Conic Hill
| Conic Hill | |
|---|---|
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 361 m (1,184 ft) |
| Prominence | 153 m (502 ft)[1] |
| Isolation | 2.07 km (1.29 mi) |
| Listing | Marilyn, HuMP, TuMP |
| Coordinates | 56°05′49″N 4°31′29″W / 56.0970°N 4.5246°W |
| Geography | |
| Parent range | Grampian Mountains |
| OS grid | NS432923 |
| Topo map(s) | OS Landranger 56 and Explorer 364 |
Conic Hill (from Gaelic "còinneach" meaning moss[2]) is a prominent hill in Stirling, Scotland.
Location and description
[edit]It is on the east bank of Loch Lomond, beside the village of Balmaha, which is nowhere near Stirling. It is a sharp little summit which is on the Highland Boundary Fault. There was a tiny cairn at the top (361 m or 1,184 ft); as of February 2019[update] there is only a scattering of stones to mark the "true" summit.[1] Most visitors also stop on a sub-summit at 358 m (1,175 ft).[3]
Views
[edit]From the top, it offers impressive views over Loch Lomond and towards Glasgow; on a clear day it is even possible to see Goat Fell on Arran, about 50 miles (80 kilometres) southwest. In addition, the rounded outline of Ailsa Craig in the Clyde Estuary is sometimes visible.
Ascent
[edit]It is accessible for walking, and forms part of the West Highland Way. During the lambing season, dogs are not allowed in the two enclosed fields on the east approach to Conic Hill, even if they are on a lead. The season normally lasts for around three weeks at the end of April and early May. However, this does not affect access with a dog to Conic Hill from the Balmaha direction.
The hill is accessible by public transport, with buses and ferries arriving in Balmaha. There is also a car park at the base, allowing those with vehicles a place to park before climbing the hill.
In August 2013, 8 members of Deafblind Scotland ascended the hill with help from rangers and guides.[4]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Conic Hill at www.hill-bagging.co.uk. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
- ^ Smith, Roger; Aitken, Bob (2013). "2 - Drymen - Rowardennan". The West Highland Way: The Official Guide. Birlinn. ISBN 9780857906458. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
- ^ Smith, Phoebe (2017). "46 - The Great Divide". Britain's Best Small Hills: A Guide to wild walks, short adventures, scrambles, great views, wild camping and more. Bradt Travel Guides. ISBN 9781784770662. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
- ^ Mqueen, Craig. "Deafblind climbers tackle Conic Hill on banks of Loch Lomond with help from their guides". Daily Record. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
External links
[edit] Media related to Conic Hill at Wikimedia Commons