Doune Hill is the highest of the grassy, sculpted Luss Hills. The approach along the ridge from Beinn Eich makes a fine walk, but the return through Glen Mollochan is boggy.
Bog Factor
Minor road, then grassy ridges; descent rougher and pathless. Lower slopes very boggy in places.
Luss car park.
Bus to Luss.
NS359931
Park in the large public car park in Luss (charge). Head along the road in the direction of the centre of the village, almost immediately turning right towards the primary school. A path ahead ascends steps to climb up to a footbridge over the thunderingly busy A82. On the far side is an attractive house; pass this and go through a kissing-gate onto a path. This soon joins the minor road up Glen Luss. The road has little traffic (and no good parking spaces) and so provides pleasant going, gradually gaining height up the glen and giving good views of the surrounding hills.
Eventually there are views to the first objective, the conical Beinn Eich. The road crosses a tiny, picturesque bridge over the burn coming down from Glen Striddle, and climbs a little before descending to cross the main Mollochan Burn. It then climbs in a zig-zag towards Edentaggart, but before reaching this farm turn right over a stile (footpath sign for Beinn Eich and Glen Fruin). The going is boggy at first; aim for a second stile ahead over a drystone wall, then head up the open lower slopes of Beinn Eich.
Higher up the often faint path heads across a stile over a drystone wall on the left (it is not obvious from a distance but lies between two gates). Bear right on the far side to continue the steady pull up Beinn Eich, whose summit remains frustratingly out of sight for most of the ascent. There are great views back over Loch Lomond and its islands.
Eventually the tiny summit cairn is reached, and the views extend to take in the Arrochar Alps, Bute, Arran and the mountains of Argyll. Continuing from the summit the ridge narrows but remains grassy, providing a fine walk on to the next bealach at 544m.
At this point a decision must be made. Keen baggers will want to divert from the ridge, heading across the slopes of Beinn Lochain to reach the lower bealach below Cruach an t-Sidhein before ascending it to add a third Graham to the round; they will then follow the ridge back up Beinn Lochain. Those less keen on bagging will more likely keep to the natural ridge line ahead.
After Beinn Lochain there is a shallow dip before the final gentle ascent to the trig point on Doune Hill, the highest summit of the Luss hills.
The descent down to the Bealach an Duin is pathless and steep - requiring navigation care in poor conditions. The NE top of Doune Hill that rises beyond offers a possible detour, but our route turns SE at this point to head down the left (north) side of a gully descending from the bealach.
Lower down towards the glen the going becomes boggy. The first kilometre down Glen Mollochan is very wet, but after that a rough track can be picked up. This leads on to join the tarmac road near the house at Glenmollochan. From here retrace your steps back down the road to Luss.
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