Over The Hill

Dominating the western slopes of Glen Croe, The Brack and Ben Donich are two mountains which offer a fine days walking; that much is obvious by the frequency which we return to these two hill; and today, with the summer sun continuing to shine and temperatures in the high 20s, it was Ben Donich that drew us once again to it's fine summit and wonderful views.

Familiarity does not detract from the sense of climbing this mountain for as if for the first time; the winding, twisting track ensures that there is a continual change of view, both ahead and behind, and there is even the anticipation of the minor scramble which awaits you at the "bad step" beyond which a short, steep climb leads to an easier gradient for the final leg up to the summit and Trig Point. Today the summit offered some fantastic views, especially southwards towards the Firth of Clyde, the ideal spot for us simply to find a nice grassy spot or stone upon which to relax, take in the views and enjoy some refreshments.

Departing the summit, we made a slight detour to visit one of the small lochans located just below and slightly off the path, hence the fact that we usually bypass them, or, if on a winter walk, miss them altogether as they are usually covered in ice and snow; today, we were able to stroll around them and look upon the inviting blue waters on such a hot day before resuming our descent back to the Rest and Be Thankful.

Brilliant day, thanks Mike, and everyone for your company.