22 August 2014
Participants: Just me
Where: Beinn Ghlas (Loch Fyne), 420m/1,378', Sub-2k Marilyn, Map 55, NR 989993
I parked in Minard although there was space a bit up the track that led to the deserted cottage at Gallanach that I could have used; it didn't add much to the distance walked however. When I reached the top of the forest, I could see Beinn Ghlas.....
The track carried on past a weir; I had a look but I don't trust my balance nowadays to cross tops of dams that are only a foot or so wide especially as there looked to be a fair depth of water in the wee loch. A few hundred yards further on and I dropped down to the stream which was easy to cross, although the vegetation in that part of the valley was somewhat lush, a hazard of walking in August. I headed up to join the west ridge and eventually reached a cairn. I could see the trig a few hundred yards further on.....
I had no sooner reached the cairn than I felt the patter of raindrops, I hadn't seen the black cloud approaching. Fortunately there was a fairly brisk wind blowing so the shower soon passed and I hung around so that I could take some pictures. This is looking down Loch Fyne.....
and up Loch Fyne.....
More showers were approaching so I didn't linger too long before heading off for the summit. The trig was on a bit of a plateau so the views weren't so good from here. Down Loch Fyne.....
and up Loch Fyne.....
Going back down, I headed more in the direction of the house at Gallanach. A mistake. It was much rougher terrain and there were lots of reeds to plough through in the valley before I started my ascent to the track. And the rain came back on- a much heavier shower this time which necessitated waterproofs. About half way down, I felt a sharp pain in my knee, I had somehow managed to tweak a muscle. It was a slow walk back and that evening I could hardly walk. A trip to the physio beckons next week.
And just so I will remember, I took a photo of the north slopes that I had descended.....
