Back to the Glen Striddle Horseshoe

Hill: Beinn Dubh (Luss)
Category: Graham
Height: 657m

Weather forecast promised to be kind to us as the Ayr OIR headed to the Luss hills to walk the Beinn Dubh and Glen Striddle horseshoe.
Large boulders have recently been deposited in the ad hoc parking area presumably forcing people to go into Luss for the £1 an hour parking. But just enough room to squeeze in our cars.

Bracken track

A pleasant warmth in the air as we headed up the bracken covered slopes. This is a short hill walk but it is a constant gradual climb from the outset.
A path through the ferns then out into open country.

Excellent views back to Loch Lomond

Before long you want to stop and look back as the views open over Loch Lomond and many of its islands. The engine drone of the tourist seaplane can be heard and then spotted in the grey sky as it heads out the coast.
On your left hand side the steeper looking slopes to Ben Eich and Doune hill are impressive.

Clear route to Beinn Dubh

This is a popular hill so there is a good track, albeit boggy at times, all the way to the top.
Just before the summit of Beinn Dubh the good weather had changed a bit, more cloud and a cool breeze, ‘taps’ on.

Beinn Dubh cairn

From the top the views were not the blue sky ones promised but nevertheless superb views of a stunning range of hills. 

Glen Douglas hills in foreground, Arrochar Alps on the skyline

The Arrochar Alps in full directly ahead. To the right the Lomond/Crianlarich range include the pointed tops of Ben More and Stob Binnein. Last but not least Ben Lomond and the Ptarmigan ridge. 

Looking back to Beinn Dubh

Add in all the local Luss stuff and a mightily impressive viewing point for a small effort.

The horseshoe to Mid Hill

The ridge top across the horseshoe to Mid Hill (the highest point) was boggy but straightforward. Looking down into Glen Douglas it was impressive a good feel for the height gained in the walk.

Glen Douglas and Ben Lomond

Further along gave us a great viewpoint for lunch looking steeply down the grassy slopes into Glen Striddle with Loch Lomond directly ahead, spoilt are we not?

The view makes lunch taste better

Finally the descent off Mid Hill was much drier than I remembered from my last outing here, today just very wet on the lower slopes.
Sadly the finale is a two mile tarmac trudge back to the cars back the conversation and scenery help it go past quickly.
Another superb day out, in good company, taking in the fantastic Scottish landscape.

Wildlife: Buzzard, Raven,
Time: 4.01
Ascent: 2316ft
Distance: 6.91m