Over The Hill

It was August when I last uploaded a report on my walks. I have not been idle since then, but, with the Covid restrictions, plus a few other factors, I have not ventured beyond my "local" hills, namely Conic Hill and Beinn Dubh, where I have tried to maintain a modicum of hill fitness in these very unusual times. So it was a joy to get a little further afield on Wednesday, and to climb a hill, often passed but never climbed, Fiarach, a 652m Graham just to the east of Beinn Dubhchraig. Amazing who you meet in car parks theses days, looking for a nice quiet hillside, and what do I find? A gaggle of like minded walkers all heading for the same little hill, faces I recognised from bygone walks that seem so distant now. Anyway, it made for a safer walk, having others around on a bleak hillside.

Striking out from Dalrigh, and taking the fine forest track leading over the River Fillan and across the Oban railway line a straggling line of diverse walkers strolled amicably upwards alongside the waters of the Allt Gleann Auchreoch for a few kilometres until we reached the gate and high fenceline marking the entry into the forested area. Here, as if by telepathy, everyone felt the need for a short pause on the grassy hillside just to enjoy the views, which, although a little restricted due to cloud, nevertheless provide some fine aspects of the higher mountains of Beinn Dubhchraig and Beinn Odhar.

We would not pass through the gate, but rather, we stayed on the open hillside, and climbed in an easterly direction alongside the boundary fence, at first through deep grass and reeds on quite steep ground, before, as the fenceline swung southeast, the going eased a little, the deep grass giving way to rock and scrub underfoot.

The approach to, and the area around the summit of Fiarach is dotted with small lochans, the largest of which takes its name, Lochan Fiarach. from the mountain, while, with one exceptions, all others are un-named. The summit itself is distinguished by a fine, miniature rocky ridge, which rises from the surrounding ground and runs for no more than 100 metres, but adds character to the 652m summit, and, importantly, provides a wonderful viewpoint, not only for the watery landscape from which it rises, but also a fine panorama of mountains, from, the Strath Fillan tops of Beinn Odhar and Beinn Challum onwards to the Crianlarich summits of Ben More and An Caisteal, and finally, Beinn Dubhchraig and Ben Lui. A dull overcast day prevented seeing these tops in their full majesty, with cloud covering most of them and only fleeting glimpses of the higher ground, although it was plain that snow was lying on and around summit level on these mountains. Given the central location of Fiarach summit, this must be one to visit on a clear summer, or crisp winters day, I think the views would be quite stunning.

After a welcome break on a convenient grassy patch just off the summit, this straggling group headed more directly back towards the forest track and railway bridge. Initially, heading north from the summit, and taking in the high point at 626m and the other named lochan, Lochan Fenella, before taking a generally northwest line to descend the grassy hillside and make our return to the forest track, and thence back to Dalrigh.

Great to get out on "the hills" again, and at least be within shouting distance of fine friends. Stay safe everyone, and hopefully we just might be fortunate enough to find ourselves on the same hill again in the not to distance future.