Cnoc Coinnich, no wild camping but build a motorway, no prob

[The Rodmiester]

This was promised to be the best hill walking weather of the year so far and it did not disappoint. Warm for the time of year, no wind and clear blue skies and this was to last three or four days, well bring it on. Last year I was in this area and thought I had done more or less all the Corbetts just to be told about two weeks after that this Graham had been re-measured and had now reached Corbett status.
We were to be starting off at the car parking area along the Ardgartan road which forms part of The Cowal Way adjacent to Coilessan and walk on up The Coilessan Glen between The Brack and Cnoc Choinnich, we were not expecting to find a newly constructed motorway up Coilessan Glen probably for a future hydro development no doubt judging by the high specification of ballast and thickness used for the upfilling, yep this was going to be a bit messy and would require boots and gaiters and maybe trousers to be heading for a good wash afterwards. I think those in charge of The Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park should hang their heads in shame at the shocking mess being allowed to happen here, a disgrace. I for one find this totally unacceptable, with hindsight I'm thinking that this development may not have been noticed quite so quickly had Cnoc Coinnich had not been promoted to Corbett status last year, your views readers would be welcome.

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Just leaving the car parking area and already a sea of grey backfill material awaits us

Taking the first turning right as identified by marker posts to Glen Coilessan with The Brack in the background

The six meter motorway which lies ahead

Onwards and upwards

The Brack in the distance

We are heading towards the right hand side of the forestry plantation

More bulldozed material

Now that's more like the track I expected to see, walking adjacent to the trees to gain access to the open hillside

Time for refreshment, it's a warm day, shirt sleeve stuff, in March it's been a funny old Winter here in Scotland

The gate to the hill itself

Leaving the forestry behind with The Brack's summit in the distance

Snow at this point soft with a slight crust but not loadbearing

We are to be heading up the shoulder in the foreground and turning right towards the actual summit

Steeper section with a steeper section coming up

Heading up towards the shoulder going to the right

Happy to be in the snow and off the motorway of mud

Now on the steeper section, but no problems

Deeper soft snow here

Time for a look around to see the views

Made the summit cairn no problem with the actual summit clear of snow

Heading on down after a fantastic day on the hill and a stop off for a bite to eat

Crossing the burn by the bridge this time

Well I don't fancy cycling through this let alone walking

Dear oh dear, not nice but not enough to detract from a fabulous hillday, some more of the same please.

[Yorjick]

I'm thinking of doing Cnoc Coinnich as part of a circuit including Ben Donich and the Brack, possibly taking a bus from Lochgoilhead to the Rest And Be Thankful and going round clockwise. It is a rare opportunity to bag three Corbetts in a day! More importantly, perhaps, is that the route avoids the "motorway"!

[Jaxter]

I'm thinking of doing Cnoc Coinnich as part of a circuit including Ben Donich and the Brack, possibly taking a bus from Lochgoilhead to the Rest And Be Thankful and going round clockwise. It is a rare opportunity to bag three Corbetts in a day! More importantly, perhaps, is that the route avoids the "motorway"!

I nearly did that by accident Classic "too wet and cold to bother with the map" error

I ended up coming down the motorway, was a bit of a downer on the day and difficult to walk on too!

Good to see what the views are like though

[The Rodmiester]

I'm thinking of doing Cnoc Coinnich as part of a circuit including Ben Donich and the Brack, possibly taking a bus from Lochgoilhead to the Rest And Be Thankful and going round clockwise. It is a rare opportunity to bag three Corbetts in a day! More importantly, perhaps, is that the route avoids the "motorway"!

Good thinking that man, had this been a Corbett last year I would have done just that, a fine threesome right enough, should make a fine day out, and no boot cleaning required at the end of it

[malky_c]

Nice hill - I think the best circuit is to start in Lochgilphead and do all 3 Corbetts - bit of a drive around though.

The track is a bit of a mess . I was down that way a couple of times in 2015, and it was severely washed out with massive ravines down the middle, so it was probably about time for it to be repaired to be fair. But it does look rather brutal. Don't know if that is just down to the large amount of snowmelt just after it was laid.

