West Highland Way

The following videos describe the whole of the route of the West Highland Way from the Glasgow suburb of Milngavie to the highland town of Fort William...

Part 1..Milngavie to Drymen

Part 2..Drymen to Balmaha

Part 3..Balmaha to Rowardennan

Part 4..Rowardennan to Inversnaid

Part 5..Inversnaid to Inverarnan

Part 6..Inverarnan to Crianlarich

Part 7..Crianlarich to Tyndrum

Part 8..Tyndrum to Inveroran

Part 9..Inveroran to Kingshouse

Part 10..Kingshouse to Kinlochleven

Part 11..Kinlochleven to Fort William

Beinn Dorain

Beinn Dorain, which is a munro, is the spectacular conical mountain you see from the A82 travelling north from Crianlarich and Tyndrum. Appearences are deceptive however since what you're seeing is the end on view of a long north-south ridge. The mountain is climbed by accessing the northern end of the ridge, at the col between Beinn Dorain and Beinn an Dothaidh.

This col is easily reached from Bridge of Orchy, following the path from Bridge of Orchy railway station into Coire an Dothaidh.

Here is the route map......

So the route is simple, a pleasant walk into the coire, turn right at the col and head south to the summit...no problem. Yet Beinn Dorain has a reputation of having a deceptive summit, with many walkers who think they've bagged it, not actually reaching the top. The problem is that there are actualy two tops, a slightly lower northern top and the true summit a few hundred yards further south. There is quite a dip down to a col between the two tops and the cairn on the lower top is well built and bigger than that of the summit. Thus, in mist and unable to see the summit, some one standing by the north top cairn may think they're at the top.

But not anymore....here Hillwalks in Pictures shows you the way....no more excuses for not bagging your munro !!

The Brack

The Brack is one of the "Corbetts", hills over 2500ft but less than 3000ft, of Glen Croe. (Note not the more famous Glen Coe which is further north). The A83 road from Arrochar runs through the glen and this walk starts from the visitor centre at Ardgartan, only a few miles from Arrochar. This is a walk that is not to be missed, with well made forest tracks, a rather exciting steep path to climb up the lower slopes, followed by a steady climb to the top on nice to walk on grassy slopes which weave round The Brack's rugged rocky interesting terrain. And all the way you are accompanied by superb views of this beautiful part of Scotland.

Here is the route......

From the Ardgartan Visitor Centre, take the track heading north from the car park. Follow this forest road as it runs parallel lto the A83 but further up the hill. After a couple of kilometres it reaches a junction. After a right turn here, the way-marked access path to the hill is soon reached. This path rises steeply through the trees then onto open hill. It then accompanies a stream up to gentler slopes at the base of the summit rocks. The path is lost here, but just head up the slopes to the left of the rocks to the col on the horizon. From here go right round the back of the summit rocks where a small path will be found which can be followed to the top.

To descend, head north from the summit, veering left to head in a roughly north-west direction down steep grassy slopes to the col between the Brack and Ben Donich. Here cross a fence and soon reach a path marked by white posts. Go right, following the path down to the forest, then through the forest to reach a forest road. Go right, sign-posted Ardgartan, which leads to the hill access path we climbed earlier, approached from the other direction. Reverse the outward route back to the start.

Here is the slide-show of the route......

The Whangie and Auchineden Hill

This is a short simple route which visits the Whangie, a narrow cleft in the rock at the west end of Auchineden Hill.

Starting at Queen's View car park, a few miles south of Drymen on the A809, the route heads west keeping low along the foot of Auchineden Hill. At the very west end of the hill, we turn south through the Whangie. On emerging from the cleft, the route visits the summit, then continues east along the ridge of the hill back to the start.

Here is the slide show.......

Beinn Dubh, Luss Hills

The cold winter has left little opportunity to take to the hills recently. The high mountains, under snow and ice, are really only suitable for experienced winter mountaineers, but as recent tragic events show, even they must be very very carefull in these difficult conditions.


