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Loch Lomond | Scottish Landscape Art - Scottish Landscape Paintings - Part 2

Posts Tagged ‘Loch Lomond’

A snowy day in the hills and some computer blues

Posted by admin on January 25th, 2014
''In the Luss Hills''

”In the Luss Hills”

Well then we finally got out for a hill walk on Thursday ….the first one since our trip to Rannoch Moor at the end of November.  Since then the weather seems to have been so bad with just one gale after another.  What days were fine seemed to coincide with either Nita or I having to work.  Anyway, on Monday we checked the mountain forecast and it seemed like Thursday would be the best of a bad bunch …so we booked it!  We also decided to ask our friend Guy if he’d like to join us as we hadn’t seen him for ages.  Interestingly he’d been planning to go to the same place …the Luss Hills, today, (Saturday) but quickly changed his plans in order to join us.

By the time Thursday arrived, the forecast had deteriorated somewhat with heavy rain and higher up, snow showers predicted for the morning and afternoon. ….and it didn’t disappoint!  We decided to go early to avoid the traffic jams on the Erskine Bridge and we arrived at Luss at just after half past seven in the morning.  Of course it was still almost completely dark but we were reckoning on the small cafe shop opening at 8 o’clock so that we could buy ourselves a coffee and sandwich while waiting for it get light.  Alas, the wee shop was closed for a refit and we wandered back to our car dejected and devoid of nourishment!

By the time we started walking it was just light but heavy clouds hung quite low everywhere and it was raining hard.  Everywhere was awash and the steep first section of the path leading up Beinn Dubh was more like a stream than a path.  Even so, as soon as we got above the trees the views in gloom out over Loch Lomond were great ….and very atmospheric ….most of it falling on us I think.  There was cause however for optimism as every now and again breaks appeared in the clouds and we could see patches of blue sky and brightness.  After reaching about 300 m the rain quickly turned to snow and the steeper sections of the hill ahead of us were white….looking good against the dark skies.

''In the Luss Hills''

”In the Luss Hills”

Suffice to say that none of us were feeling particularly fit having done little or no walking for almost two months.  We moved very slowly up the hill but the regular stops allowed us to enjoy the increasingly fine views in increasingly bright and sunny conditions ….it really was a joy to see.  We stopped somewhat short of the summit of Beinn Dubh but at one of the finest view points on the hill at I think, a little under 600m.  The wind here was very strong and the snow freezing at this level, the wind chill was quite pronounced ….when I took my mitts off for a few minutes to take photos my fingers quickly became numb!  We braved the wind and stopped and enjoyed the fine views across the loch to Ben Lomond ….while sipping hot coffee ….then headed back down.  As we went we were enveloped in a big snow shower that swept in over the hill from the west.  It was very impressive and I’m thinking of trying to do a painting about it soon. Must admit the walk did me a lot of good and I’m looking forward to getting out again hopefully one day next week.

''In the Luss Hills''

”In the Luss Hills”

Back to normality yesterday and the joys of computers.  I’ve just changed my screen magnifier / screen reader software to Zoom text 10 as my previous software was causing so many problems.  However I really also needed to upgrade my main computer.  It had been using XP but this was getting a little out of date and so I thought I might as well go the whole hog and get it changed over to Windows 7.  I collected the machine from the shop where the new software had been added and all seemed fine ….until I tried to get onto the Internet.  Then it just kept saying ‘no Internet connection available’!  Nita spent ages trying to work out what was wrong but at the moment I still can’t get onto the Internet on that machine and so I’m using Nita’s laptop to write this.  I haven’t used it for ages so I’m struggling to find my way around it.  Could be you’ll never get this blog!

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Back to normal

Posted by admin on January 9th, 2014

A rather full Loch Lomond

A rather full Loch Lomond

Well then, that’s Christmas by and 2014 well under way.  I hope you all had a good time over the festive period.  I had a very enjoyable few days off as well as a very good few days at the studio.  Nita was working twelve and half hours shifts on 27th & 28th December so I used these to the full working on the An Teallach commission.  After much banging of my head against the wall in the early stages of this painting, I’m at last starting to make headway and had another good long session yesterday that left me feeling quite optimistic that I’ll get it finished fairly soon.  It’s been quite a challenge but I’ve really enjoyed working on this piece and I’ve certainly learnt quite a lot.  I’m also thinking that I may have to revisit this fantastic mountain again sometime before too long…..I think we were last there about seven years ago.

