Participants: Just me
Where: Beinn Chaorach, 713m/2,339', Graham, OS 56, NS 287 924, and Beinn Tharsuinn, Tump, 656m/2,152', OS 56, NS 291 916
All of the new sub-2k Marilyns that I am interested in climbing are too far away for a day trip so I am visiting some smaller hills locally and re-visiting other hills that I enjoyed on previous occasions. I hadn't been to the Luss hills since 2008- how time flies- so I decided to take advantage of a good forecast and revisit what I think is probably my favourite hill in the group- Beinn Chaorach. I started from the small parking area that I used on all previous visits- at the entrance to Ballevoulin farm. This is it with the ridge of Auchengaich Hill rising behind.....
There was a small herd of cows in the field but I managed to slink past them without fully attracting their attention. Then it was a steady and fairly steep plod up the 1,000' or so to the top of Auchengaich Hill. There is a good path. From near the top I got my first view of the day's objective- Beinn Chaorach on the left, Beinn Tharsuinn, centre and Balcnock which I did not intend to climb on the right....
Some more pictures of Beinn Chaorach and Beinn Tharsuinn from the way up.....
The views were also starting to open out, this is looking over the south ridge of Beinn a'Mhanaich, another of the Luss Grahams, to Loch Goil with the Corbett of Beinn Bheula beyond.....
After Auchengaich Hill, the angle of ascent decreased considerably before it steepened again on the climb up Beinn Tharsuinn. There was a small cairn (Ben Lomond distant).....
and Beinn Chaorach ahead.....
Balcnock from Beinn Tharsuinn- for grassy rounded hills, some of the slopes are surprisingly steep).....
You can see most of the Luss hills from Beinn Tharsuinn, the one nearest in this picture as Beinn Eich.....
After a short stop, it was on down to the col between my two hills and another fairly steep ascent to the highest point of the day.....
As I was climbing the slopes of Beinn Chaorach, the weather suddenly changed and within a few minutes the cloud came down. So no view at the trig but no matter, I had been there before; contrast the weather today with the next picture taken in February 2008 with the Arrochar Alps beyond.....
By the time I was back down at the col, the cloud had gone, the wind had got a bit stronger and the sun was out again. I did consider going on to Balcnock but decide that I had had enough so just returned the same way. Took a few pictures looking south. The Clyde estuary....
By the time I got back to the lower field, there was no sign of the cows so I was able to head straight for the gate and the car park. A fine walk.
2 comments:
A fine group of hills with good views. Underrated slightly with so many higher hill ranges in the same area a few miles futher north.
Thanks for this route, Neil. I used it a couple of weeks ago to get to Beinn Tharsuinn as part of a horseshoe with Balcnock. Has a bit of a problem with the cows on the way up. They began to come towards me at quite a rate. I climbed over a barbed wire fence to be on the safe side.
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