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I don’t do enough hills that don’t appear on my Munro Map. Most times when I think about going for a walk, my mind focuses on bagging the big ones and the red-to-blue dot colouring that comes later. Of course, the main objective is to have a good day out but if I can improve my % of Munros climbed then all the better. Mind you, my attitude towards this has softened quite a bit recently and actually my best days on the hills this year have been on peaks below Corbett status: Sunday’s wee jaunt around the Glen Striddle Horseshoe has confirmed for me that size doesn’t matter.
For me the Luss area has been more significant for family weddings and christenings than for hillwalking. It has been an area to drive through as quickly as possible on the way to frying bigger fish past Crianlarich, Glencoe or further up the North-Western side. However on a recent visit to the church in the village I was attracted to the quotation on one of the stained glass windows, “I to the hills will lift mine eyes”. Walking out of the church and looking back South, the hills that I lifted my eyes to were those of the Glen Striddle Horse Shoe.
The route description refers to starting in Luss village but better to drive 100 yards up the road for Glen Luss where there is space for at least 7 cars opposite a fence gate.
It's a pleasant and straightforward walk on a faint path throughout, though occasionally boggy.
Walking higher up the path into the woods look back and Luss becomes a slate-roofed Toy Town.
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- looking back to Luss
Higher up, Ben Lomond looms into focus with the Ptarmigan Ridge looking particularly appealing, silhouetted against the sky.
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- one for a winter's day
Leonide and I strode on, soaking up the views of a snow-capped Ben More to the north.
Also enjoyed the unusual view of the Cobbler from this side looking Alpine-peakish.
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- the top of beinn dubh (not our dog)
The wind was picking up as we headed off round the horseshoe so we picked up our pace a little to try to beat the ominous looking clouds that were beginning to gather
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- rare rear view of the Arrochar Alps
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- a view over to Doune Hill?
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- preparing to battle the clag
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- looking from Mid Hill back over to Beinn Dubh
The descent from Mid Hill was relatively steep but no difficulty.Would be excellent bum-sliding terrain in Winter methinks.
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- Glen Striddle, last colours of Autumn
After passing the farm we enjoyed the walk on tarmac back to the car, oak trees still offering shelter from the rain shower that eventually started to descend.
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- o'er the bridge and home we go
On the way home we made a few attempts to stop and enjoy a traditional post-walk pint. Venue one (on the bonnie banks) had a wedding on and was totally booked out and venue two (putting the Inn into incompetent) had the densest and rudest barmaid I’ve met so we about-turned and exited. A nice contrast was venue three where a refreshing pint and a huge cheeseburger were promptly and hospitably served with a big smile. Hmm, maybe size does matter after all.