Still no serious walking done recently though.  The weather has been pretty appalling and on the odd day when it wasn’t blowing a gale and falling with rain, either Nita or I were working.  We managed a short wander through the local country park on New Years Day which was nice ….it’s a beautiful mix of grass, bog and trees with lots of bird life and if you’re in the right place at the right time …deer.

Interesting patterns. Loch Lomond

Interesting patterns. Loch Lomond

We finally made it out yesterday we spent several very enjoyable hours wandering along two sections of the West Highland Way on the eastern shores of Loch Lomond.  Have to admit though, that we hadn’t banked on the water level in Loch Lomond being so high and we had to make detours around a couple of sections of the path that were completely flooded by the loch.  It certainly made for some interesting views with the trees and bushes around the edge all appearing to grow out of the water.   It wasn’t a huge walk, just a few miles, but it got the legs working again and we’re already starting to think about getting back onto the hills again next week with a bit of luck.

Ben Lomond from the shores of Loch Lomond

Ben Lomond from the shores of Loch Lomond

Looks like being a fairly busy year this year.  I already have work booked for an autumn show at a gallery in Newcastle upon Tyne  and then have the solo show and big drawing project at the end of the year lined up.  I’ve also just been asked to show a few pieces of work at the Frames Gallery in Perth as part of their spring exhibition, so I’ll look forward to that ….it’s a great gallery.  I’m hoping to do more work with photographer Dan Thornton later in the year.  Walking wise, well, we’ll have to see how it goes but I’m hoping to try and walk a few more Munro’s ….I’ve slipped back into bagging mode again and nine more Munro summits would take my tally up to 120!  I’ve always said I’d never be able to, or want to walk all 284 of them, but I do like the excuse to go and visit places I’ve never been before …so I guess my new target is to do half of them ….I should manage that within a few years with a bit of luck!

Must dash now and get myself down the studio.  My very best wishes to everyone who reads this for a great 2014.

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A walk into winter

Posted by admin on November 15th, 2013
Looking towards Beinn Dubhchraig

Looking towards Beinn Dubhchraig

It doesn’t seem any time at all since we were hauling our way up the steep slopes above Cononish in bright very warm conditions with midges and flies buzzing all around and sweat running down our faces, heading on our way to Beinn Dubhchraig.  On Sunday we were walking up Beinn Chaorach instead and looking across the glen to Beinn Dubhchraig, Ben Oss and Ben Lui ….but in very different conditions.  Now, just a couple of months later, everything above about 400 m was white with fresh snow.

Towards Ben Challum

Towards Ben Challum

It wasn’t a complete transformation to winter though, as, with it still being only mid November, many of the trees in the glens below still had leaves …some showing the full array of autumnal colours and others still almost completely green.  Even the grass was still quite green making for a stunningly beautiful mix of colour as we drove up the side of Loch Lomond under an intensely blue sky.

Ben Challum from Beinn Chaorach

Ben Challum from Beinn Chaorach

Once away from the sound of the road, it was a very peaceful scene, (very appropriate, it being Remembrance Sunday) the only sounds, the crump of the snow under our boots and the occasional call of a circling Raven overhead.   With the daylight hours being somewhat short at this time of year and our starting out late due to the icy roads, we didn’t have that much time.  I reckoned we’d have to turn back at 14.00 at the latest and at about 13.40, still a good 15 minutes from the top, we decided to call it a day and sit and have our lunch.  The views really couldn’t have been better with the great snowy bulk of Ben Challum close by, and Ben More and the Glen Falloch hills to the south east.  A glance to the right as I sat eating my sandwich and I could see Ben Lui and it’s neighbours …..it really was very clear.

