Stuc Odhar (Glen Finglas)

17 September 2017

Participants: Just me
Where: Stuc Odhar (Glen Finglas), 638m/2,093', Hump, OS 57, NN551 088

In terms of actual height, Stuc Odhar would be classified as a Graham if it met the prominence criteria. It doesn't so is classified as a Hump. It is, however, a fine hill, rising from the shores of Loch Venachar which means that you have to climb most of its 638m if you want to bag it. The southern slopes are owned by the Woodland Trust who have created a network of paths one of which takes you well up the hill. I parked at the Little Druim car park, crossed the road and was on a well engineered path that contoured gently round and up the hill. Very soon Ben Venue appeared to the west.....

 

 

And a bit further up and I could see the Arrochar Alps in the distance.....

 

 

The path got a bit narrower and a bit wetter as I got higher and eventually reached the boundary of the Woodland Trust land at a high deer fence. They had however kindly provided a stile. The summit of Stuc Odhar was now in view.....

 

 

The going was a mix of heather and grass and was not too bad as I angled up onto the ridge. Almost there.....

 

 

The final slope was steep but I was able to angle round to the north to find a reasonable way up (and down). Ben Ledi is immediately to the north; I could see folk at its summit.....

 

 

But Stuc Odhar I had to myself, although I did meet a couple of parties on the Woodland Trust path who were doing the whole trail rather than taking in the hill. The weather was a bit dull although visibility was superb. Here are some photos taken from the highest point, which is about 15m west of the cairn. Ben Vane.....

 

 

The Crianlarich hills in the distance, Ben More and Stobinian with a little bit of cloud cover.....

 

 

And looking over Glen Finglas reservoir to the distant Arrochar hills.....

 

 

This is a hill that probably deserves more attention than it is likely to get, not being classified a Munro, Corbett, Graham or indeed a sub-2k Marilyn. The Trust have established a number of paths across their estate so there are plenty opportunities to investigate this area only an hour away from Glasgow if you don't want to climb the hill. Time taken was 4 hours 10 minutes.