Cnoc Coinnich

On our Bank Holiday Friday my mum and I decided to make the most of the extra day on our weekend and the early Autumn sunshine to go a hike. Our pick was Cnoc Coinnich, a hidden peak among some more well known hills like The Cobbler and Ben Donich. We parked the car at Ardgarten Visitor Centre, just past Arrochar. As you enter the visitor centre drive over the bridge and continue to the left until it leads you to the Coilessan Events car park.

From the car park the walk begins through the locked gate and cross over the burn. Continue a short distance until the Coilessan Glen signpost where you make a turn to the right. From here the clear path continues to climb through some conifers with views of the mountains all around.

Continue on straight, ignoring a cycle path on the left. The walk is constantly climbing but is not too steep at this stage and the path is clearly marked. Leave the main path at the signpost for Lochgoilhead 6km and follow a more rough up and down path over two footbridges. Then it is time for the proper climb which follows the side of the burn. This is the steepest part of the walk and I don't feel ashamed to say we took a brief break half way up to catch our breath and admire the views.

At the top of this ascent is a fence with a style to climb over. We saw 3 sheep in this area but they quickly wandered off after our arrival. There is no path for the last part of the climb but continue straight, looking out for the cairn marking the summit. Parts of the hilltop are a bit boggy so take care to try and avoid these.

Once at the cairn it is time to appreciate the views of the surrounding mountains and lochs. There is also a small lake at the top of the hill. We crouched at the cairn to take pictures, admire the sights and shelter from the strong wind. Although it was a calm September day at the top of Cnoc Coinnich the wind was very strong and standing was even difficult. The beauty of this walk was how remote it felt, considering how close it is to Arrochar, Tarbet and the hussle of Loch Lomond. We didn't pass another person and from the summit no signs of modern Scotland could be spotted, apart from some far off cottages. I'd recommend this walk on a clear day to really take advantage of the surrounding views, but I think it would be perfect for any season. We returned by the same route, feeling the buzz of having accomplished something with our Friday.

The Facts on climbing Cnoc Coinnich:

• Starting point is from the Coilessan Events car park in the Ardgarten Visitor Centre, just past Arrochar.
• Nearest public toilets are at the start of Ardgarten Visitor Centre and are free.
• Climbing Cnoc Coinnich takes around 2hours 30mins- 3hours.
• Distance is 6miles/ 9.5km.
• Difficult points: Steep climb by the burn up to the hilltop; strong winds at the summit.
• Wear: Hiking/ hill walking boots and perhaps bring a hat or hairband if you have long hair as the winds at the top are very strong.
• Perfect for those who want a bit of a challenge, and seek the reward of stunning views that are rarely seen by others. Remember to add your stone to the cairn!

A Woodland Walk from Tarbet

The starting point for this walk was from the restaurant car park behind an old church (now restaurant) in Tarbet. The train station is a 2 minute walk from here, but the restaurant car park is much larger and free so I would recommend it for parking. When setting off we saw a few other walkers getting ready so it looks like this is a popular starting point.

 From here we followed the path to the train station and went through the underpass until we got to the Cruach Loop signpost. If you were to turn left here you could walk to Arrochar, but today we took the right turn. This walk is circular and on the way up we took the path parallel to the railway line. This is an enjoyable route through woodland with low hanging branches and up and down gentle slopes which keep the walk interesting.

 

Following this path we got to a footbridge which we crossed then continued to climb up a steeper slope. This was the hardest part of the walk as the slope ascends quickly as you follow the route of the burn, but at the top of the incline you are rewarded with a picnic table and a spot of rest before crossing another bridge. From across the bridge you could continue right on a smaller path which would lead you to the summit of the small hill Cruach Tairbeirt (but watch your feet as there is a large quagmire on this route). But today, as the weather was gray and we were taking it easy we took the left route from the footbridge and continued on the return route through the woodlands.

The beauty in this walk was the glimpses through the trees of the higher hills around  and the delicate flowers and fungi hiding in the woodland. The gentle, reassuring noise of the burn also adds to the relaxing feel of this route. Altogether at a very realxed pace this route took us around 2 hours and followed mainly well guided clear paths, despite a few diversions for fallen trees. We never saw anyone else on the route this day but I think it would be suitable for most as well as dog walkers. This was our first walk on this side of Loch Lomond but I'm looking forward to discovering some more!

The Facts on this Walk:

• The starting point is the park park behind the old church in Tarbet, or from Tarbet train station.
• Nearest public toilets that we found were in Luss, which are free.
• Walk without Cruach Tairbeirt is around 1hour 30mins- 2hours.
• Difficult points: Cruach Tairbeirt if your so inclined, or the steeper slope after the first footbridge.
• Wear: appropriate footwear as it could be muddy if its been wet.
• Perfect for any walker who wants woodlands with a bit of a view of the surrounding mountains!