Beinn Lagan,( Cowal peninsula Marilyn)

[fmck]

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HILL : Beinn Lagan.(465m)

DATE : Saturday

WEATHER : Overcast, some low cloud but hill clear.

MAP : 56



INTRODUCTION

I had plans for a summit camp on Black Craig Saturday night with a clear sky forecast it seemed a fantastic view point to catch the sunrise and sunset down the firth of Clyde. I knew it would be cold but I have a pile of expedition gear in the loft that has little chance of being used in the foreseeable future. I even brought down the plastic boots with high altitude inner boots even though I would be camping at only 500m! Laughable I know from the sounds of it was going to be similiar temperatures as much higher. Everything packed I awoke to a foggy day and a forecast quickly retracted from the previous day by MWIS.
I reluctantly changed to a day pack and caught the ferry over to Cowal. It was not too bad but still not the clear blue sky I was expecting and with this in mind I made the decision to go for Beinn Lagan.

Beinn Lagan has a previous TR from Squiz posted within a Graham TR so I will put this in with sub 2000 where it belongs and combine the info we collected last time. The hill is awkward due to the usual for Cowal surround barrier of trees. It is also very steep once the circular forest tracks have been left. These are the previous two ascent comments.



Squiz quote :

Just managed to decipher R's notes. The firebreak is at 127996, so the way we went was probably as efficient as any. The only thing we did wonder was what if we had turned left along the track at 107990 and followed it round to the burn, and then gone up between the two lumps on top? Looking down, we couldn't see a clear way down to the top track, but there might be one.




Fasgadh quote:
Beinn Lagan:

Went in from the Succothmore road end. Followed road to the south up towards a col to the east of the hill. Took the first forest road junction to the right, a sharp angle and found a path through the trees at NN126003. This leads to an awkward descent to a burn beyond which is open hillside. (NN124001)


I parked at the same spot as Squiz, the layby on the A815 across from the memorial at Invernoaden. I followed the forest track with fresh vehicle tracks past some forest commision exclusion zone signs to the junction at 126991. To the right was Squiz's route but so was the plant operating in the forest I decided to go left and have a look but I returned shortly after finding nothing.

View up track to Carnach Mor outlier of Beinn Bheula(Corbett)


A look closer at the junction showed the trees were not too dense here and looked a reasonable route up. Squiz's comment on it being very steep had me bring the crampons and this I was very glad for although I should of brought the ice axe as well. It was steep up through and a barrier of mixed rock was bypassed by a traverse over a stream and up to the open ground. Once on open ground I was a bit concerned about the steepness as having no iceaxe would mean I would pick up speed very quickly. I decided to line up with passing small trees so at the very least I would have a chance of catching. This would be very hard because at this angle I would be passing at some speed with luck I would catch one between the legs. Oh smashing prospect! Not long after I thought of this I remembered a story of a skier who caught ice and did the between legs thing at high speed. He had a 1 inch wide crack in his pelvis and a scrotum the size of a melon.

Route through the forest at junction 126991.


Steep forest section.


Once off the slopes it was an easy plod across to the obvious viewpoint down Loch Eck. Here I picked up a set of old footprints. Probably Martin Richardson who had been in Cowal for a week living in his car doing Cowal Mariyns between Christmas and New year.

Looking down Loch Eck.


Carnach Mor again.


Summit looking NW not much to see today.


Beinn Lochan(Graham) and behind Carnach Mor is Beinn Bheula(Corbett)


I didnt hang about for long as the cloud cover made little point also the descent was going to be interesting so time to move. I was very glad to have the crampons as it turned out to be faster than |I thought also the forest track was icey so I removed them once at the road.

This picture does little to show the true steepness back down to the forest track.


It was something else to see on the drive back sections of Loch Eck frozen across. Never seen that before.

Looking up Loch Eck frozen right across in places.(Shown white in the picture from snow lying on it)

[Squiz]

Glad you made it down the slope safely. Wouldn't like to have done it in those conditions!! See any deer? Maybe they have all come down off the top.

[donaldshaw]

Great report, as usual - cracking views of Loch Eck too

[fmck]

[Squiz]

[fmck]

Misunderstanding Squiz. I was refering to your GR on the quote 107990. It gives a position across the river in Glenbranter but from what you say its obviously the same junction were talking about. No worries, Thanks for the warning on its steepness if I didnt have the crampons I would of turned back doesnt happen often that one.

[Squiz]

We actually parked at an entrance to a footpath going to ?Lochgoilhead.

[fmck]

[JimH]

Another great Marilyn report. Thanks.

Was looking over there from another Marilyn this morning. The views were very grey though.

[RCFC]

That looks steep


Yesterday was such a poor day compared to the predicted forecast. I went out today though to do the marilyn I had planned and was well rewarded for my patience by delaying the walk 24hrs

[fmck]

I was cheated with the weather/. Today I had a father day

[fmck]

[fertg1234]

Great report. Loch Eck is a beautiful spot and is surrounded by good walks Good to see another report on this neglected area.