Over The Hill

Glen Finlas and its like named reservoir nestle in a horseshoe bowl formed by the steep grassy hills of Craperoch, Balcnock, Beinn Ruisg and Creachan Hill, the tops of which offers some wonderful views stretching over the Firth of Clyde, Dumbarton, the Campsie Fells, Loch Lomond and the Crianlarich hills to the north.

We set off from the small lay by at the eastern end of the A817, the "Haul" road, constructed in the 1990's as a military road to service the Royal Naval Base at Faslane, hence the nickname, and walked carefully along its pathless verge until just beyond Shantron Farm at which point we crossed the safety barrier and made our way over the boggy hillside to join the very eroded track that leads steeply uphill to the phone mast at the base of Shantron Muir.

Here we turned west and headed directly uphill over the open grassy hillside over Shantron Muir before taking a more northwesterly and finally northern line of approach onwards towards the summit of Craperoch hill, at 462m. The lower approaches to Craperoch hill were extremely wet, with areas of reed beds and water pools to be negotiated, getting across them was a matter of luck as to whether the reeds held and you stayed above the water or plunged knee deep into the cold black mess. One lady, who shall remain nameless (but has links to the Isle's), was even noted making a rugby tackle that any Scottish flanker would be proud of on a fellow walker in an attempt to bring him down with her as she dived below the waterline!

Beyond Craperoch however, the walking was much easier, on more gently sloping grass slopes with the views opening up all around as we gained height. The steep sides of Corrie Cuinne still held a light covering of the snow which had fallen earlier in the week, possibly a warning of what may lie ahead later in the winter, as even at these lower altitudes, these hills can have a surprising bite if the weather turns fowl.

The highest point on the route is the un-named top at 693m, just before the apex of the horseshoe, which then drops sharply before climbing again to a second un-named top at 657m completing the arc of the horseshoe. We stopped for lunch in the centre of this arc, perched on the high grassy slopes above Corrie Fuar, with magnificent views down to Glen Luss and Luss Water directly below us, Beinn Eich directly ahead and the Crianlarich hills in the distance.

The return leg of the horseshoe took us over the 657m top and then a short descent and ascent to the summit of Beinn Ruisg at 595m the lowest top, yet, oddly enough, the only one that is named on any of the OS maps . Leaving Beinn Ruisg, we descended towards Creachan Hill, negotiating the many peat hags which abound on this side of the hill, all of which require a deal of care as their sides are often steep and slippery with the possibility of ending up in a pool of black watery peat. Beyond Creachan Hill, we descended to the boundary of the Mulea Plantation and onto the tarmac track which leads downhill for the final kilometre to rejoin the "Haul" road an hence back to our starting point at the lay by.

A wonderful walk, with some magnificent views - Thanks Lawrie.