So its the lower hills, with gentler, grassy slopes, that will provide the first stretch of the legs for the new season. Beinn Dubh, a long grassy ridge rising above the village of Luss on the west bank of Loch Lomond, should fit the bill nicely.





Here is the route......

A very simple route. From Luss, the A82 is crossed and the foot of the south east ridge is gained. Simply follow the ridge, ( there are paths lower down ), up to the flat summit. This walk is usually continued round the head of Glen Striddle to Mid Hill and then down to Glen Luss, further along the Glen Luss road. However, the snow on the hill was knee deep in places and walking was "challenging" to say the least. Also, the weather, which was pleasent enough in Luss, was very windy and gloomy at the top, with some rather threatening clouds. Therefore we return by the route of ascent.

Here is the slideshow........

Meikle Bin and the Carron Valley Reservoir

This walk ascends one of the more distinctive hills of the Campsies. It is quite a long walk of about 8 miles but gradients, even on the hill, are not too steep. It provides a variety of terrain, with excellent forest roads, dreadfully boggy paths, rough forest firebreaks and even ditches to be negotiated. The return takes in the shore of Carron Valley Reservoir, with views of the wind farm on the opposite bank....make of that what you will !



Here is the route....




Starting from the forest road opposite Todholes, the route follows these stoney but well made paths to the foot of Meikle Bin's north-west ridge. Here a very boggy path cuts through the trees, soon reaching the open hillside where a much better path ascends the ridge to the summit. To make a circular walk, continue south off the summit down a grassy path to a firebreak at the tree-line. Into this, very rough ground is negotiated, two ditches are crossed, and a branch going left (east) is taken. On leaving the trees, the path improves again, the route eventually joining the fine forest road network again for the remainder of the walk, which reaches the reservoir and follows it's south-western shore.

The video shows the route and the terrain......

Conic Hill

This walk starts from the village of Balmaha on the east bank of Loch Lomond. It's not a very high hill but there are four tops to explore and great views of Loch Lomond, Ben Lomond and the Arrochar hills. The return down the grassy ridge of Druim nam Buraich is delightful. It is neither too long nor too strenuous and provides a fun half day on the hills.

Here is the route......

From the back of the large car park at the visitor centre in Balmaha, the West Highland Way is followed through woodland then onto open hill. As it runs alongside the hill, the WHW is left to gain the ridge of Conic Hill . Walk along the ridge to visit the four tops. Return down the WHW back to Bealach Ard when instead of turning left down the ascent route, you can continue straight on along the grassy ridge of Druim nam Buraich. A path leads steeply off the end of this, down through woodland to the Balmaha - Rowardennan road. Turn left on this to return to Balmaha.

Here is the video.....

Campsie Fells...Dumgoyne & Earl's Seat

This walk visits Dumgoyne, the best hill in the Campsies, and Earl's Seat, the highest point. Dumgoyne is a proper "mini mountain", the ascent from the distillery being short but steep. The continuation to Earl's Seat is an easy angled meander along the high moorland of the Campsies.

Here is the route.....

Starting at a lay-by at Glengoyne Distillery, we cross the road onto the lane which winds up past some cottages. This leads to fields which are crossed and provide access to the lower slopes of Dumgoyne. The route to Earl's Seat passes to the left (north) of Dumgoyne. Simply follow grassy paths up onto the plateau then along to the top as described. Dumgoyne's steep western slopes are climbed to a higher path which is followed less steeply to the South-West ridge which is followed to the top. Dumgoyne is best descended by the route described in the pictures, ie reverse the upward route but continue on the high path past the top of the steep part of the ascent route, continuing to gentler slopes further north on the flank of the hill.

Here is the picture slide-show.......

Cruach Tairbeirt

Cruach Tairbeirt is a low hill rising just to the north of the village of Tarbet on the west bank of Loch Lomond. Tarbet lies at the junction of the A82 and A83 major roads and is a popular tourist spot. There are a number of walks in the area, and this walk incorporates one of these, the Cruach Loop.

