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Route: Beinn a'Chleibh is a slightly odd addition to this route, and is easily omitted.
A round of Ben Lui, Ben Oss and Beinn Dubhcraig is the most obvious combination.
However, as the extra cost is only 150m of ascent and 1.6 miles,
its inclusion frees up another day for walking elsewhere than in the forests
of Glen Lochy.
Beinn a'Chleibh is indeed most frequently ascended together with Ben Lui
from the Glen Lochy side to the north west, as here.
If you are just ticking off Munros, this breaks the four mountains here
into two easy days, with Ben Oss and Beinn Dubhcraig being ascended together on the other day,
from the same starting point on the Cononish side as here.
There are several possibilities for the descent from Beinn Dubhcraig.
The usual route follows the Allt Coire Dubhchraig beside the forest NE of the summit,
and crosses the Allt Gleann Auchreoch where it flows into the River Cononish.
This is the former location of a bridge which, in July 2017, is apparently being rebuilt.
Another route, described below, uses a higher bridge at NN33042769.
This seems preferable to me as it switches some of the walking to a very pleasant track
that is, moreover, easy in the dark.
A third descent route is down the north ridge either turning left
to the bridge at Cononish, NN30412833, or turning right to the Allt Coire Dubhchraig path.
NB An ice axe (and crampons) are necessary on the north ridge of Ben Lui
if there's any snow on the ridge.
They are of use especially towards the top where the exposure is great and the angle steep.
Conditions: For the times below, I started and finished in darkness using a torch.
Hence slow times because of darkness, snow/ice underfoot, and poor weather.
1°C at start, 2°C on return at car. Deep snow in forestry on way down.
100% cloud cover: cloud base 3700' am, 2800' pm, so first two tops just clear,
last two well shrouded.
Strong winds & spindrift on summit of Ben Lui, else cold with light winds and dry.
Connectivity: Orange on all four summits, at Dalrigh, and on track beside
railway bridge at NN33652850.
| 0725 | Park at Dalrigh by A87 | 185 | 0 | 0.0 miles | NN34362915 |
| 0740 | Track W through Dalrigh Farm to railway bridge | 200 | 20 | 0.8 miles | NN33252882 |
| 0825 | Track W through Connonish Farm | 280 | 100 | 2.9 miles | NN30112847 |
| 0830 | SW to gate & stile | ||||
| 0855 | Track W to end at Allt an Rund | 350 | 200 | 4.5 miles | NN28162741 |
| 1025 | SW into Corrie Gaothach, then NW to Stob Garbh (Choose either steeper left or easier right gully.) |
955 | 805 | 0.0 miles | NN27202676 NN26922699 |
| SSW to Ben Lui NW top | 1127 | 980 | NN26542640 | ||
| 1055-1100 | SSE 150m to M Ben Lui main top | 1130 | 985 | 5.9 miles | NN26622628 |
| Either: SE to bealach with Ben Oss omitting Beinn a'Chleibh |
685 | NN27402455 | |||
| Or: Return NNW to NW top | 1127 | NN26542640 | |||
| 1130 | SW to bealach with Beinn a'Chleibh | 775 | NN25682590 | ||
| 1155 | SW to M Beinn a'Chleibh | 916 | 1125 | 7.0 miles | NN25042561 |
| 1210 | Return NE to bealach | 775 | NN25682590 | ||
| 1300 | Contour SE at 800m to SE ridge of Ben Lui then SE to bealach |
685 | 1145 | 8.9 miles | NN27402455 |
| 1425 | Then: E/NE to M Ben Oss | 1029 | 1490 | 10.1 miles | NN28752536 |
| 1440 | NNE/NE to Ben Oss, NE top (not a Munro top) | 941 | 1525 | NN29112585 | |
| 1500 | E to Bealach Buidhe | 775 | NN29832593 | ||
| E to Lochans on ridge | 900 | 1650 | NN30282585 | ||
| ~1545 | SE to M Beinn Dubhchraig (passed 967 top) | 978 | 1730 | 11.7 miles | NN30762549 |
| 1635 | NE down ridge to forest edge 600m | 600 | NN31902650 | ||
| NE to Sheep fold (via Allt Coire Dubhchraig?) | 280 | 13.5 miles | NN32822738 | ||
| 1755 | NE to footbridge over Allt Gleann Auchreoch | 245 | NN33032769 | ||
| 1810 | N on track & cross railway bridge | 200 | 14.5 miles | NN33652850 | |
| 1820 | ENE to cross bridge over R.Fillan | 175 | NN34522881 | ||
| 1825 | NW to P at Dalrigh | 185 | 1740 | 15.3 miles | NN34362915 |
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