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Lochgoilhead. |
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Lochgoilhead. |
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Section
1 Ben Donich Section
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 The Brack from the Cobbler
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Ben Donich appears rather different from the usual Arrochar Alps model, It is a squat bulky mass dominating Lochgoilhead, but it still maintains the craggy schisty nature of the more acute peaks in the area.
The hill is probably climbed from the top of the Rest and Be Thankful than by any other route, there being a marked path up the north ridge from here. Direct assaults from the surrounding glens are discouraged by forestry, but there are ways through. The Harvey Arrochar Alps map is especially useful in locating ways through.
Mica schist hills, and most hills in the Arrochar area are prone to slope failure, and Ben Donich has some very spectacular examples. The North ridge path passes through some convoluted land slide debris and crevassed terrain at about 600m and a little way off to the north of the east ridge there are 60 foot deep fissures at right angles, isolating a large block of hillside. Anyone fortunate enough to venture here in good winter conditions should bear this in mind.
A 30m deep slot on the East ridge.
My visit to this hill was combined with neighbouring The Brack on a cold clear May day. After the steeps of The Brack , the long climb up to Donich was protracted hard work. A pleasant half hour was spent exploring the landslide features, but the rest was a toil. Maybe it was the Cobbler the day before taking its toll. On descent, after enjoying the wide views over Argyll and Arran , the north ridge was left soon after the landslide, a mistake as it led to a battle with the felled areas of Glen Croe Forest. These were full of slippy dead branches festooned with brambles. The pay off was the fast return to the road side on the forest road network.
The Brack is quite like its big brother, Ben Donich only with the vertical hold racked up. It is uncompromisingly steep and like Donich the lower slopes are draped in forest and further up there are landslips. The hanging corrie on the north face being a good example.
Approach from the Loch Long side of the hill and Ardgarten Hostel/campsite is very problematic due to the trees. I used the path shown by the OS crossing the bealach with Ben Donich and joining Coire Odhair with Glen Croe. Others prefer the gentler south ridge from the boggy path linking Lochgoilhead with Coilleasan and Loch Long. This is waymarked by the Forestry. From the bealach a long steep grassy darg will get you , panting, by the trig in under an hour. You will have earned the view.
Ben Lomond looks rather good from here, and there is a close up of the South peak of the Cobbler. Alternatively traverse on to the north face and enjoy the rock architecture of the landslips and boulder fields. This face has some rock climbing, and even a winter route or two for the next ice age. It is also the home of some special howfs. Good hunting.
Beinn Bheula from The Brack
Cowal is one of those odd corners that everyone sees, but few tread the hills. No Munros, and just the one Corbett. The extensive plantations don't help in the popularity stakes either. The one Corbett, Beinn Bheula presents a huge square backdrop to Lochgoilhead when seen from the Arrochar Alps.
There are roads on both the west (Loch Eck) and east (Loch Goil) side. I have yet to have the pleasure of exploring Cowal so will limit my description to the Loch Goil side. This has also the advantage of being on the Harvey's map so it should be possible to work out a way through the forests.
A forest road climbs from Lettermay on the dead end single track road toward Carrick Castle from Lochgoilhead, this is the key to the eastern approaches to Beinn Bheula. On my ascent, the same cold May weekend on which I climbed The Brack, Ben Donich and The Cobbler I took the old drove road, now a boggy path up towards the Curra Lochain. If using the OS 1:50000 sheet the lochan is hidden in the yellow smudge used to show the Argyll Forest Park. Using a recent edition will give the problem of the purple Forestry Commission lines as well. The path leaves the forest in a grassy hollow dominated by a fine set of waterfalls draining Curra Lochain. If Ian Banks had his way a railway would breach this defile en route to Lochgilphead, this far fetched fictious engineering feat features strongly in The Crow Road. From this peaceful glade Beinn Bheula makes an uncompromising statement. You have work to do. The craggy north eastern spur can be breached by a set of diagonal rakes. No scrambling required but a lovely exposed walk is to be found up the crag, reminiscent of the Shamrock Traverse on Pillar. The summit, with its trig point over looks the hills of Cowal and a long grassy upland stretching towards Ardentinny. Arran and Jura , as always in Argyll dominate the distant views. A return can be made down easy slopes, south from Creag Sgoilte , the south top , to a waymarked path down to attractive Lochain nan Cnaimh. I spent an hour casting away at the loch without success. Energetic types can finish with a flourish over Cruach nam Miseag, mere mortals must follow the aforementioned waymarked path through the forest. This path is very muddy, the overhanging spruce allow neither sun nor wind to dry the path. Eventually the road is regained back to Lettermay.
Beinn Beula was used as a contol site in the 1999 Karrimor Mountain Marathon.
The map of Cowal that was used, with Beinn Bheula can be viewed here. Hopefully it will be possible to buy copies from Stirling Surveys,
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A* 30/1/01
