A post work trig prior to the clocks going back at the weekend . A late start at 5pm trying to beat the darkness!
Took the forestry road to its end and picked my way through the recently harvested hillside out onto the open hill
Once on the open hill it’s make your own way, ground conditions not too bad a gradual climb to the summit. Great views this evening.
From the trig
Instead of returning on the ascent route I decided to track the burn back to the forestry road. Steep sides but saved some time in the diminishing light.
Glad to see the forestry road! Then a stroll back to the car.
Leaving from Inverchapel Forestry car park a short but initially super steep walk provides stunning views of the surrounding area. Other non defined routes are available!!! 😅
Been here before but have lost any records I had. Great morning to be out on the hill, albeit wet and lumpy underfoot.
Starting off on the forestry road accessed off the C11 Otter Ferry to Glendaruel road – strangely start point of the road does not correspond with that of the O/S map but soon ties in.
First 1.5 miles on forestry road, then taking an ATV track to the open hill. Pretty much chose your own route navigating round the worst of the soft spots. One non barbed standard height fence to cross.
Stunning views over the west of Cowal and beyond from the trig 👍
Another day another Trig. This one situated off the forestry road between Dunoon and Innellan.
The ditch has been piped just south of the quarry giving access to the hill. Following the upper ditch on a path overgrown by reeds, the final stretch on open hill.
Another Trig in the bag. One I’ve been wanting to do for a while. Accessed off the Hells Glen Road (B839).
Forestry Road, then easily accessed to the open hill heading for the summit. No defined path, make your own way up this one 👍 We chose to stick to the left hand side of the hill stream for the main ascent.
Well the whole journey was a tad wintery, including a rather ‘fresh’ Easterly wind !!
Planning ahead, I’d taken my bike to speed up the lower section from Benmore Gardens to where the forestry road ended and the hill track started. This would also speed up my return journey,the thought of free wheeling the final stage back to the car made the original climb past the view point seem worth it.
Once on the snow covered hill track,it was straight up hill to the fence line,some great view over Benmore,the Holy Loch and beyond were to be had. Over the first gate,continuing north till i found the old fence line,well the uprights were the only things visible. Once on the summit of A’Cruach (482mts) things got interesting, a snow filled,wind swept landscape awaited. Some drifts could not be avoided,the first one was fun as i waded through the thigh high snow…………after twenty similar scenarios the novelty had worn off !! Next was Creachan Beag (547mts) as i followed the fence line, the surrounding hills lit up by the sun. Ground conditions varied from,grassy tussocks,fields of ice and various depths of snow (mostly 12″ +), i certainly felt the strain on this walk. Onwards to Creachan Mor that towers above Coire nan Cleireach,this is where i left the fence line and headed NW to the summit of Clach Bheinn. Planning this route beforehand I’d picked out a route,however due to the drifts it was a case of dodging what i could and heading for any sign of solid ground. After zig-zagging and contouring round the hill the summit cairn was spotted, a welcome sight indeed. View from the true summit weren’t as good as i hoped,looking north was still obscured by adjacent rocky outcrops. But exploring the high tops in the prestent conditions was a no go.
The thought of returning via the same route had me planning a different descent. A south eastern walk down the shoulder heading for the tree line followed by a steep westerly down by the trees,the snow deep but at least it was all downhill and good progress made. I’d once hiked up a section of this large clearing many years ago so i knew what to expect. Eventually emerging onto the forestry road on west Loch Eck………solid even ground….. at last !
Something was always in the back of my mind……………..my bike !!! It was still hopefully sitting up beyond the Benmore viewpoint,aaaaargh. Perhaps taking it wasnt the best idea 🙂 A trudge back up the hill to fetch it, followed by the free wheeling section i’d been looking forward to before a slow pedal back to the car.
For an interactive map with route, stats and picture locations click HERE
Map
Will upload video once I get some decent tinternet connection!!
Decided to try something different,a bike followed by a hike to get to this trig point.
Parking at Glenbranter at the FCS car park, I headed off on the bike for the forestry road section. I’d found an ATV track by chance when descending from Beinn Bheag a good while back, so relocating this track for access to the hill was the next step. Remarkably I found the track, as if I was there yesterday, just as I remembered. The track too steep to cycle up, I pushed the bike the point of the washed out burn crossing then walked the remainder and onto the open hill. There’s a couple of splits in the track, two lefts and a right gets you onto the hill. The second left hand track was unknown to me as my descent on last trip came from the right, but the choice paid off.
The track took me out at the base of the hill, leaving a short and steep ascent to the trig, far easier than I thought it’d be.
Stunning views were to be had, snow covered hills and mountains all around, along with partial views over Loch Eck.
I remember seeing a mast at the top of this hill many years ago, but it had vanished and I never thought anything about it…….until I reached the summit. The control station still exists along with the dismantled mast, the internals of the station stripped out…..a good wee place to hide in extreme weather! Even if there’s no door.
After a wee wander about the tops I returned on the same route, picking up a frosty bike for the downhill return. I’m no mountain biker, mostly forestry roads but I enjoyed hanging of the back of the bike on the track section!! The forestry road hardly took a turn of the pedals to get back to the car, the quickest descent I’ve ever done!!!
Time saving and energy saving……it’s the future!!!! 😉
Explore Cowal 