Access to the loop is from Tarbet railway station. At the far end of the loop, access to the hill is gained by leaving the main path to follow a vague, rough and over-grown "path" which runs up the edge of dense woodland, following a burn. The determined walker, with machete in hand, will soon reach a point where a fire-break emerges from the forrest. I presume that this was the main route to the hill as it comes from the upper Cruach Loop path. However, the guide book says that this route is so boggy that it is not recomended. I had a wee explore of it, and found it was also blocked by fallen trees, hence the route described by the stream is preferred. After the fire-break the path improves and exits a clearing onto open hill. From here vague paths lead through heather and scrub to the top. As you will see from the video, coming back down I missed these bits of path but it's no problem to follow the tree-line back to the clearing and the top of the path through the forrest.

Here are the pictures......

Tullich Hill

Tullich Hill is one of the Luss Hills found to the west of Loch Lomond. It is one of the group of hills to the north of the Glen Douglas road. It's not a high hill, at just over 2000 feet. ( A "Graham" ). It's also a short walk of no more than 4 miles. However, the time taken is just short of 4 hours, almost as long as it takes to get up Ben Lawers ! (See previous post ). Why should this be ?...the answer lies in the terrain encountered on this hill. There is little respite from rough boggy ground, long clinging grass and tough ferny plants which have to be shoved out the way. The slopes are not particularly steep, but the nature of the terrain drains the legs of energy. Having done this walk, you will really appreciate why people build paths up hills ! Needless to say, there are no paths on this hill.


What Tullich Hill does offer is solitude, ( you'll probably have the hill to yourself, which could be a problem if you break your ankle in a water filled pothole! ), and great views from the top. ( The Arrochar Alps are particularly splendid from here. ). You can also bask in a sense of achievement which is proportional to the effort expended, rather than the height of the hill !





Here is the route summery..........

The road up Glen Douglas is a narrow single track road. Parking is limited. I managed to find a grassy verge a few hundred yards west of the farm at Invergroin, which left the road and the passing places clear.

From this parking place walk in a roughly NE direction to gain the SE ridge of the hill. Turn NW to ascend this ridge to the top. Another ridge leads roughly NE from the top, and this was used in descent. Lower down this ridge, veer right ( south ) as the valley between Tullich Hill and Bhein Bhreac is reached. Head south down the valley back to the Glen Douglas road, veering right (west ) towards the car.

Here is the slide show of the route......

Ben Lawers and Beinn Ghlas

This walk is the "standard" route to Ben Lawers. At a shade under 4000 feet, it is the highest mountain in the southern highlands of Scotland. Beinn Ghlas is climbed on the way, it's a lofty enough lump itself at over 3600 feet. As expected, the views are fantastic..........

We start from the Ben Lawers Visitor Centre which is on the minor road to Bridge of Balgie. This road leaves the A827 Killin to Aberfeldy road about 4 miles north of Killin. There is a large car park at the visitor centre, but the centre itself is closed.

We enter the nature reserve and take the nature trail path, which follows the burn and gives a scenic ascent with Beinn Ghlas in the back-ground. This path soon reaches the main Ben Lawers path which we follow to the summit of Beinn Ghlas...quite a stiff climb on the well made path which zig-zags up the hill.

From Beinn Ghlas we walk along the delightful ridge to the foot of the summit cone of Ben Lawers and climb to the top up steep and rocky ground.

We take the easy way down using a path which runs into Coire Odhar. This starts at the foot of Ben Lawers summit cone and traverses along the flank of Beinn Ghlas, by-passing it's summit. It joins the outward route just before that route steepens to climb Beinn Ghlas....thus avoiding all the steepest parts of Beinn Ghlas. It's a very easy route off a very big mountain ! ( Of course this path in reverse would also provide an easier way UP to Ben Lawers, but missing out Beinn Ghlas would be a shame. )

The slide show video will show the way......

