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Beinn Dubh (642 m / 2106 ft) is located a short walk from the conservation village of Luss on the banks of Loch Lomond. This circular hill walk is sometimes known as the Glen Striddle Horseshoe and if walked in an anti-clockwise direction begins with a gentle ascent to Beinn Dubh summit before continuing around to Mid Hill (623m / 2043 ft) and then descending a steep grassy ridgeline. The final section is a delightful easy walk down Glen Luss.
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Car park at Luss Visitor Centre (G83 8PA). Bus service from Glasgow stops on A82 just outside Luss.
Route: Leave the Visitor Centre car park via the main exit. Turn left along the road and take the first right past Luss Primary School. Go up the steps and across the A82 via the footbridge. Go through a kissing gate (signposted Loch Lomond Faerie Trail) then turn right onto the Beinn Dubh hill path (also signposted). Follow a grassy footpath N uphill, passing through Strone Wood. After going through a gate the path forks – you can take either as they meet up again shortly after. Continue uphill in a general NW direction for approx 2km. At 540m elevation you will reach a fence line on your left hand side which you follow NW to Beinn Dubh summit. From the summit continue NW, initially following the fence line. At 610m elevation the fence line will veer off to the right but you should continue NW. Approx 500m along you will meet up with another fence line on your left. Turn left (W) here for 200m then the path begins to head NW and uphill again. At 650m elevation begin to head SW to the summit of Mid Hill. From here head SW down an initially gentle then very steep grassy ridge, eventually emerging onto a minor road at 140m elevation. Turn left and follow the road for approx 3km back to the footbridge over the A82. Retrace your steps from here to the Visitor Centre.
Purchase the OS map for this area
WALK REPORT: 18th February 2023
I’m sure the views from this hill are stupendous on a nicer day! Sadly we were treated to low cloud pretty much from the offset and managed only the tiniest glimpse of Loch Lomond before a very grey day indeed.
Despite the poor visibility, route-finding for the walk from Luss to Beinn Dubh summit was easy enough with a path visible up the grassy slope all the way. The second half of the walk was more challenging to navigate, with frequent map checks required. Undoubtedly at least part due to the fact that we couldn’t see more than 100m in any direction, but also because it was incredibly wet underfoot – we were walking on one giant sponge. This had led to the track becoming less distinct as walkers looked for the path of least resistance across the peat bogs.
On a positive note, it was a calm day and fairly quiet on the hill. The busiest point was the summit cairn in fact! Where everyone came from I have no idea as we had only seen one or two couples on the way up.
I made the most of these conditions and a nice flat grassy area to bring out my 4-person emergency bothy shelter at lunchtime, in an effort to practice using it before any real emergency. Neither my husband nor my friend Gleb had used one before so after some brief instructions we we coordinated the entry and did some necessary adjustments to seating positions, ready to eat lunch. I’m not sure it was much of a success – my husband lasted a couple of minutes before he freed his neck from its crunched position and retreated to the comfort of the great outdoors. There is no denying the build up of heat inside these simple shelters though, and that is probably what helped convince Gleb and I to stay in there a bit longer. When we emerged a little later, I packed it away noting that we had somehow managed to sit right on top of several small piles of sheep poo. Better planning required next time!
The descent from the summit started off flat, becoming extremely steep on the final push down to the road. A steep and ridiculously boggy, grassy slope: I think I am right in saying I’m the only one who managed to stay on my feet! So it was a relief to reach the road, which in contrast was beautifully surfaced, as smooth as a baby’s bottom.
We commented on how nice the road walk down Glen Luss was – surrounded by woodland and farmland there was always something interesting to see and keep the mind ticking over for the 3km push back to the village. Frog spawn filled the ditches at the roadside, and sadly there was also lots of evidence of frog roadkill…. With it taking between 3-4 weeks for frogspawn to hatch and become a frog, I wasn’t sure of the survival chances of this lot. But that is nature for you!
Other walks in this area:
Luss Heritage Trail, 1.5 miles
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