Lochgoilhead Grahams and B29 crashsite

[Gavin99]

Participants : Daveh , Dave , Gavin and Islay the dog
A late start today , meeting up in Lochgoilhead at 9.30 before setting off towards Lettermay in a fresh NW wind and showers .

our_route.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts

The first part of our route followed the WH route for Beinn Bhuela ( and part of the Cowal Way) , on good forestry roads for the first 2k before crossing Lettermay Burn on a new footbridge and turning left at a white marker post to enter a firebreak/swamp which leads to the base of a fine waterfall.

Islay

At the top of the cascade we left the WH route and followed the Cowal Way markers to the outflow from Curra Lochain where an improvised crossing had been constructed , allowing us to reach the north bank and make our way along the shoreline , ducking behind a clump of pines to get some shelter from of a heavy shower of sleet.

Cowal Way crossing

Ascending Beinn Lochain

View back to Curra Lochain

After following the shoreline for 400m we set off N up the steep slopes of Beinn Lochain , picking a likely looking gully to aim for to clear the crags . Reaching the summit ridge we were treated to brief views of Loch Fyne to the west and our onward route to the north .

Summit ridge

Loch Fyne

N to Beinn Tharsuinn

Poking around on the ridge Dave discovered a great wee hidey hole , a narrow crevasse with a sheltered grassy floor , like a mini Whangie , except this one had its own window .

After sheltering in it for a while we set off again ,a short wander along the ridge brought us to the handful of stones which acts as a cairn ,though we didn’t linger, a stinging shower of hail and sleet had us hurrying off northwards .
From the summit we descended to a col before contouring around the western slopes of Beinn Tharsuinn , aiming for the high point of a spruce plantation which holds the crash site . On 17th January 1949 a Boeing B 29 Superfortress flying home after participating in the Berlin airlift experienced icing problems , lost height and clipped the summit of Beinn Tharsuinn before crashing in the valley beyond . All 20 on board were lost . Even today the devastation caused by the impact is evident . A memorial cairn has been erected , touching tributes and poems from surviving family really bring home the tragedy of the event . A sad and lonely place .

http://www.aircrashsites-scotland.co.uk/boeing_b-29a_succoth.htm
Leaving the crash site we headed NW to gain the summit ridge of Stob na Boine Druim-fhinn, a short but steep ascent brought us to the 658m trig.

Onwards to Stob na Boine

Ridge to summit

Looking S to Beinn Tharsuinn

Strong winds and snow showers meant views were in short supply so before long we set off down the long SE ridge towards Lettermay . This route is well guarded by crags and we had to backtrack a couple of times before finding a way down , the sodden slippy grass not making the job any easier .

SE descent ridge

Route down through crags

Craggy E face of Beinn Lochain

Eventually we reached pt475 and from here the rest of the route is obvious , heading down a wide firebreak , clear-felled on the eastern side , crossing one new forest road before turning right onto the second to wind down through the Drimsynie estate yard .

Down through firebreak

Back to the cars after 6 hours and a lot of exploring .

[daveh]

Great report and pics again Gavin and had a good day out with another 2 tough Grahams done.Watching and then getting hit by the fronts coming in was fun too and all in all good to be out on the hill.

[kevsbald]

Despite the conditions, that looked like a very interesting if not poignant day out. Be good to do these over the next few weeks.

[daveh]

A good walk Kev and the bomber site is well worth the visit and a very touching poem has been left by the widow of the pilot who was 87 i think when it was left in 2009.A couple of more routes available in the area and reckon we will be back too.

[Cuillin]

That looked a really interesting day out and it can't be bad bagging two Grahams and seeing a B29 wreck site!

Like yourselves, I feel a mixture of emotions when you see an aircraft wreck site but respect for what these guys did usually wins out. Thanks for all the great info., as I somehow hadn't connected the crash site with the Grahams. Finally, I was surprised to see the rear gun turret was intact.

[Gavin99]

I feel a mixture of emotions when you see an aircraft wreck site but respect for what these guys did usually wins out.

Absolutely , there is an amazing sense of history at these crash sites , finding this poem from the widow of the pilot really stopped us in our tracks , so sad .

[BoyVertiginous]

Wow...that is beautiful.

[Cuillin]

Wow...that is beautiful.

That is indeed moving and have a look at the age of the person who wrote it.

Was that picture taken at the Fairy Lochs Liberator crash site near Gairloch by any chance?

[BoyVertiginous]

Wow...that is beautiful.

Was that picture taken at the Fairy Lochs Liberator crash site near Gairloch by any chance?

No. As described above, it was this one:
http://www.aircrashsites-scotland.co.uk/boeing_b-29a_succoth.htm

[skillinabottle]

Thanks for posting, it looks like an interesting day you had there.

[Johnny Corbett]

Thanks for posting more reports on the Grahams in that area, this looks a good walk with the added interest of the crashsite. I will revisit your posts before i start climbing them, cheers