On the 20th of January I managed to summon the enthusiasm to drive north and tackle Ben Ledi in Stirlingshire. Having attempted this climb before, back in 1999, I knew it was a steep and unremitting ascent.

I'm not at all sure why I bailed out of the climb back then. A youthful lack of fortitude perhaps. I do remember it being a good deal warmer when I tried before, it was June or July for a start. That was the first real foray I'd had into the Scottish Hills and I intended to excise that particular ghost of failure from my memory and push to the top this time around.

Taking the path on the southeast of the hill you are rewarded with fine views over Stirlingshire and the Forth Valley all the way to Edinburgh and beyond. On a clear day you'll be able to pick out Edinburgh Castle and Arthur's Seat. I sat down after breaking the back of the climb at around 600 metres to have lunch and a breather. The absolute silence combined with the sweeping view reminded me why I have grown to love these trips to the hills. I look forward to them all the more now that the responsibilities that go hand in hand with having a young family impacts on my free (me) time. When my children are old enough, I'll bring one or both of them back to Ben Ledi as one of their first real climbs. Actually being able to see where you've just driven up from gives a great sense of geography and the scale of the country. Views over the other side of the country from the summit include the Nevis range, the Arrocher "Alps" and the Crianlarich hills.

At around 750 metres I hit the cloud base and the temperature suddenly dropped away. The picture accompanying this post entry gives you some idea of the conditions up at the top. The cross that can be made out in the picture is not at the summit, but is very close to it, and is a memorial for Police Sgt. Harry Lawrie who was killed while working for Killin Mountain Rescue in February 1987 on Ben More.

No views from the summit to speak of as the clouds rushed by. There were fleeting glimpses down to Loch Katrine and Ben A'an in the Trossachs. It was of no matter because the ghost of my previous surrender had now been successfully given the boot.

One self satisfied sigh later and I took the circular route back down the hill through Glen Stank, passing around 25 or 30 rather elderly walkers battling through a stiff breeze to the summit. More power to them.

Ben Ledi is a great introductory hill for those flirting with the notion of hillwalking. Bit steep to start with but if you can push through that you'll be amply rewarded.