Beinn a' Choin Walk
Beinn a' Choin Walk
Route of Beinn a' Choin Walk Beinn a' Choin seen from Loch Katrine
Summary
Distance : 7 miles / 11 Km.
Height Climbed : 1970 Ft / 600M - strenuous.
Terrain : Open hill - wet and boggy in places.
Time : Up to 6 hours and will require more than one car or a club bus.
Clothing : Full hill-walking gear.
Social stops : Aberfoyle and Inversnaid Hotel.
Description
This is a strenuous but rewarding walk on the beautiful and remote eastern side of Loch
Lomond. The highest point of the walk is Beinn a' Choin ("hill of the dog") itself at 2523 Ft / 769M. From here there
are fabulous views of the Trossachs and the Southern Highlands to be seen. There are also good opportunities
to see golden eagles and herds of deer and wild goats. The following notes are for general guidance purposes only -
if you intend doing this walk it should be studied closely on Ordnance Survey Landranger
map no. 56 beforehand.
The walk starts beside Corriearklet Farm where car-parking is extremely limited. This whole area including Loch Arklet and Loch Katrine
is owned by the West of Scotland water authority and provides the main water supply to the City of Glasgow some 30 miles away. Enter the
hill country at the gate just east of the farm and proceed steeply upwards in a north-easterly direction. After about 30 / 40 minutes you
will come to the cairn on the rounded top of Garradh. From here views of the Trossachs and Ben Lomond to the south start to open up.
From Garradh proceed in a north-westerly direction towards the Maol Mor ridge. You should aim for the trig. point which should just be
visible on the sky-line. Walk along the ridge to the trig. point at the summit of Maol Mor (2251 Ft / 686M). From here views of Loch Katrine
and distant peaks such as Ben More and Ben Dorain come into view. Continue along the ridge in a north-westerly direction going up and
down over grassy hummocks until you eventually proceed sharply downwards into the Bhealach a' Mheim.You will now see the peak of Beinn a' Choin
towering above you. Proceed steeply up the peak until you eventually reach the flat summit plateau.
Leave the peak in a southerly direction following the fence down towards the obvious bealach below Stob an Fhainne. At the bealach
turn south-west and proceed in a straight line down the hill-side keeping the valley of the Snaid Burn on your right. You will eventually
reach the farm at Garrison. Walk along the track past the farm on your left until you come to the main road. Turn right onto the main
road and proceed approximately 1 mile / 2 Km down into Inversnaid on the banks of Loch Lomond. There is ample parking at Inversnaid, public toilets
and a large hotel - the hotel also operates a passenger ferry to Inveruglas on the west side of Loch Lomond. The more adventurous may wish to
continue walking on from Inversnaid on the West Highland Way!
Last updated on 23 August 1998.
Copyright © 1998 Monklands Ramblers.
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