over Luss hills to Garelochhead

[dunrig]

I used this trip as an opportunity to test my fitness - not very was the answer. My coming holiday will just have to be a dawdle- where? Back to Skye, Rum, Jura, Arran, through Assynt, over hills to Poolewe, round Moidart & Ardgour need to decide , more plans - less time, as MacCaig writes ( on London to Edinburgh train):

Scotland, I rush towards you
into my future that,
every minute,
grows smaller and smaller.

lots of plans are a hopeful investment in that future, a walk on the sunny side of the street...

Caught bus from Glasgow, started in the sun, had a full pack, on track to Auchengaven, Coille-eughain hill, Tharsuin, Chaorach, then down & up to Mhanaich. After the first hour or so the wind, rain & mist came down. As I climbed Mhanaich the sound of constant gunfire added to the atmosphere. the guns fell silent as I reached the top so took a chance and started walking along broad ridge to Glen Fruin road, (don't follow this example). Some time later the unnerving sound of not so distant gunfire started again, I immediately dropped off the ridge contoured round side of The Strone then out along 3 lochs way to Garelochhead.
I struggled on the last uphill which doesn't bode well for a 5 or 6 day trip. The red flag was up on the lower slopes of The Strone, am sure there used to be one near the top of Mhanaich (maybe not?) though I saw nothing in rain and mist.

brief blue skies

Beinn Eich

poor lamb- seen so many dead this week

onwards

loch lomond

glenn luss as weather closes in

looking back

out of mist for sandwiches

sound of gunfire

safer side of hill

bottom of the strone red flag

[malky_c]

Nice start at least . Quite looking forward to doing some walks in the Luss hills. I have such a large sackful of plans that it is a shame to think that half of them will never see the light of day.

I don't think I've looked through your walk diary before - a bit of an inspiration for getting about without a car

[LeithySuburbs]

Great accessible hills for the unwashed lot west of Harthill . Fine photo of Loch Lomond

[dunrig]

thanks malky_c - like the auch corbetts you can certainly manage all 6 luss grahams in a big day between buses from glasgow.

Leithy Suburbs soap-doger just about describes me after a 5 day trip - on one memorable occasion I had to cover my feet with plastic bags to make the return bus journey bearable for my fellow passengers ( no time for a wash)...

[meangarry]

- on one memorable occasion I had to cover my feet with plastic bags to make the return bus journey bearable for my fellow passengers ( no time for a wash)...

My smelly helly was not pleasant even after my short blast up beinn dubh. Not sure if it was my rugged good looks or the fact I had sat near the back but on the bus home two young ladies chose to sit fairly close to me on an otherwise empty bus. I reckon they regretted that decision, I was reekin'.