The Fruit Hill - Bring your Wellies

[weaselmaster]

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I fancied another hill this week - Allison had a day off today and I sent her a text from work asking if she was up for a wee hill. I suggested several nearby Sub-2000s and The Fruin was "corrected" by my phone to read "Fruit Hill". So it shall remain for the duration of this report. We left Greenock for Baile Eilidh at lunchtime with a forecast for heavy showers until 6pm, which was helpful. I'd drawn a quick route using the John Muir Way and parking at Hill House, which I thought we could visit afterwards. The Way is accessed straight from the back of the largish parking area beside Hill House and leads through pretty oak and birch woods. Some of the oaks look very old indeed. At a junction we took a right and passed some forestry before heading up over wet hillside. And I mean wet. Long grass quickly resulted in wet trousers and it was very squelchy underfoot - a mere shadow of what was to come

Leaving Hill House
P1160828 by Al, on Flickr

P1160829 by Al, on Flickr

Steam Train in Helensburgh
P1160830 by Al, on Flickr

Up the hillside
P1160831 by Al, on Flickr

Seaplane
P1160833 by Al, on Flickr

The Luss Hills
P1160835 by Al, on Flickr

We made for the transmitter mast and reached the top of Tom na h-Airidh. The weather's been kinder than forecast but it looks quite a long way to the flattish summit of The Fruin, maybe 1.5km. Over tussocky and wet ground. The terrain coming from Tom na h-Airidh has at one point been forestry but a long time ago as the stumps are hidden under a blanket of heather and moss, all that's left are the ditches which would have been either side of the trees, overgrown like old Great War trenches. We cross the rusty barbed wire fence and follow the fence line towards the summit. This is really wet - although in most places not deeper than the ankles. Once your feet are wet it doesn't really matter about them getting wetter. However some of the peaty ground is so springy that I imagine what would happen if you fell through the solid layer- never be seen again.

Top of Tom na h-Airidh
P1160836 by Al, on Flickr

Sunny Gourock with Arran beyond
P1160839 by Al, on Flickr

The Fruit summit
P1160841 by Al, on Flickr

Typical of the ground
P1160842 by Al, on Flickr

As I reach the summit cairn the rain arrives - I've watched it sweep in from the north, shrouding the fine Grahams over to the right. Allison arrives - I welcome her to the summit and she remarks that The Fruit is a currant of a hill. At least that's what I think she said We retrace our steps through the mire, the rain goes off and there's some sunshine to dry off wet clothes.

P1160845 by Al, on Flickr

P1160846 by Al, on Flickr

Back at the car there's still time to head into Hill House - unfortunately we arrive just as a large group of Italians are paying in. Slowly. At £10.50 for an adult the admission fee is somewhat steep, but the house is impressive, if troubled by damp damage.

Hill House
P1160847 by Al, on Flickr

P1160848 by Al, on Flickr

P1160849 by Al, on Flickr

P1160854 by Al, on Flickr

P1160867 by Al, on Flickr

P1160868 by Al, on Flickr

P1160870 by Al, on Flickr

[denfinella]

Hmm... might save that one until the ground is a bit drier. Surprised they let you into Hill House after that

[PeteR]

I did the Fruin from the opposite side...............equally as boggy

[Sgurr]

I did the Fruin from the opposite side...............equally as boggy

Ditto, but in snow that concealed the holes, but unfrozen so that we fell into them. Much preferred the nearby Bowie that we did just after the news of his death broke.