Towards Ben More

Towards Ben More

Our timing proved about right as the sun was setting behind the hills by the time we were back on the main track and as we descended back to the West Highland Way in the base of the glen, it was once again a very cold and quite dark scene with the white snow covered hills almost glowing against the darkening sky and a bank of low mist forming.  The final couple of kilometres back along the West Highland Way to the car was the most difficult for me …trying to follow Nita as she picked her way around patches of ice in the gloom.

It hadn’t been a long day but a very fine way to start the winter…..apparently they’re forecasting cold weather again next week.

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Long hot days

Posted by admin on July 13th, 2013
Heading for Creag Mhor...just 12 hours to go!

Heading for Creag Mhor…just 12 hours to go!

When you get a week of really fine weather, you just have to try and make the most of it.  For some that might be having a barbecue or going to the beach but for Nita and me, it’s all about wandering over the hills and using the long day light hours to the full.   We would normally only get out once in a week but with the forecast so good we decided to try and get two walks in instead.  Taking both of our work commitments into consideration we basically had two possible days to get out, Sunday and Tuesday.  Sunday and Wednesday would have been perfect, giving us two days to recover in between walks rather than just one ….but what the heck, you can’t have everything!  So then, Sunday to Glen Lochy and Creag Mhor, Tuesday up to Glen Shee and the possibility of walking a lengthy route over four tops.

An early start required for both days and Sunday dawned …..thick grey heavy cloud and drizzle ….everything in the garden was dripping wet when I let the cat out after his breakfast at just after four o’clock!  Where was the promised heat wave?!  In all honesty though, the MWIS forecasts had predicted these conditions for the west coast and Central Belt but it was still a shock …never good setting out in the rain in the hope of better things to come.

Cotton grass, Glen Lochy

Cotton grass, Glen Lochy

But of course, they did.  By the time we were driving up the side of Loch Lomond the cloud was breaking and had all but gone as we arrived in Glen Lochy …it was after all, going to be a baking hot day.  Dripping, not with drizzle but factor 50+, we headed off on the long walk up the glen to the base of Creag Mhor.

Into Glen Lochy from the top of the steep!

Into Glen Lochy from the top of the steep!

The previous time we’d been to Glen Lochy we’d been very lax with our navigation ….and in fine weather had ended up trying to get up the hill by the wrong ridge ….and were turned back by some very impressive crags.  This time we were going to keep our eyes on the map and make sure we were on the correct ridge. Even so, we had an interesting time getting through the crags on this ridge.  We eventually got to the end of the ridge via a rather steep and unpleasant gully, me swearing rather too much as I groped around in my fuzzy world for good hand and foot holds amongst the very steep turf, heather and rocks.  Nita was fine of course, clambering up with my walking poles in one hand and offering cheery ‘its fine, you’re fine’ comments to give me confidence …and try to assure me that she wasn’t really trying to kill me!  We hauled up onto the broad grassy ridge to see a fine view of Creag Mhor ahead and much to my relief, a very easy descent route for later!  We arrived at the summit of Creag Mhor at about half past three and all the effort was well worth while …big hazy views all around …absolutely stunning.

At last ....almost at the top of Creag Mhor

At last ….almost at the top of Creag Mhor

Having taken six hours to get to the summit, it was going to be a very long day.  After the excitement of the gully earlier in the day, our descent to the track in the glen, was a doddle ….and very beautiful too, but as we’d come down on the west side of the hill, we’d have even further to walk back. With very little breeze now, it was a hot slog back to the car, arriving there just a few minutes over twelve hours after setting out.  At that point we were both asking ourselves whether we’d be up for another long day in the heat on Tuesday.

View of the day!

View of the day!

The answer in short, was ‘yes’, but in even hotter conditions than on Sunday, we quickly down graded our plans and decided instead to do a shorter walk with plenty of stops.  It was a good decision as it was just so hot with just an occasional breeze.  It turned out a perfect walk….the high-light for me being a short detour to see the wonderful Loch Kander, tucked away in a dramatic and impressive corrie at the far side of Carn an Tuirc.  We sat perched on the edge of this steep corrie and just enjoyed the peace and quiet…… perfect, much better than what would have been a forced march if we’d tried to complete our original route.  This time we were back at the car about half past five …and back in Irvine while it was still light …..very civilised indeed.

