Finlas
Reservoir in the Luss
Hills above Loch Lomond
BEINN RUISG - ROUTE
DESCRIPTION:
Location: Loch Lomond, Arygll and Bute
Map: OS Landranger ( GR 363 883 )
Distance: 10 miles ( 16.5km )
Time: 5 hours 20 minutes
Terrain: road and path The most southerly
of the so-called Luss Hills offer an excellent hillwalk with fine views
down the Clyde and across Loch Lomond. This horseshoe route ascends
the hills surrounding the Finlas Water
reservoir and while the hills are rounded and not particularly high,
the glens dividing them are deep and steep sided, with well-defined and
rocky
corries.
Park in a lay-by at the start of the A81|7 to Garelochhead, where it
leaves the A82 at the south end of Loch Lomond.
Walk back down the road a short distance and follow the private road on
the left to Shegarton, Shemore and the Finlas Water treatment plant.
Ascend steeply to Shemore Farm and go through the gate on the left,
passing a cottage and a hillfort beyond with prominent circular
fortifications, to where the road levels out and ascends more gently to
the dam.
Follow the road to its end and go round the back of the buildings to
ascend the left side of the grassy dam to an old metal stile giving
access to the open hillside. Ascend steadily rightwards to gain the
broad
ridge and fenceline, with views north over the reservoir to the highest
hill on the route. This hill is unnamed on the map, but has a
spot height of 693m / 2274ft.
The going is quite marshy initially but soon dries out, following sheep
paths and ATV tracks alongside the fence and round the craggy Coire
Cuinne to the summit of Batcnock ( 638m / 2093ft ).
Follow the fence north then sharply west to the top of the unnamed
hill, marked by a small cairn. Leave the main path, continuing north
then
east beside the fence and descend steeply to the col, then over point
657m / 2156ft to the top of Beinn Ruisg ( 595m / 1952ft ). From here
the route flattens into a long moorland ridge, characterised by
peat haggs on its southern slopes.
The fenceline sticks to the ridge and a surprisingly pleasant line can
be followed until the penultimate top, where the fence veers off north
towards Glen Luss. The entire ridge offers an unrestricted view
over Loch Lomond and the line of the
Highland Boundary Fault Continue on the ridge to reach the final
highpoint at Creachan Hill (
536m / 1759ft ). Its south~eastern flanks are surprisingly rocky,
so it's best to pass directly over and descend to a wall markingthe old
upper boundary of Shemore Farm. Follow the wall down for a short way
before descending directly through rough sheep grazing to gain the
access road.
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Beinn Chaorach
Gallery 
