walkhighlands

Against the flow? Glen Striddle horseshoe – Beinn Dubh, Luss

Route: Beinn Dubh - Glen Striddle horseshoe, Luss

Date walked: 16/09/2022

Time taken: 4 hours

Distance: 11.5km

Ascent: 655m

It seems that I walked this one “against the flow” as most hikers seem to start with Beinn Dubh. This was partly because a friend, who claims to be completely out of shape and unable to climb any hills, joined me for the first third of the trip. And so, we started with the gentle walk through Glen Luss, enjoying the enormous among of ripening blackberries and the humongous fern. This is definitely a fairy country…

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Luss

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bridge over the Striddle Burn


We said goodbyes right before I started my ascent to Coire na h-Eanachan (657m). Steep way up, boggy a times, but offering amazing views of Loch Lomond and the surrounding hills. But the ascent kicked my butt for sure. This was the first serious hike in a year of health issues and basically not moving. I’m out of shape, for sure. Having a camera and so many wonderful views provided an excuse to take frequent breathing breaks. Halfway up the hill I found an empty (Gatorade?) bottle, picked it up, not quite happy I’ll have to carry it all the way with me. Shortly after I met a fellow hiker heading down the hill and asked them if they would be willing to take it. They were! Thank you, whoever you were!

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view from Glen Luss

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drystone wall gate

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Before reaching the ridge, I met another hiker… ”Still some way up, but not too far,” was their friendly, encouraging greeting. OK then. I finally made it to the ridge and the views took my breath away. Literally. The beautiful Arrochar Alps and my old friend Ben Lomond. The sun was shining, but the cold wind picked up considerably, so up my layers went, one after the other. Few more steps and I sat down at the Coire na h-Eanachan cairn for a quick bite to eat, completely alone with the views -marvelous, beautiful, breathtaking… all of these adjective combined. If my muscles refuse to move after today, it was all worth it!

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Beinn Dubh and Loch Lomond from Coire na h-Eanachan

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and my old friend Ben Lomond


The way forward was fortunately mostly flat ridge path, though quite a boggy one. Dangerous, when you’re looking around at the mountains and lochs, but this time I was lucky and didn’t end up in any deep ones. As I got closer to Beinn Dubh, I left the Arrochar Alps views behind me and new views of Loch Lomond opened. I paused for a while to take them in.

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Beware of the bogs!

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Beinn Dubh... it was slightly chili there...


At Beinn Dubh summit, chatted with two hikers resting at the summit about the hike and the beautiful unpredictability of Scottish weather. Together we started the descent back to Luss, but as I paused constantly to take pictures, I soon stayed behind my two new companions. As I got lower, the wind eased up, the sun rays started to dominate the day again and I started to shed some of my layers. Sheep were lazily grazing on the hillside, an idyllic picture. Except the Red Bull can on the path. Picked it up, tucked it away and continued my descent, enjoying my surroundings. The fern and trees came back and after a final steep descent I was back in Luss. Walked through it to the pier to enjoy vies of Ben Lomond and Conic Hill. There were no more ferries to Balloch, so bus back to Glasgow it will be. But not before a dinner of fish and chips.

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“Haggis have feelings too!” A message greeted me at the bus stop. Got me thinking – what about the fish in fish and chips? Do they have feelings as well? And what philosophical conclusions should we draw from that? … food for thought.

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On the bus back I met three hikers who just completed the West Highland Way. The joy of the experience was written in their faces, together with fatigue, of course. We had a nice short chat back Glasgow about the WHW and our experiences on it. Well done guys!!


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LucieK


User avatar
Activity: Walker
Mountain: Ben Nevis
Place: Rannoch Moor and Kintail
Gear: hiking boots and pants
Member: none
Ideal day out: any day in the mountains

Munros: 2
Fionas: 1
Sub 2000: 4
Long Distance routes: West Highland Way    Affric Kintail Way   



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Statistics

2022

Trips: 1
Distance: 11.5 km
Ascent: 655m

2021

Trips: 2
Distance: 189 km

2020

Trips: 1
Distance: 174 km

2019

Trips: 5
Distance: 272.3 km
Ascent: 1583m
Munros: 1

2018

Trips: 5
Distance: 71.9 km
Ascent: 1682m
Sub2000s: 1


Joined: Aug 23, 2018
Last visited: Jan 27, 2024
Total posts: 42 | Search posts