Here's how it looked before (not my photo):
https://www.flickr.com/photos/105280606 ... 377745120/

[PeteR]

That track is unrecogniseable from the track I walked along back in August Rod

A great hill though, once you get away from that mess. Looks good with some snow on it too, by the looks of it. Was a wet, claggy day when I was up there last year.

[Yorjick]

Nice hill - I think the best circuit is to start in Lochgilphead and do all 3 Corbetts - bit of a drive around though.

Malky_c - You are a hillwalking superman! Lochgilphead is miles away! Presumably you would include a swim across Loch Fyne and traverse the Grahams Beinn Lochan and Cruach nam Mult on the way!

Just an average day for you?!

Starting from Lochgoilhead would be enough for mortals like me!

[pollyh33]

Great photos Rod. Fab to see people on the hills in short sleeves!

I'm pretty sure that track is even worse than when I was along it in January this year

[malky_c]

Nice hill - I think the best circuit is to start in Lochgilphead and do all 3 Corbetts - bit of a drive around though.

Malky_c - You are a hillwalking superman! Lochgilphead is miles away! Presumably you would include a swim across Loch Fyne and traverse the Grahams Beinn Lochan and Cruach nam Mult on the way!

Just an average day for you?!

Starting from Lochgoilhead would be enough for mortals like me!

At least you knew what I meant . I do get my Goils and Gilps mixed up easily!

[The Rodmiester]

I'm thinking of doing Cnoc Coinnich as part of a circuit including Ben Donich and the Brack, possibly taking a bus from Lochgoilhead to the Rest And Be Thankful and going round clockwise. It is a rare opportunity to bag three Corbetts in a day! More importantly, perhaps, is that the route avoids the "motorway"!

I nearly did that by accident Classic "too wet and cold to bother with the map" error

I ended up coming down the motorway, was a bit of a downer on the day and difficult to walk on too!

Good to see what the views are like though

Coming down the very soft motorway, good for the joints and feet, but boots and lower legs were a total mess, a good hose down was required

[The Rodmiester]

Nice hill - I think the best circuit is to start in Lochgilphead and do all 3 Corbetts - bit of a drive around though.

The track is a bit of a mess . I was down that way a couple of times in 2015, and it was severely washed out with massive ravines down the middle, so it was probably about time for it to be repaired to be fair. But it does look rather brutal. Don't know if that is just down to the large amount of snowmelt just after it was laid.

Here's how it looked before (not my photo):
https://www.flickr.com/photos/105280606 ... 377745120/

That's some difference there malky_c think I prefer the original though, ta for posting. Nice meeting you at the Dundee Quiz

[The Rodmiester]

Great photos Rod. Fab to see people on the hills in short sleeves!

I'm pretty sure that track is even worse than when I was along it in January this year

W
Bit of a messy quagmire Polly, not nice at all, cannot believe the LLTNP allows this to happen

[malky_c]

Nice hill - I think the best circuit is to start in Lochgilphead and do all 3 Corbetts - bit of a drive around though.

The track is a bit of a mess . I was down that way a couple of times in 2015, and it was severely washed out with massive ravines down the middle, so it was probably about time for it to be repaired to be fair. But it does look rather brutal. Don't know if that is just down to the large amount of snowmelt just after it was laid.

Here's how it looked before (not my photo):
https://www.flickr.com/photos/105280606 ... 377745120/

That's some difference there malky_c think I prefer the original though, ta for posting. Nice meeting you at the Dundee Quiz

Yep, I think they could just have sorted the drainage and fixed a couple of holes - no need for all of that. Good to see you at the quiz

[The Rodmiester]

That track is unrecogniseable from the track I walked along back in August Rod

A great hill though, once you get away from that mess. Looks good with some snow on it too, by the looks of it. Was a wet, claggy day when I was up there last year.

Hi there Pete, not a pretty sight, but I have informed the relevant people so I guess its just a matter of 'Watch this Space' iTs just a pity others in Authority are closing a blind eye