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It has been a rotten week. I took a week’s annual leave. Planned to go up north and spend 4 days on the East Highland Way route. Well the heavy snowfall over the weekend put paid to that.
Then to cap it all, the 2 builder/property developers I had got to tear out and refit my bathroom turned up 3 days early – yeah I know Builders are meant to turn up late or not at all so I should be grateful. However I needed to get out of their way (or more accurately out of range of their singing along to the radio). Monday and Tuesday were no go for the hills. Incessant snowfall here in Glasgow.Today looked promising on the forecast – but in reality on waking and seeing deep mist my options for getting a view looked pretty ropey.
I headed out to a newly found favourite, Doughnot Hill near Laing Crags at Dumbarton.
On the train out to Bowling there was hardly a view across the Clyde. It did not look promising.
Walking up the Crags Circular Path mist was blocking any hint of a view. On previous trips I had been able to see across to Dunoon, Arrochar but not today.
Into the wood and I decided to try and prolong the walk by looking at a reservoir just off the main route, that I had always bypassed. Sun was lighting up the trees so maybe there was hope.
Back on the track the snow was heavy going. Only about a foot deep but you start to think about what it will be like on Auchenreoch Muir and the open hillside and what a slog the walk is already.
I got to Black Linn reservoir and it looked OK.
![Black Linnn Reservoir looking towards Black Hill.JPG]()
- Not actually Black Hill
Target of Doughnot Hill
Walking along the bank of the reservoir and just clearing the trees it became clear that there would be something special to see from the top of Doughnot.
The path up to Black Hill and then Doughnot Hill was covered in snow with only sheep tracks to try and help negotiate the very boggy ground. Nonetheless I was now in a hurry to get to the top and see the view. It didn’t disappoint. The Arrochar Hills, Ben Lomond and Ben Ledi poking out above the clouds. In some of the pics I think you can make out Ben Lui to the left of Ben Lomond.
Looking over towards the Campsies the snowfall had marked the escarpment – I’m not sure if this is Corrie Balglass or just the bit below Slackdhu that is prone to landslips.
Down towards Dumbarton and the track back home the mist was burning off.
I just couldn’t stop trying different camera settings to try and capture the view. I haven’t really been able to do it justice, but goodness knows I took enough snaps in the attempt.
I so wish I had been on top of Ben Lomond today. I bet the view must have been far more spectacular