The perfect lunch spot ..above Loch Kander, the Glen Shee Hills

The perfect lunch spot ..above Loch Kander, the Glen Shee Hills

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Walking isn’t always what hill walking is about!

Posted by admin on April 20th, 2013
Loch Lomond from the slopes of Beinn Eich

Loch Lomond from the slopes of Beinn Eich

It can be very easy sometimes when you go hill-walking …..just to walk.  You have a route in mind, a special hill or series of tops you want to visit and you can get very blinkered into doing exactly that….quite often at a rush ….and then if it takes less time to reach your objective than you thought, to simply return.   Or that is perhaps how I used to be many years ago when my sight was good, I was a few years younger and a good deal fitter!  Things have changed since then, if for no other reason than I met and have spent the last 25 years living with a sensible woman who has never worried greatly if we don’t get to the top of a hill, or do all the route, or take a meandering course way out of our way, (whatever that was) to have a look over an edge or check out an interesting rock.  In short, Nita has had a very good affect on me and I’m a much more relaxed walker than I think I used to be.  Of course, the fact that I can’t see too much these days has also slowed me, (us) up a great deal.  I simply can’t race up and down a hill any longer, even if I wanted to.  As I say though, it doesn’t seem to bother Nita and our slow, slow pace is just something that we’ve taken on board and have adapted our walking style too.  It gives Nita lots of time to look around, peer at strange plants or bugs and try, (usually without much success) to point them out to me!

From the slopes of Beinn Eich

From the slopes of Beinn Eich

Ben Lomond from the summit of Beinn Eich

Ben Lomond from the summit of Beinn Eich

Yesterday was just the case.  We’d driven up to Luss on the side of Loch Lomond and had planned to walk up the glen and then up onto Beinn Eich and then possibly continue over to the next hill.  It really was a beautiful spring day ….the first one of the year maybe. It was warm and the sun was bright with just a few clouds bubbling across the sky and casting deep shadows across the brightly coloured landscape.   It was perfect.  The whole way up we were accompanied by the sound of Skylarks and other wee birds and it was about as peaceful as you can get.  When we reached the summit and found a pleasant spot to sit looking out towards Ben Lomond, it was the obvious lunch spot and so we just sat down with this vast panorama in front of us.  Beyond Ben Lomond was the full array of the southern Highlands, be-speckled with the last remnants of the previous months heavy snow and over to our left we could make out the distinctive shape of The Cobbler, Beinn Ime and Beinn Narnain.  We just sat and looked, and ate, and drank our coffee and chatted ….and before we knew it ….two hours had gone by and it was 4 o’clock.  Amazing, in the past I would have been hankering to rush on, but now I was happy just to sit and fully appreciate the wonderful location we were in ….as I say, sometimes walking isn’t just all that walking is about!

The perfect lunch spot ...the summit of Beinn Eich

The perfect lunch spot …the summit of Beinn Eich

 

 

The Cobbler, Beinn Ime and Beinn Narnain from the summit of Beinn Eich

The Cobbler, Beinn Ime and Beinn Narnain from the summit of Beinn Eich

 

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Well worth waiting for

Posted by admin on February 10th, 2013
Ben Lomond from the slopes of Beinn Dubh

Ben Lomond from the slopes of Beinn Dubh

It’s been over two weeks since we last had a day off to go walking….on that occasion, a wander up Glen Rosa over on the Isle of Arran.  Since then there seems to have been a continuous stream of gales racing in off the Atlantic  There have been a couple of quiet and fine days in between but one or both of us have been working!  This last week has been another busy one and with Nita working this weekend it looked like we wouldn’t get out for a walk until next week at the earliest.

