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Cruach Lusach, Mid Argyll - (& Where's Bacoch's Seat?)

Cruach Lusach, Mid Argyll - (& Where's Bacoch's Seat?)


Postby JimboJim » Thu Dec 20, 2012 10:06 pm

Sub 2000' hills included on this walk: Cruach Lusach

Date walked: 03/06/2010

Time taken: 3 hours

Distance: 10 km

Ascent: 400m

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Cruach Lusach is the highest hill in the northern part of Knapdale, overlooking Lochgilphead, Loch Fyne, Tayvallich and Sound of Jura. Climbed it many years ago (about 1984?) with a group of folk, but couldn't remember much, so have long had a notion to go back for a look. Having got fitter on the bike, I cycled out from Lochgilphead and got off the bike at Kilmichael of Inverlussa. Nice wee church and waterfalls here.
From there follow the track past all the buildings, onto a forestry road, which leads past a small hydro-electricity generating plant. This track heads steeply uphill, finally coming to an end at a small lochan which has an equally small dam, which one must negotiate by climbing across. There are also some good looking crags here, Creag nam Fitheach, for those who might like that sort of thing.
Once over the dam, the track is a bit feint, but heads off southwards, into the forest, before soon coming to a fork, where one joins a better track and must turn sharply left. Follow this road until it comes to an end, the crags and views towards Jura steadily getting more prominent. From here, one has to just pick a route by eye, to head through the birch woods and onto the hill, after finding a narrow spot to cross the burn. I tried to find Bacoch's Seat amid the birch, but couldn't spot it. Some foresters on the route told me I wouldn't find it. Clever fellows. Apparently, Bacoch was a robber in these parts many moons ago and his "seat" is a small lump of quartz.
It was a bit hard going up through the thick heather and a bit boggy here and there, but the views were worth it, I think.
Attachments
DSCF7441_1067_800.JPG
Crags on west face of Cruach Lusach
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Croak.
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Cuckooflower
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Heath Spotted Orchid
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Birdsfoot -trefoil (the larger leaves belong to another plant , possibly Hawkweed.)
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Tayvallich from further up hill
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Across to Loch Fyne
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Tricky burn to cross.
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Looking north towards Cairnbaan lochs.
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The Paps
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NW to Tayvallich and Sound of Music - oops, Jura!

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Last edited by JimboJim on Fri Feb 01, 2013 7:35 pm, edited 3 times in total.
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JimboJim
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Re: Cruach Lusach - where's Bacoch's Seat?

Postby orion » Fri Dec 21, 2012 6:14 pm

Nice wee hill,isn`t it ? I had a bit of a tussle with vertical stream banks and a six foot deer fence when I done it about 7 years ago.From the map it looks like I followed roughly the same route as you on the way up but I found it much easier coming down the west face and then Gleann Buidhe.If I was going back that`s the way I would go .
Never seen Bacoch`s Seat either :)
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Re: Cruach Lusach - where's Bacoch's Seat?

Postby JimboJim » Fri Dec 21, 2012 9:25 pm

Yes, I should have mentioned the deer fence! I would think your route down would make for more interest and variety. Maybe try again next year?

Jimmy

orion wrote:Nice wee hill,isn`t it ? I had a bit of a tussle with vertical stream banks and a six foot deer fence when I done it about 7 years ago.From the map it looks like I followed roughly the same route as you on the way up but I found it much easier coming down the west face and then Gleann Buidhe.If I was going back that`s the way I would go .
Never seen Bacoch`s Seat either :)
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JimboJim
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Re: Cruach Lusach - where's Bacoch's Seat?

Postby Gavin99 » Fri Dec 21, 2012 9:48 pm

Hi Jimbo , your wildflowers are :
1 ... Cuckooflower
2... Heath Spotted Orchid
3... Birdsfoot -trefoil ( the larger leaves belong to another plant , possibly a Hawkweed )
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Re: Cruach Lusach - where's Bacoch's Seat?

Postby JimboJim » Sat Dec 22, 2012 1:43 pm

Hi, Gavin, thanks for that. Not that I'm a flower follower, but always good to know. Have heard there's lots of orchids and other scarce plants out there, but wouldn't know one from the other.


Gavin99 wrote:Hi Jimbo , your wildflowers are :
1 ... Cuckooflower
2... Heath Spotted Orchid
3... Birdsfoot -trefoil ( the larger leaves belong to another plant , possibly a Hawkweed )
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JimboJim
Munro compleatist
 
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Re: Cruach Lusach, Mid Argyll - (& Where's Bacoch's Seat?)

Postby AlisonFox66 » Sat May 31, 2014 9:59 pm

There is a forestry-free route from the south - which was used as descent when I did it
Wish I had used it as the ascent as I found the deer fences really difficult
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