Hills: The Brack (Corbett) and Cnoc Coinnich (Fiona)
Date: Friday 2nd April 2010
Company: Myself and Beinn
Time: 5 Hours


After turning off at Artgarten, and driving 3km along the road to Coilessan, I parked at the Coilessan Events Car Park where there is room for at least 12 cars. An ascent from Coilessan would allow me to ascend the Fiona, Cnoc Coinnich, as well as the Brack. A hundred metres or so from the car park is the start of the road up Coilessan glen. Vehicles are not permitted beyond the car park.

The Brack from start of Coilessan Glen road:


Looking towards 579m top from Coilessan Glen:


I continued as far as the end of the road up Coilessan glen. In hindsight, it would have been easier to leave the track a few hundred metres before the road-end at a junction with a sign marked, “Lochgoilhead hill”. If going to the road-end you will need to cross an area of felled trees and climb over a fence.

View back down Coilessan Glen:


After setting eyes on Cnoc Coinnich from the glen, an ascent was a must.

Cnoc Coinnich:


During the ascent, I skirted the 579m top on its East side. 579m top:


The Brack:


Skirting round the 579m top:


I then ascended the Brack via its South-West ridge.

The Brack:


Cnoc Coinnich from The Brack:


From a distance, I wasn't sure how I would get past the line of crags defending the summit of the Brack.

Line of crags on the Brack:


As I got closer to the crags, I could see an obvious easy route through them.

Easy way through crags:


I reached the summit two hours after setting off from the car park. Unfortunately, I arrived at the summit at the same time as some low cloud.

Summit trig point of the Brack:


Beinn at summit of the Brack:


Loch Long from summit of the Brack:


From the summit of the Brack, I descended via the same route but opted to stick to the ridge, ascending the 579m top instead of skirting round it.

Cnoc Coinnich:


Looking back to 579m top and the Brack:


Ben Donich:


The ascent of Cnoc Coinnich was much simpler than it looked from a distance – an easy walk along broad, but steep, grassy ridges.

Heading for the NW ridge of Cnoc Coinnich:


Wide grassy NW ridge:


Final section of Cnoc Coinnich:


Approaching the summit of Cnoc Coinnich:


Summit cairn of Cnoc Coinnich:


After reaching the summit of Cnoc Coinnich, I walked a wee bit further along the ridge to gain views of Loch Long and Gare Loch.

Loch Long and Gare Loch:


Fionas above Lochgoilhead:


I descended via the same route as far as a cairn in the bealach area and then made for the forest reaching a good stile over a fence and a good track leading down to the Coilessan glen road. A really enjoyable walk