18 March, Luss Hills Revisited

‘West: The narrow road impending over Loch Lomond forms a most characteristic entrance to this mountainous tract.’
A tour of Scotland in 1769, Thomas Pennant

Somebody in the car, I’m not sure who, said, ‘It’s about time we had a decent day on the hill’. We all agreed for we have had more than our fair share of claggy days on the hill this year. And it was already proving to be a decent day as we travelled north to Loch Lomond-side for another go at the Luss hills (See 3 May, 2007). When we left the cars at Luss the morning was warming up, so warm in fact that Davie opted for shorts for the first time since winter set in back in October. He would be joined later by Jimmy but, for the moment was the only bare-leg as we set off over the footbridge to find the path for Beinn Dubh.

It was decided by the more sensible amongst us that we should tackle the walk in the reverse of the last time we were here, i.e. go up the shallower slope and come down the steeper. Those who had done the previous walk agreed with alacrity for the previous climb was a stoter, not to be repeated.
We left tarmac after a quarter of a mile or so, climbed a style and came onto the open hill. The going was wet, wetter than we expected after the recent unseasonable weather and it was slippery underfoot. Care had to be exercised to prevent unexpected and wet groundings. We suspect this was why Allan took his time on this upward slope. Either that or he was admiring the view.

View stops were called frequently on the climb. Not that there was much of a view to see for the unseasonable warmth had brought with it an unseasonable haze and anything beyond a couple of miles faded into blue-greyness. Luss lay visible below us but Loch Lomond with its islands melted into the haze. Not a lot could be seen today. Yet ‘view stops’ were called frequently. It was during one of these stops that Jimmy unzipped his trouser legs and remained in shorts for the rest of the walk.

As these view stops became more frequent, somebody suggested coffee and this was taken on the first dry spot we could find, in the lea of Creag an t-Seilich. We were now around the seventeen-fifty contour. Not far to go to the summit now.
Coffee finished, we continued the upward slog. We were right though, it wasn’t so far to the summit and, after an initial steep, the slope eased and we found ourselves at the summit cairn. We also found a slight breeze and were hopeful that it would drive away the haze. But we were lucky with the weather today and we probably shouldn’t expect too much at this time of year. The haze remained. Yet the views into Luss Glen were good and the visibility in the north and west was improving. Various hills came into view and speculation was made as to their identity. But, in the east, Ben Lomond was still hidden in the March miasma.

We were now on what might best be described as a broad sweeping ridge running away westward then southward and gently undulating as it went. Lunch called somewhere along the ridge. Even though it was barely three-quarters of an hour since coffee, the ravenous amongst us were in need of more sustenance. Robert found place in the lea of a peat-hag and, sheltered from the coolish breeze, we ate. Robert would like it noted that he not only made a decision, but it was a good decision! We ate and lay in the warming spring-like sunshine and might have lain there still if Robert hadn’t made another decision. We were off again.

The ridge was just as soggy as the rise onto it had been and various slips and slides were made along its length. But it did afford us different views. At one point Glen Douglas lay below and the hills on its north side were admired and noted as a possible future outing. The Arrochar hills all but solidified out of the haze in the west and tales were told of days on these. But we had to watch our footing rather than any views for the ridge was proving to be just as slippery as the ascent.

There came a point where something of a bog obstructed our path. Davie, in order to avoid wet feet, made a long sweep to the north. Some followed him. (Again?) Jimmy, the experienced bog man, recognises a shallow wetness when he sees one and ploughed on through it. The wet barely covered the sole of his boots. Those who followed him were through in no time, and with dry feet. Those who followed Davie found themselves on top of a peat hag with a five foot drop off the end into slimy peat. It was good to watch their antics as they dreeped aff their peat castle. Comments were made by those who should know better. They should remember that pride cometh before a fall.

Now it was a gentle climb onto the second, and last, summit of the day, Stob Coire na h-Eanachan. This would probably provide excellent views on a clear day but, today they were merely good for the haze yet persisted despite our hopes for the breeze. The main focus was across and down Luss Glen but behind us we could see the slope that the unwary climbed the last time we were here. It was steep! And long, and should not even be considered by those of mature years and ‘heavy bones’. It was Davie’s turn to make comments.

The view down Luss Glen to Loch Lomond was superb with the fresh green creeping up the valley bottom contrasting with the browns and yellows of the winter-dead hill grasses. And Loch Lomond lay at the end of the glen, hazy but visible. We could see Glenmollochan farm at our end of the glen and this was to be our next target. It would be an easy walk for it was downhill all the way.

Downhill it was, but easy it wasn’t. Fifteen hundred feet downhill it was and the slope was unrelenting. And it was soggy and slippery. At one point Davie exhibited his ice-skating skills by completing a single lutz followed by a triple-salchow for which we were prepared to award maximum points. Then he spoiled the effect by landing on his backside. Paul, who was too busy laughing at Davie to pay attention to himself, slid six feet down the slope. But he wasn’t nearly as classy as Davie. Jimmy joined in the fun, as did Allan. Was there anybody who didn’t slide at one time or other on this descent? But Davie’s was the best and he was the only one with a wet backside.

As the slope dried, (it dried but didn’t ease in any way) Jimmy felt the need to break into a jog and away he went. Silly auld b*****. By the time he had stopped at the fence and we had caught up with him, he said his wee legs were trembling like jelly. He barely had the strength to climb the style. Mind you other legs were shaky as well for the slope was long and took its toll on old limbs. On the other side of the style Johnny called for an afternoon stop. Without saying so, most of us were only too glad to oblige.

We sat for a while but, as they say, ‘needs must’ and we had to move on. The slope eventually eased and deposited us on the road on the glen bottom. A ‘gentle stroll’ back along the road in the afternoon sunshine brought us to Luss village around half past two.
This was easily the warmest walk of the year so far. It might have rated higher in our estimation had the day been clearer, but it still comes into the top twenty.
We drove back to the King’s Arms in Fenwick for FRT today and there ensued the great debate on Scottish football, a debate which may well be revisited in the future.


PS There were complaints of stiff legs after this walk, the down-slope being blamed. Allan would like it pointed out that he didn’t have stiff legs at all, he takes his time on the hill.

Distance 11.8 km

Report by Jimmy

Photos by Johnnie

3D map by Paul