Earlier I’d spent quite a bit of time getting images and text ready for the invitation cards for my exhibition, two new business post cards, and four new greetings cards.  For a number of years I’ve been asked by Steve and Sylvia up at Blairmore Gallery, if I’d have a few greetings cards made for sale at their gallery.  I’d never really got around to looking into it until now but as I had to go to our local printer for the new business cards I thought I might as well ask.  In short, not only could they print the greetings cards, they could also supply them with envelopes and packed in clear cellophane bags.  I’ve decided to have four different cards printed and have ordered 100 of each.  This will allow me to pass some onto the Blairmore Gallery, have some for the forthcoming exhibition in Edinburgh and also have them for sale at my studio and possibly on-line through my website too.  Anyway, as you can imagine, all this took quite a lot of time …probably the reason I’d put off doing it previously if I’m honest.  I got the proofs back from Kestrel Press on Thursday and they look quite good I think ….so have given the go ahead and am now waiting to see what the actual things look like when they’re printed and packaged.  Exciting stuff!

Loch Lomond from the slopes of Beinn Dubh

Loch Lomond from the slopes of Beinn Dubh

As I said, I got the 8 different digital prints back on Thursday and I’m pleased with the majority of them.  A couple haven’t quite come out as I’d hoped but the other six look great and I’ll be taking two copies each down to my framer to get them mounted ready for the exhibition.  Like the greetings cards, this is all rather new and so will be a learning process for me.  It’ll be interesting to see if I’ve made the correct selection of images for the prints and cards….whether the more abstract images are as popular as the others.

In the Luss Hills, from Beinn Dubh

In the Luss Hills, from Beinn Dubh

I’ve now almost decided on the 17 pieces to be included in my exhibition …although to be honest my choice has changed several times already!  I’ve got four paintings waiting at the framers to be collected so once they are back and I have all the work in the studio it should be easier to decide.  One of the big questions is whether to have two of my new A2 drawings framed and on the wall …instead of two of the paintings.  I had planned just to get the drawings mounted and displayed in a stand.  Ahhhhhh …still can’t decide!

The Luss Hills, from the summit of Beinn Dubh

The Luss Hills, from the summit of Beinn Dubh

Loch Lomond from Beinn Dubh

Loch Lomond from Beinn Dubh

With all this on the go, it was a great pleasure to hear my partner suggest that we take advantage of a dry day on Friday to get away from it and out into the hills for a few hours.  As you know, we like the Luss Hills and they are about the closest to get to from Irvine.  They’re steep but not very high so they make an excellent work-out even though you can still have quite a short day.  This was just what we needed.  With Nita working 12.5 hour shifts today and Sunday, she didn’t want a long drive or a too exhausting walk.  We’re regulars to Beinn Dubh and Mid Hill but the views out over Loch Lomond and the surrounding hills of the southern Highlands are just so good you can keep on going back time after time.  Yesterday there was a little snow higher up which made everything look extra special and we had a slow haul up to the top, avoiding much of the path so that we could get better views into Glen Luss.  This also had the advantage of keeping off of the increasingly frozen and quite slippery path.  Higher up though we were back to the path and I came a cropper ….slipping on some ice hidden under some powdery snow.  I landed rather heavily on my backside but thankfully I was just shaken …nothing more.  I should have stopped to put on my ‘spiders’ earlier but had planned to do that at the top so that I had them for the more difficult descent.  What a prat …I should have known better after all these years.  There we are, no real harm done. except perhaps to my confidence and pride!  Back out again next week if we can catch another good day.

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A good start

Posted by admin on January 3rd, 2013
On the southern edge of the Ochills

On the southern edge of the Ochills

Well then, 2013 is up and running.  It started for us, in grand fashion with a beautiful walk on New Years Day.  We managed some very good walks last year but alas only managed a few with our friend Guy and all of those in the first half of the year.  A mixture of work, family commitments and bad weather conspired to mess up any plans we had and so we’d decided to try and get out for a walk together some time over the Christmas period.  It did seem quite hopeful for a short while but that terrible trio struck once again and before we knew it we’d run out of available days, leaving Guy with the only option of a walk on Monday 31st  Dec and us, a walk on January 1st.  Weather wise we were certainly the lucky ones, there being a brief break in the severe mountain weather, especially over in the east and so Nita and I decided to have a walk in the Ochill Hills to the east of Stirling.

