pronounced: Stook a Chron Translated: Peak of the Sheepfold
Parking: Ardvorlich, Loch Earn NN 63310 23230
Distance: 15.5km
Ascent: 1250m
Time: 5:05 hours
Route: The route follows the track through the grounds of the Ardvorlich Estate then
follows an estate track up the hill through the woods of the lower slopes of Glen Vorlich.
At the top of the woods this track becomes a well maintained path which leads easily to
the summit of Ben Vorlich. Ben Vorlich has a secondary summit about 100m to its
southeast. The descent down the SW ridge of Ben Vorlich is steep along a small path
which winds through scattered small crags. There seemed to be two relatively easy ascent
routes to Stuc a’ Chroin, neither of which is obvious. An alternative is to climb directly up
the crags of the nose of Stuc a’ Chroin. I followed a rough path up to the big crags
protecting the north ridge of Stuc a’ Chroin and then followed a small path contouring
round to the left of the crags before climbing steeply to the ridge at the top of the
buttress. Stuc a’ Chroin has two tops, the one on the west is probably higher. I descended
by the alternative route down the NW ridge to a small cairn then followed a small path
steeply down into the corrie and which contoured across to the col on the NW ridge of Ben
Vorlich. A path contours above Coire Buidhe to rejoin the ascent route.
GPS waypoints:
NN 63310 23230
NN 63010 21870
NN 62920 18910 (Ben Vorlich)
NN 62690 18920
NN 62180 18340
NN 61800 17840
NN 61680 17420 (Stuc a’ Chroin)
NN 61800 17840
NN 61550 18130
NN 62110 18430
NN 62110 19340
NN 62900 19840
NN 63010 21870
NN 63310 23230
Weather: There was a Heavy shower at 8am. There were sunny periods throughout the
day with brief showers driven by a strong westerly wind. A shower on my approach to Ben
Vorlich was of sleet. It felt very cold in the wind, but warmer in the sun out of wind. I
needed to wear three layers all day with full waterproofs plus hat and gloves needed above
about 600m to protect from wind rather than rain. There were white caps on the waves on
Loch Earn.
Summit, Ben Vorlich
Loch Earn
Ben Vorlich
Ben Vorlich
Top of NE crags,
Stuc a, Chroin
Stuc a, Chroin
Summit, Ben Vorlich
 |  |
| |
Nature notes: Oystercatchers were feeding in the fields alongside Loch Earn. There were many small birds in the
woods along the lower Glen Vorlich with the most common being Pied Wagtails. Higher up the glen there were
many Skylarks. The only bid of prey I saw all day was a Sparrowhawk, hunting over the heather on the lower
slopes of the glen.
There were black sheep in the enclosure around Ardvorlich House and white-woollen sheep on the hill which was a
mixture of grass and heather.
Oystercatcher: The Oystercatcher is one of the most conspicuous waders with a long red bill, pink leg and black
and white plumage. It breeds along the river valleys of the highlands and you will get used to its main call which is
a very penetrating shrill.
Sparrowhawk: Hawks are birds of Prey with long tails and short broad rounded wings. They are mainly woodland
birds with a fast dashing flight, often hunting smaller birds. The Sparrowhawk is Scotland’s commonest Hawk and
is about the same size as the Kestrel with which it is often confused. The barred tail and less pointed wings of the
Sparrowhawk should help in identification, but the different flight patterns when hunting is often the best give
away. (The Kestrel tends to hover while searching for ground prey)
Skylarks: Skylarks are common on the moors of Scotland. It is one of the LBBs (Little Brown Birds) which are
difficult to distinguish, but the Skylark has white outer tail feathers which you will see as the Skylark flies away
from you. It is best known for its high-pitched musical song which it delivers as part of its aerial flight display.
Local notes: The road along the south side of Loch earn had one major static caravan site and many small sites.
The main attraction to tourists is the fishing in the loch.
Personal notes: My right knee was sore in the morning and was uncomfortable all day. I had my first equipment
failure with the strap on one of my Leki poles fell apart and I could only make makeshift repairs. It was too cold to
take a proper break so I was only able to take short breaks. Ben Vorlich is easily accessible from Glasgow and the
route up the mountain is popular and I met a number of hikers, all Scottish, climbing the mountain. I spent time
on Stuc a’ Chroin with a man from Glasgow, who claimed he wasn’t Munro-bagging, but I’m not sure I believed
him. It was too cold on the exposed summits to get the naked photos I was hoping for.
I haven’t done much day hiking in recent years and found I was missing the long tea breaks I accustomed to
when backpacking. It will be harder work getting fit on this trip than on backpacking trips when it is easier to
break up the day.
I listened to England versus South Africa in the Wold Cricket Cup which was a debacle by England and saw
their exit from the World Cup.
Overnight: In the parking area beside Loch Earn
woods along the lower Glen Vorlich with the most common being Pied Wagtails. Higher up the glen there were
many Skylarks. The only bid of prey I saw all day was a Sparrowhawk, hunting over the heather on the lower
slopes of the glen.
There were black sheep in the enclosure around Ardvorlich House and white-woollen sheep on the hill which was a
mixture of grass and heather.
Oystercatcher: The Oystercatcher is one of the most conspicuous waders with a long red bill, pink leg and black
and white plumage. It breeds along the river valleys of the highlands and you will get used to its main call which is
a very penetrating shrill.
Sparrowhawk: Hawks are birds of Prey with long tails and short broad rounded wings. They are mainly woodland
birds with a fast dashing flight, often hunting smaller birds. The Sparrowhawk is Scotland’s commonest Hawk and
is about the same size as the Kestrel with which it is often confused. The barred tail and less pointed wings of the
Sparrowhawk should help in identification, but the different flight patterns when hunting is often the best give
away. (The Kestrel tends to hover while searching for ground prey)
Skylarks: Skylarks are common on the moors of Scotland. It is one of the LBBs (Little Brown Birds) which are
difficult to distinguish, but the Skylark has white outer tail feathers which you will see as the Skylark flies away
from you. It is best known for its high-pitched musical song which it delivers as part of its aerial flight display.
Local notes: The road along the south side of Loch earn had one major static caravan site and many small sites.
The main attraction to tourists is the fishing in the loch.
Personal notes: My right knee was sore in the morning and was uncomfortable all day. I had my first equipment
failure with the strap on one of my Leki poles fell apart and I could only make makeshift repairs. It was too cold to
take a proper break so I was only able to take short breaks. Ben Vorlich is easily accessible from Glasgow and the
route up the mountain is popular and I met a number of hikers, all Scottish, climbing the mountain. I spent time
on Stuc a’ Chroin with a man from Glasgow, who claimed he wasn’t Munro-bagging, but I’m not sure I believed
him. It was too cold on the exposed summits to get the naked photos I was hoping for.
I haven’t done much day hiking in recent years and found I was missing the long tea breaks I accustomed to
when backpacking. It will be harder work getting fit on this trip than on backpacking trips when it is easier to
break up the day.
I listened to England versus South Africa in the Wold Cricket Cup which was a debacle by England and saw
their exit from the World Cup.
Overnight: In the parking area beside Loch Earn