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OS Grid ref: NN 18808 00193
Lat/Long: 56.159974, -04.918039
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I packed up my car camp at Ardentinny and set off in the gloomy
dark to drive to Lochgoilhead. With no car park near the start
of my walk I parked on some sloping ground at a road junction
where I wasn’t in anyone's way. The weather forecast said cloud
but no rain but I didn't believe it. I walked past the holiday
cottages at Letttermay and up onto the forestry track. I walked
steadily upwards but had no views of the mountains. After about
a mile I reached a fork in the track where I turned right and
down to a river and wooden bridge. A sign pointed to my left
along a very wet path through the trees. |
Waterfalls in the rain. |
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Because of the wet long grass I put my overtrousers on. Higher
up I came to some impressive waterfalls where the path turned up
to the left then returned to the top of the falls. For a while
the gradient eased as I followed the line of the river. The
route then left the river to turn steeply up to the left to
follow a post and wire fence line. I could see a mountain up a
head in the mist and folloed a faint path upwards but it soon
petered out. The ground was very rough and difficult going.
After a very steep climb I was hit by strong winds and rain. For
a while I was on the east side of the mountain and sheltered
from the wind. After climbing a steep gully I wack in the wind
and rain. The visibility was still bad as I climbed on firmer
ground to Casteal Dubh. Eventually the silhouette of the stone
wall and trig post appeared. At 779m it is one of the concrete
cylinder type known as a Vanesta. |
Vanesta summit trig post. |
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It was too windy to hang around so I continued south along the
flat ridge. It must be very impressive on a good day but not
today. The descent needed careful route navigation and with no
path was quite difficult. In places a faint path appeared.
Thankfully I saw the Lohaine below and across more boggy ground
I reached the loch and dam at the west end. A leaking penstock
was at the base. The Path descended to a fence and pine forest
where the route followed the river down but was mostly
impassable. |
Loch dam. |
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I walked amongst the very dark trees. I came to a post marker
which shows were to cross the river and follow a fire-break
between the trees. There was another muddy path to follow but
eventually it petered out in places where the trees stopped and
I crossed an area of previous felling with a lot of fallen
branches and old tree trunks. |
It was difficult going and I was relieved to reach a
forestry track where I could walk without problems. It was an
easy walk back to the car and during the final mile I saw the
first walkers of the day heading upwards. It had rained most of
the way and I was quite wet.
To get warm I drove south to
Carrick Castle for a quick look then drove back to Lochgoilhead
and on to the small parking area above the Rest And Be Thankful. |
Horrible way through the woods. |
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