Above the forest

Above the forest

Of course a walk on New Years Day does mean forgoing the usual festivities as a reasonably early start is called for.  That meant getting up at 06.00 but this allowed us an easy drive on empty roads through Glasgow to Stirling and we were in sight of the hills by half past eight and they were looking fine in the early sun …especially with a coating of fresh snow.  We were walking through the beautiful woodlands on the south side of the hills by about half past nine and so had a good six hours of daylight ahead of us.  Our plan was to walk the same route we’d done on a couple of previous occasions, following tracks beneath the side of The Nebbit, then up onto Ben Ever and across to Ben Cleuch, the highest point in this range of hills.  If time allowed we’d then wander over to Ben Buck and back down to join our outward route.

Into the snow, on Ben Ever

Into the snow, on Ben Ever

We really had picked the right day, the light and colours were amazing.  Big dark clouds interspersed with patches of blue sky and bright sunshine coupled with the patchwork of snow, grass and shadow, made everything look superb.   By the time we were well up Ben Ever there were several centimetres of snow underfoot and on the open flat and wind swept top of this hill, the snow had been blown into numerous little ridges like sand on a beach.  Ben Ever is a cold spot.  We’ve walked over it on several occasions and it’s always been freezing cold …it seems to catch whatever wind is around …and some that’ not, I’m sure!  It’s definitely a place for plenty of hats and gloves especially as you just have to stop and take in the views.

The Nebbit from Ben Ever

The Nebbit from Ben Ever

Ben Cleuch looked beautiful in the sun and snow and for the most part it had a feint shroud of misty cloud on its very summit.  This increased as we neared the top and it was a strange cold place when we arrived with weak sun shining through the mist.    We followed the ice covered fence over to the lonely little top of Ben Buck and only then did we get below the mist and once again had the beautiful views.   The snow was melting and the lower slopes of Ben Ever were now an intense yellow green in the low afternoon sun.  We were back at the car by half past three and feeling very glad we’d made the effort to get up early and out ….it had been the perfect start to the New Year.

In the mist near Ben Buck

In the mist near Ben Buck

Our friend Guy had an equally good walk to end his year although conditions were pretty miserable for the most part.  Forecast for the mountains on December 31st were not good…..gale force winds with frequent snow showers creating whiteout.  Definitely not a day for the tops, so instead he chose a low-level route from Inveruglas on the shores of Loch Lomond following forestry tracks over to Arrochar and then the road to Tarbet to catch the bus home.  It’s a very nice route following around underneath a couple of the big Arrochar hills and despite the wet weather he had a good time by all accounts.  That said however, I was a little worried as the route involves crossing a quite large stream.  This isn’t a problem under most conditions but with all the rain and snow over the last few weeks I imagined it might prove problematic.  Well, Guy is not one to easily be beaten back by stream crossings and he did get across this one …but it wasn’t easy with fast flowing water up to his knees by all accounts.  I have to admit that I’d have turned back at this point but then I’ve never been very good with ‘whooshing’ water!  Guy sent me some photos so here is one …..I think he probably deserved a large malt whisky after crossing this!  Oh well, it’s certainly a different way of seeing out the old year.  Hopefully we’ll get to see him on the hills a little more often during 2013.  Plans are afoot to join him in a couple of week’s time for a walk on Rannoch Moor ….so watch this space!

The stream crossed!

The stream crossed!

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‘Early morning, October,Loch Lomond’

Posted by admin on December 15th, 2012
early-morning-october-loch-lomond-acrylic-pastel-2012-30-x-30cm

‘Early morning, October, Loch Lomond’

‘Early morning, October,Loch Lomond’, Acrylic & Pastel, 2012, 30 x 30cm

This is one of my latest small 30 x 30 cm paintings.  Based on the early morning light on the hills above the western shores of Loch Lomond.  We had been travelling up to Tyndrum back in October to do a walk up Beinn Odhar and as we drove up the side of Loch Lomond the rising sun illuminated the tops of the hills.  In their autumn colours the scene was particularly good and we just had to stop and look.

