Ben Venue. Trossachs.

After a brief spell of spring like weather in Scotland winter has returned with a vengeance this week and the high mountains are covered in snow once again. We found this out when we tackled Ben Venue. My friend Ron had never been up this hill, one of the rockiest mountains in the Trossachs range, above Loch Ard and I hadn't been up it for years either so we set out for that. The mountain in the above photo is not Ben Venue by the way. Its that famous ancient mountain Ben Cartwright..taken from the rear. Actually I haven't a Scooby doo where it is but it must be a Munro near Ben Venue as its in the same batch.. Its a senior moment as I don't remember taking it :) Its probably a zoom of Beinn Narnain.

We picked the route setting out from  the lay by car park near Ledard farm on the shores of Loch Ard, seen above. I've been up this fine mountain from the other side as well, the shorter route from Loch Achray, but I remembered that as being fairly steep and intense. That's probably the best way up now incidently, apart from a day like this one, when the hill was plastered in soft melting snow.
Its a popular hill but the path was a lot boggier than I remembered it and proved tough going with a foot of mushy snow on top of thick mud in places. A problem that's been a curse all year given the extremely wet summer we have had during 2012.

The main consolation was bumping into this group of wild goats on the sheltered sides of the Ledard burn with its deciduous woodland. This is easily the prettiest goat I've seen with a luxurious golden coat shimmering in the sunlight. Still had the pungent aroma though that most goats are famed for. You really need to click on this picture to get the full impact of the beast. Very pleased with this picture and the one below.

You can also see from its friend here how Goats have always been associated with the Devil and the personification of evil although they are harmless enough beasts with a nice nature. As a nature naïve teenager I was once walking back to a remote cottage alone in the dark on a secluded path through some dark and tangled woods on Bute when a six foot high horned apparition suddenly appeared around the side of an old gnarled tree with a loud groaning noise. I came very close to peeing my pants in shock until I realised it was just a large billy goat straining up to its fullest extent on hind legs to reach some juicy leaves above its head. Down through the centuries this sight and others like it must have occurred often, giving them their undeserved reputation as being a gateway to dark forces and the wilder side of human nature. They are probably the inspiration for the Ancient God Pan. The spirit of wild places and hidden desires released by the Greeks and Romans through wine. Only a myth? Well, its still a problem for todays society as  prisons are full of people who have let the dark side of this old forgotten god take over their souls. They just call it something else now, that's all.

Halfway up Ben Venue we were rewarded for our bog slog determination with this fabulous view over towards Ben Lomond's steep north face. You can just see two tiny figures heading towards the summit.

A view of the Cobbler. Ben Venue is a great viewpoint over The Crianlarich Hills, The Arrochar Alps, The Luss hills and The Trossachs.

The snow in places was appalling though. Knee deep and extremely slippy with a foot of soft slushy porridge lying on top of sodden grass. Probably the worst conditions underfoot I've been out in all winter with a rapid melt not helping matters. It took ages to make it to the first coll.

A sight of Ben Venue at last from Beinn Bhreac.

We were also surprised to find a new looking hut up here in the middle of nowhere near Creag a Bhealaich. This certainly wasn't up here the last time I was in this area. It looked like BBQ's on the porch and a paying guest type operation as it was locked and heavily shuttered for the winter. I suspect its linked to the Time Share/Hotel Complex on the shores of Loch Ard as a kind of summer mountain cabin. It certainly has stunning views and a all terrain vehicle track leading up to it from near that location.

Ron on the Porch.

It was weird the way the snow had accumulated up here. In places it was deep and thick.

In others, even higher, but under the influence of a strong melting sun, completely bare of any snow.

An enjoyable day out but a hard one. Took this photo on the way back of the long line of cliffs. The impressive northern headwall of the Campsie Fells viewed from Balfron

Todays video carries on the Goat/ Devil theme. A Russian film linked to an American group known for their ability to conjure up mysterious and atmospheric music. A classical /dark Gothic instrumental group they have stumbled into a lucrative market as they are now used widely in films and horror type theme parks.
Nox Arcana. Night of the Wolf.
This is better than most, and a good match in my opinion but its obviously not scary enough for a discerning modern audience raised on 3D gore and gut spurting reality games. Its nice and atmospheric in a quaint, old school way. Pretty wife returns from the dead. Shame about the nails but nothing a good manicure couldn't fix. Don't really understand what the problem is here. I'd have her back like a shot. Just separate coffins as her own one looks waterlogged for some strange reason. Maybe vampires are all secretly incontinent in their sleep. Still, beggars cant be fussy:)