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I had to spend most of Saturday working while everyone else was enjoying the sunshine on the hills…
I managed to have a quick lunch stop on the shores of Loch Lomond
I like playing for weddings at Cameron House because it’s the perfect location for sneaking up a hill afterwards. And today was a good day for it. At 4pm I escaped and headed for Glen Luss where I got held up waiting for sheep to cross the road, did a quick change from little black dress into more comfortable attire and headed off down the road towards Glenmollochan Farm.
Looking down Glen Luss
It was an easy walk down the road, across the bridge and uphill towards the farm. I met a lady coming off the hill – she’d done the whole lot, a big day
I arrived at the farm and it turned out I’d missed the track around the outside. Fortunately the very friendly guy shearing sheep let me sneak around the back to a gate through the fence and I was on the hill. It was steep and boggy as I made my way up Beinn Eich. There was initially a faint grassy path which disappeared as the gradient steepened.
A welcome breather
As I climbed higher the views opened out and Loch Lomond looked spectacular in the early evening light
Doune Hill, Glen Douglas Grahams and Ben Vorlich
As the ridge narrowed, something of a path returned and I was onto the ridge
Arrochar Alps and Crianlarich Hills
The Cobbler and Beinn Ime behind Doune Hill
Finally on the summit it was pretty spectacular! I love how close to home these hills are and yet the feeling of remoteness is awesome, especially in the evening when everyone sensible has gone home
Summit of Beinn Eich
After a quick breather and a check of the map I headed down the ridge of Beinn Eich, heading for the bealach.
Beinn a’ Mhanaich and Cruach an t-Sidhein
I was on a path again and it was easy (although slightly squishy) walking. Looking ahead I could see the bealach, the minor summit of Beinn Lochain and Doune Hill ahead.
I made my way easily across the bealach and started the ascent up Beinn Lochain. There was a labyrinth of paths and I headed upwards.
Looking West
Looking down Glen Mollochan towards Loch Lomond
From Beinn Lochain the views were still pretty awesome – Cruach an t-Sidhein where I was tempted to pop out to, but I was worried about time, I reckoned I needed to be down by 9 which gave me 4 hours for the whole round
From Beinn Lochain it was a short descent and re-ascent to Doune Hill. The Arrochar Alps were still looking awesome even in shadow
Finally at the top of Doune Hill I could see Loch Lomond with Beinn Eich on the right and Beinn Dubh (next target) on the left
The trig point and Arrochar hills behind
Jaxter special
Glen Douglas, Loch Long and the Arrochar Corbetts
Doune Hill’s other top and Ben Lomond
Glen Douglas eyesore
The Cobbler, Beinn Ime and Beinn Narnain
Ben Lomond
West – evening was setting in, time to get a move on
The descent to the glen was horrific – very steep and tussocky, knee-crunching and generally awful. I was awful conscious I was against the clock
I did have a potential bail-out point once I’d reached the glen – I could follow the track all the way down Glen Mollochan back to the car…but that would be too easy
I was so relieved that the downhill was over that I didn’t even mind the steep ascent to Beinn Dubh. Well, only a little bit…. It was very steep and I was pretty tired – my Garmin was telling me that I had broken the 1000m ascent barrier, on grahams
Stopping for a breather I looked back to Doune Hill
After a while the gradient mercifully eased and it was easier walking. Looking across Tullich Hill to the Cobbler and pals
Finally at the summit it was definitely starting to get dark
Time for a quick pose….
And a wander a wee bit further on from the summit which turned out to be a much better viewpoint down Glen Douglas
The Beinn Dubh ridge and Loch Lomond
I had thought to continue down the ridge and cut back to the car but didn’t really fancy a steep pathless descent in what would probably be darkness…. So it was the “easy” option straight back to the car.
Looking back to the cairn
Cobbler, Ime and Narnain
A last glance
Heading down the ridge
Darkness was looming so I got a move on
The moonlight was just enough to get me back to the car without needing to get my head torch out. It was a slightly nervy drive back down the single track road and it took a phonecall to the police to get through Dumbarton
but the cobwebs were definitely blown away; what a lovely evening
