A "New" Corbett
Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2016 8:52 pmPark at the waterfront car park in Lochgoilhead village opposite the Post Office.
Take the track almost opposite the entrance signposted "Cowal Way". There are public toilets on the left here.
Follow the path uphill to the edge of the village. Cross the "Dukes Pass" cycle track and follow the clearly-marked Cowal Way diagonally uphill with mature coniferous forest on your left.
Eventually the path goes through a gate and there is forestry on both sides, but the way ahead is clear enough, leading into the confines of the glen of the Donich Water.
The path drops slightly to some pretty waterfalls. Cross a bridge and immediately take the right fork waymarked "Cowal Way and hill path to Coilessan".
The path now climbs steeply through the trees.
After some time the path comes to a right angle turn and heads even more steeply and now rather wetly uphill through a fire break.
A sign indictating "Coilessan" reassures that the correct route is being followed.
With some relief the tree line is eventually reached, and the path goes over a stile onto the open hillside.
Follow the path, now marked with white marker poles through rather rushy ground until the high point on the crossing to Coilessan is reached, where in good weather the outlines of the Brack and the Cobbler show boldly to the left. The highest point is marked by a Cowal Way waymarker.
Here turn rightwards uphill, following the line of the highest ground. A single "main path" has not yet developed although this will no doubt happen since the hill's "promotion" to Corbett status. A knoll with a prominent steep schist cliff on its North is a good navigation point.
Turn it on its right and move onto the high ground, now on short cropped grass.
The summit of Cnoc Coinnich now lies ahead and its small summit cairn is easily reached.
For those who like that sort of thing, a steep scramble up a short wall from the north can lead directly to the cairn, (entertaining in dry conditions) but the top sections is sloping, mossy and without reassuringly positive holds.
The views from the summit are expansive in all directions, to the Arrochar hills, Tarbert and Loch Lomond and south and west down the sea lochs to Ailsa Craig and Arran and the closrer less salubrious landmarks of Coulport and Faslane.
We returned by our outward route, but it appears one could also take in the Brack, or on a longer outing Ben Donich too; or make a circuit southwestwards to link up with the Dukes Pass for a return to Lochgoilhead.
- Pleasant, free waterside parking opposite Lochgoilhead Post Office
Take the track almost opposite the entrance signposted "Cowal Way". There are public toilets on the left here.
- The start of the route, signposted for the Cowal Way
Follow the path uphill to the edge of the village. Cross the "Dukes Pass" cycle track and follow the clearly-marked Cowal Way diagonally uphill with mature coniferous forest on your left.
Eventually the path goes through a gate and there is forestry on both sides, but the way ahead is clear enough, leading into the confines of the glen of the Donich Water.
The path drops slightly to some pretty waterfalls. Cross a bridge and immediately take the right fork waymarked "Cowal Way and hill path to Coilessan".
- Looking back to the bridge where the path fork
After some time the path comes to a right angle turn and heads even more steeply and now rather wetly uphill through a fire break.
A sign indictating "Coilessan" reassures that the correct route is being followed.
With some relief the tree line is eventually reached, and the path goes over a stile onto the open hillside.
Follow the path, now marked with white marker poles through rather rushy ground until the high point on the crossing to Coilessan is reached, where in good weather the outlines of the Brack and the Cobbler show boldly to the left. The highest point is marked by a Cowal Way waymarker.
- Where the route leaves the Cowal Way (The Brack and The Cobbler behind)
- Steepening round on Cnoc Coinnich
The summit of Cnoc Coinnich now lies ahead and its small summit cairn is easily reached.
- Summit views east
The views from the summit are expansive in all directions, to the Arrochar hills, Tarbert and Loch Lomond and south and west down the sea lochs to Ailsa Craig and Arran and the closrer less salubrious landmarks of Coulport and Faslane.
- Extensive views southwest
We returned by our outward route, but it appears one could also take in the Brack, or on a longer outing Ben Donich too; or make a circuit southwestwards to link up with the Dukes Pass for a return to Lochgoilhead.
Shame really, as it looks a good hill. Glad you got to enjoy it though 