Ben Lomond

Here we describe a long walk exploring Ben Lomond, the most southerly munro, only an hours drive from Glasgow. It's a beautiful hill, with fine views over Loch Lomond and the hills beyond.

Starting from the car park at Rowardennan at the end of the road on the east bank of Loch Lomond, the Ben Lomond hill path leads easily to the summit. From here the easiest way down is to simply retrace your steps. Another popular way down is to follow the Ptarmigan ridge, which has a rough path which leads back to the West Highland Way just above Rowardennan.

Our walk descends the north ridge of Ben Lomond to visit the smaller Cruinn a' Bheinn, which gives grand views of Ben Lomond's northern cliffs. We continue north then west to descend steeply to the West Highland Way at Cailness, from which a walk south of about five miles takes us back to Rowardennan...........

Ben Vane

Here is the way up Ben Vane, one of the "Arrochar Alps" which lie to the west of Loch Lomond. It's just over 3000 feet so it's one of the smaller munros, but it's a great walk with steep paths, rocky bits to be clambered over and a gully to be climbed, ( choice of at least two! ), so you can pretend you're a real mountaineer, before the summit is reached.

Starting at Inveruglas Visitor Centre off the A82 Loch Lomondside road, we walk south past the power station and turn right up the private road to Loch Sloy. We leave this road at a left branch to go over a large bridge which after a few hundred yards leads to a small bridge. Here a path starts which we follow up to Ben Vane's south-east ridge. Here is the slide show..........

The "bad step" is just a big boulder that was chest high to me and quite smooth. Taller people won't be bothered by it. The gully above it is a rocky staircase, similar to the alternative gully I used to ascend. Oddly enough, the "bad step" boulder proves no problem on the way down!

Incidently, the video has a deliberate mistake....Ben Ime and Ben Narnain are not "Ben"s at all.....they're "Beinn"s !

Doune Hill

Here is a walk in the Luss Hills, to the west of Loch Lomond. Most of the hard work is done on the ascent to Beinn Eich, thereafter the walking is on a very pleasant grassy ridge, with short climbs up and down Doune Hill and the 701m top ......

A few cars can be parked at the end of the narrow road up Glen Luss. From here we take to the hillside above Edentaggart to ascend Beinn Eich. We follow the ridge to Doune Hill then descend to the coll below the 701m top. After visiting this top, we descend back to the coll and return to the start via Glen Mollochan.....check out the video.....

Schiehallion

Today we will visit Schiehallion, a well known mountain just north of Aberfeldy. At over 3500 feet it is a worthwhile challenge. The walk starts from the Braes of Foss car park. From there the route goes south to reach the eastern ridge of the hill, which is followed to the summit...









On leaving the car park the path is very well made and you may well think this will be a "walk in the park", but Schiehallion has another side to it's character, and it's summit will not be so easily
achieved.

Check out the video..............

In fact negotiating the ridge is good fun providing you're wearing appropriate kit and this is really quite an easy walk, not too strenuous.

Ben Vorlich (Loch Earn)

Today we'll descibe a longer walk up a "proper" mountain, the 985m munro Ben Vorlich. This hill lies to the south of Loch Earn. The walk starts at Ardvorlich House, a few miles along the narrow road which runs along the south shore of the loch. From here we ascend the north ridge of the hill to the summit. We return down the South-East ridge and then into the glen where we turn north back to the start.......a very fine walk.....check out the video......

Ben A'an

Welcome to Hill Walks in Pictures.

Here you will find walking routes up popular hills and mountains, described using photos taken on the walks.

Let's start with a video slide show of a walk up Ben A'an, a hill of modest height but great character, in the Trossachs, east of Loch Lomond.

The path opposite the car park climbs through pleasant woodland then steeply up a rocky section, then round behind and up to the top of the summit. We return back down the route of ascent........check out the video......