Beinn Dubh. Luss Hills. Loch Lomond Islands Photo Gallery.

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A beautiful afternoon one weekend in autumn just gone (early November 2017) enticed me out after a morning of dull conditions and light drizzle. With only a few hours to play with I picked the easy option of Beinn Dubh, 643 metres, above the village of Luss, as this hill has unrivaled views over Loch Lomond's Islands.

This is the hill from the pretty village of Luss. The summit is unseen from here further on so not that easy but it is a straightforward incline all the way with a distinct if boggy in places path to follow and no real difficulties over a broad ridge - which is another reason why it's so popular. Many tourists visiting Luss never get to the top but if you're not bagging hill summits that doesn't matter as the views over the islands are already superb lower down.

And a view of the surrounding Luss Hills is equally scenic.

One of Ben Lomond- Scotland's most southerly Munro. (mountains over 3000 feet, or 914 metres high.)

And one of the Fintry Hills across Loch Lomond- see Stronend post from two weeks ago for that walk.

This inland archipelago of distinctly individual islands dotted around the 23 mile long, 5 mile wide Loch Lomond have always been a sparkling extra addition to Scotland's outdoor crown jewels.

And Beinn Dubh is a popular hill to see them from. Eleven separate islands in this photo.

Carved osprey in Luss. These birds along with buzzards and golden eagles are occasional visitors to the loch. It's a perfect habitat for them but a touch too popular with tourists to be a regular haunt for ospreys or golden eagles due to all the boat traffic and visitors each spring/ summer.

Conic Hill, viewed across the bay. The long distance West Highland Way travels over here on its journey from Milngavie, near Glasgow to Fort William.

Some fellow walkers admiring the islands.

Rowan Berries.

A lovely period house.

The view of Luss village from Beinn Dubh. A popular tourist haunt where you can jump on small tour boats for a round the islands cruise. The village pier visible here.

Tall trees in the vicinity on a shoreline walk from Luss village along the loch.

Luss Hills back country. Delightful remote walking only a short 30 minute drive from Glasgow.

Deep Blue. Loch Lomond's island kingdom.

For those interested in a more in depth exploration of Loch Lomond's islands in detail my book Autohighography has a full chapter on them during an action packed weekend camping trip visiting them by small boat, water wings, and kayak with a host of diverse characters. It also has another chapter detailing an equally exciting and hopefully humorous backpacking trip over the high Pyrenees in summer weaving a delicate high level line between France and Spain, taking in several notable mountain summits and dimly lit booze boutiques on the way. This journey ended by traversing the magnificent Ordesa Canyon, one of Europe's deepest gorges, then a climb up the slopes of Monte Perdido ( the lost mountain) 3,355 metres or 11,007 feet, during a memorable continental romp of scorching sunshine and violent thunderstorms, ending spectacularly on one of the limestone giants of Spain before returning to France over a high mountain pass.
Simply click Autohighography: 'A Tale of Summits and Sinners' book link on side bar of this blog for the usual free fun filled first chapters intro.



Which is where this stunning video comes in. A magnificent winter ascent of the same area/gorge/mountain giant and well worth a look full screen.   Breathtaking scenery, frozen waterfalls and world class summit views that really deserves an audience and much more acclaim. Only eight minutes long but skillfully edited and far better than most things on TV recently.