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A gentle wander in Glen Luss

Posted by admin on December 7th, 2012
Below Beinn Dubh, Glen Luss

Below Beinn Dubh, Glen Luss

We haven’t been out for a walk for several weeks but on Sunday last with the forecast fine and cold, we finally made it out.  Not that it was a great mountain walk in freezing winter conditions or anything …… just a gentle low level wander up Glen Luss.

We had planned to try and get up onto the hills on the south side of the glen and this would have needed a reasonably early start.  Alas, despite the fine day, the roads were very icy first thing and so we in fact left later and instead of a walk on the hills we had a walk between them!

It’s a beautiful spot though and Loch Lomond looked lovely in the still cold morning air.  The hills had some snow on their upper slopes and Ben Lomond further to the north and across the loch, look particularly fine in the sun.  Having decided that their was now no rush, we made use of the café and grabbed ourselves a cup of coffee before setting out and then headed to the start of a path we’d noticed many times before, (but never walked) that was marked ‘Quarry path’.  It headed into the woods and quickly led down to a footbridge over the Luss Water …which ran clear and green.  We’d always hoped that this path might lead through the woods on the south side of the glen and to a point where we could reach the open hillside.  But of course it wasn’t for doing that  …instead it followed the river back towards the loch and almost before we knew what was happening it went under the main A82 and a little further on, joined the old road that led back to Luss!  It had gone away from the hills not towards them!  Nothing for it but to retrace our steps back to a couple of side paths we’d noticed.  The first one seemed hopeful, leading through the woods in roughly the right direction, but after another couple of hundred metres we reached a fence with a sign saying ‘access to cottage only, please return to bridge over the Luss Water and follow sign for the hills’!  The only sign we knew and had seen for the hills was the one pointing to the path up Beinn Dubh on the north side of the glen …a walk we’d done many times before.  The second little side path we’d seen, meandered through the trees on the north side of the stream but then faded out at a view point over looking the green water ….very nice but not quite what we were looking for.

In Glen Luss

In Glen Luss

I should really have looked at the hill guide before setting out as this I know has a route leading up onto the southern Glen Luss Hills …but of course in our over relaxed start I didn’t think.  By the time we’d got back to the small single track road leading up the glen it was about 11.45 and so we simply decided to walk it to the end of the tarmac and then continue along the track heading west through the glen.  The tarmac runs for several kilometres to just below the base of Mid Hill and we’d walked back along it a good number of times after completing the circuit of Beinn Dubh and Mid Hill, but we’d never just walked it for its’ own sake …just to enjoy the views of the hills all around.

Mist breaking around Beinn Dubh, Luss Hills

Mist breaking around Beinn Dubh, Luss Hills

And so that was our walk ….a gentle wander along a single track road through Glen Luss.  It really was beautiful though, the low winter sun illuminating the hills with their snow covered tops.  At the end of the tarmac a slight detour is needed to avoid walking through a small farm.  A footpath leads away from the main track and skirts the hill for a few hundred metres before picking up the main track again.  This was very icy and we were skating around like mad things.  The track beyond looked almost solid ice and so it seemed like a good spot to sit and have lunch and just enjoy the peace and quiet.  I put the ‘spiders’ on, (small in-step crampons) to make things easier on the ice and then we headed back….reaching Luss in time for another cup of coffee.  It had been a strange and slightly different walk to that originally planned …but very enjoyable and very relaxing too …just what was needed.

In the Luss Hills

In the Luss Hills

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‘Towards the eastern shores of Loch Lomond’

Posted by admin on April 27th, 2012
225 'Towards the eastern shores of Loch Lomond', Acrylic & Pastel, 2012, 210 mm x 148 mm

'Towards the eastern shores of Loch Lomond'

‘Towards the eastern shores of Loch Lomond’, Acrylic & Pastel, 2012, 210 mm x 148 mm

Being unable to drive myself, I have the luxury of sitting and watching the scenery go by as we drive to and from the highlands.  The views through the trees and over to the eastern side of Loch Lomond is very beautiful especially in the winter and spring, either first thing in the morning or in the last light of the evening.  This little postcard picture tries to catch some of these colours and marks.

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