Over The Hill

Of all the mountains in the Arrochar Alps, Cnoc Coinnich is my least re-visited, having only done this mountain twice before, once in 2014, when it was classified as a Graham, and then again in 2019 after it was reclassified as a Corbett, in 2016.

Leaving the Events Car Park at the start of Coilessan Glen the broad forest track rises gently alongside the Coilessan Burn through what was at one time a fairly dense forest, but is now an open vista as great swathes of the forest have now been felled and the views opened up in all directions. A short, steep path breaks away for the main forest track to follow the Cowal Way onto the open hillside and the high point of the bealach between Ben Donich and Cnoc Coinnich, where, as one group of walkers who came up behind us broke off right for Ben Donich, as we broke off left onto the pathless moorland and headed for Cnoc Coinnich.

Low mist and a very light drizzle covered the hillside ahead as we headed generally south into the mist, and the, as yet unseen, gully which would lead us up and onto the high ridgeline at around the 650m height. The early stages were a steady pull through the grassy hillside, steady and not too problematic. However, as we entered the grassy gully I diverged a little too far left and took a slightly different line to Mike, who was ahead, but who I had lost sight of. Initially Ian was on the same line as I was, but made the better judgement to go more to the right. The line I was on became a bit of an unpleasant grassy scramble for a short distance before I was able to rejoin the more obvious route to link up with the others on the ridgeline. Excitement over, it was then an easy plod up, passed the small lochan and onto the fine 764m summit of Cnoc Coinnich. The mist was ever present, and so we retraced our steps to just above the lochan and found ourselves a nice rocky outcrop on which we had a very leisurely lunch but unfortunately, no views.

The northwest shoulder presents a gentler option for the descent from the summit and return to the Cowal Way, a faint but distinguishable path winds its way down the ridge, just to the west of the ridgeline thereby missing the odd rocky outcrop along the upper ridge and at the same time, once we were below the mist, offering views west over Lochgoilhead and the Cowal Peninsula. Back on the Cowal Way, it was then a simple matter of retracing our steps for a very leisurely stroll back down Coilessan Glen to our start point and the end of yet another very pleasant day in the hills.

Great company, and thanks Mike, Ian and Ken.