Saturday, May 15, 2021

Glen Douglas

Planned a route round the three Glen Douglas Hills, cross the glen and climb Cruach an t Sidhein, Beinn Lochian and Doune Hill. Two objectives today, reach the Trig point on Monadh Tighe na Laraich on Tullich Hills North ridge and find a good descent line off Doune Hill into Glen Douglas. I had failed to reach the Trig twice before, once through fatigue and once in the clag. The direct descent off Doune Hill is full of crags and gullies, the first time I got through easily the second time cost me half an hour of re-ascent and traversing to pick my way through. Early start before 6:30, Beinn Bhreac first, no views today with cloud covering the tops, hopefully it would lift enough to reach the Trig. Ran along to Ben Reoch, the path criss-crosses a new fence line. Down towards Tullich Hill next, keeping close to the watershed to minimise height loss, the cloud had risen above the trig and I took a rising traverse towards Monadh Tighe na Laraich, hit the ridge a bit too soon giving some extra climb. This would be a good viewpoint for the Arrochar Alps on a clear day, I'll need to go back. Just over a mile to the top of Tullich Hill then the run down in to Glen Douglas through a new plantation of natural Scottish trees. I thought about stopping here but had made good time, just over three hours, and decided to stick to the plan. Set off round the Glen Douglas military base towards Cruach an t Sidhein. Steep at first following the fence line round the base then a gradual climb to a small bridge over the stream, a rising traverse to the ridge which steepens as you approach the summit, another cloudy one. Another new fence to follow down to the col before Beinn Lochain, a shortish climb then along to the twin tops of Doune Hill. Descent to Glen Douglas is off the second top, mindful of staying away from the crags I overcompensated and realised I had turned 180 degrees and was going back the way I came, luckily realised pretty quickly and only lost a few minutes. Tried again and picked a better line, avoiding the crags but not quite staying on the ridge I had hoped for, still made for an easy grassy descent to finish inside 6 1/2 hours, about an hour longer than I had hoped for probably as this route doesn't have as many paths as the other hills round Luss.

Tullich Hill from Beinn Bhreac

Loch Lomond from the traverse to Ben Reoch

Tullich Hill from Ben Reoch

Deer on Tulloch Hill

Trig on Monadh Tighe na Laraich



Arrochar from Monadh Tighe na Laraich

 Monadh Tighe na Laraich trig with Tullich Hill in the background

Doune Hills craggy flank from the descent off Tullich Hill

Ridge to Cruach an t Sidhein on the right over the Military base from Tullich Hill

Panorama of the 3 Glen Douglas hills from Doune Hill




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