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......