Ardsheal Hill

1 May 2012

Participants - Neil and Ben
Where - Ardsheal Hill, 263m/864', Sub-2k Marilyn, Map 49, NM 995568

Another spell of warm, sunny weather had arrived so I took the opportunity to do a couple of hills on the west coast and booked accommodation at Ardgour. On the way up, I made a small diversion to Duror to climb one of the smaller of the sub-2k's, Ardsheal Hill. This is the shot that I took of it later in the evening from across Loch Linnhe, it is the middle of the three hills, not at all big but with views out of all proportion to its size.....

This was my second visit, on the first occasion I tackled it by its south ridge from Cuil, in order to get the views all day if I recall correctly, but it was a rough, tough way up and not at all pleasant. So this time I parked the car in the community hall car park a mile north of Duror from where a track went up the east slopes to a radio mast just short of the summit. Just before reaching the mast, a path had formed which took me the final few metres of height to the trig. The existence of this path suggested that this must be a popular walk and when I arrived at the top it was not difficult to see why; you overlook Loch Linnhe and straight across the loch are the mountains of Ardgour. Here's Ben approaching the trig with a still snow covered Ben Nevis in the background.....

The views really open out at the trig; looking up the loch to Ben Nevis.....

looking to the Corran narrows with the ferry in the second shot.....

and down Loch Linnhe to Mull.....

But I reckon that the best of the view is straight across the loch to the mountains of Ardgour with Garbh Bheinn prominent, a long time since I've climbed it.....

Then it was on to the Corran ferry and over to Ardgour. Crossing this ferry, I always get the feeling of being transported to a different world, it's like crossing to an island!

And the forecast was good again for the following day, when I planned to tackle Ben Hiant, which has been on my wanted list for years and years.