Day Trip to Ben
Donich and the Rest And Be Thankful area
on Saturday 3 March 2012
Map required is LandRanger 56 Inveraray & Loch
Lomond area,
but you can download and print the
required section below ...
This is now a past outing. Like to read about it?
General
This trip will be by CAR POOL, leaving the Inverlair Avenue entrance to Cathcart at 8am, so please be at the car park 10 minutes before so that we can work out the transport.
From Cathcart, head to Arrochar via the Erskine Bridge, the A82 and A83 and then turn sharp left onto the A814. We'll have a refreshment at the Pit Stop Diner which is on the left opposite the old pier. Alternatively, meet up at the Pit Stop Diner in Arrochar at 9.15am.
We'll sort out the walks and transport details over coffee and then head to the start points in Glen Croe and my final Corbett .. Ben Donich.
After the walks we can stop off at the Village Inn at Arrochar for a wee celebration to mark my Corbett compleation.
The Routes
Traverse of Ben Donich (GR NN218044)
From the car park in Glen Croe (GR270037) follow the forest track up the glen for about 4km to the start of a waymarked path to Lochgoilhead (GR242047). Continue on this path to the Bealach Dubh-lic between The Brack and Ben Donich and then head up the broad east ridge of Ben Donich to the summit trig point. After drinking in the views, and possibly some booze, descend to the Rest and be Thankful.
| Distance | 11 km |
| Total ascent | 830m |
| Likely time/grade | 4 hours/medium to hard |
Ben Donich from the 'Rest and be Thankful' (GR NN218044)
Start from the B828 road ½km SW of the Rest and be Thankful (GR227070) and follow the Forestry road towards the north ridge. At the forest edge turn left, and after 250m a white post indicates the start of the path to the north ridge. Follow the path through the forest to a stile and continue over grassy knolls and some rock fissures to the summit trig point.
| Distance | 7 km |
| Total ascent | 550m |
| Likely time/grade | 3 hours/medium |
Low level walks
The start points for the above walks are connected by 7km of forest trails involving an ascent of 230m if walking to the Rest and be Thankful, or a descent of 230m if walking from the Rest and be Thankful.
| Distance | 7 km |
| Total ascent | 230m |
| Likely time/grade | 3 hours/easy |
There are other possible walks in the area including the Brack, the Cobbler (Ben Arthur) and Beinn an Lochain. If you have any particular targets or ideas let me know.
What now?
If you would like to go on this outing, please let me know .. preferably by e-mail .. by Monday 27 February at the latest.
Hope to see you on the trip!
Willie Robison, Ben Donich Organiser
t: 01698 254771
