Location:
Glen Luss, Argyll
Map: OS Landranger ( GH291971)
|Distance: 12miles ( 19km )
Time: 5hours 30 minutes
Terrain: tracks and paths While the hills surrounding Glen Luss on the
west side of Loch Lomond
are relatively modest, they are surprisingly steep-sided. The grassy
terrain makes pleasant if sporadically boggy going, and the hills offer
excellent exercise when poor weather makes travelling furher afield
less desirable.
A variety of combinations are possible, the longest of which takes in
six Grahams ( peaks measuring 2000-2500ft ) and many lesser tops in an
impressive 36km round.
This route combines shapely Beinn Eich ( Horse Hill ) with Doune
Hill, the highest hill in the area, with an optional
extension to Cruach an t-Sidhein ( Heap of the Fairies ) on route. The
only slight downside is the road
used for approach and descent, but using a bike takes the sting out of
the slog once over the initial hill above Luss,
and the return route is a doddle.
From the main car park in Luss
go south to Luss primary school. Take the access road to the wooden
bridge over the A82 and ascend the Glen Luss road to Glenmollochan
Farm. Beyond the farm a track branches off the road at a gate and
ascends Glen Mollochan towards Doune
Hill.
Where the track fades halfway along. avoid the boggier sections of the
glen floor before the watershed by sticking to the higher ground.
A grassy path follows the right side of the tree-filled burn between
the two summits of Doune
Hill to the steeper upper slopes and the rounded summit of
the right-hand top, then the main summit topped by a trig point and
views north to the Arrochar Alps.
Descend south-west towards Beinn Lochain.
where there is a choice of routes. Cruach an t-Sidhein can be gained
via the col to the west, followed by a contouring route back to the
ridge leading to Beinn Eich, or a descent of Beinn Lochain's south
ridge can be made
direct to this point. A short ascent leads to a grassy crest and at
small cairn marking the top of Beinn Eich with views to Loch Lomond and its islands and
south to Tinto Hill, the Clyde, Arran and Ailsa Craig.
Descend more or less directly down the south-east ridge heading for
Edentaggart farm in Glen Luss, crossing a wall at a stile and gaining a
path skirting the farm to the north. This gains the access track, which
you then follow back to the road.
Map
for Beinn Eich and Doune Hill
in the Luss
Hills above Loch Lomond
