Stunning Scenery overlooking Loch Goil....
Drimsynie Beg to Lettermay Hill Walk
Distance: 7 miles | Time: 4 – 5 hours | Forestry road all the way
“I’ve never found this walk in a guide book. For me the 7 mile trek is a great walk. It takes you on a good forestry road up into the hills above the west shore of Loch Goil and provides many twists and turns and ever changing views. To make the best of the viewpoints along the way I siuggest you take binoculars for watching the traffic on the loch and any birdlife you come across.” Recommended by: Leonard Gow, Lochgoilhead Holidays.
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It is possible to start and finish this walk in Lochgoilhead – but that adds on quite a few miles of flat walking. For this description I am giving details on a linear walk starting at Drimsynie Beg. The forestry road entrance is on the B839 Hells Glen Road just past the junction with the B828. You end up at Lettermay on the Lochgoilhead to Carrick Castle road where you can be picked up, or walk on into the village.
There is no rough walking on this trek. It is on good forestry road the whole way but parts of the road can be muddy depending on what work is being done.
Walk Description
The entrance to the forestry road is sign posted ‘Drimsynie’. There can occasionally be forest harvesting along this route so be prepared, especially during the week, if you see a closed sign.
The forest road starts off just above the River Goil but soon starts a steady and twisting climb skirting the high hills over the head of Loch Goil. This is really impressive country. It feels remote and there are soon good views back up Glen Mhor to Beinn Lochain.
Thanks to the forestry being cleared you now start to see Loch Goil a lot earlier than before. As you come level with the head of the loch you can look down on the Drimsynie Estate and across to Lochgoilhead village. Further along the road you will find yourself high above the loch and you can enjoy the views down the full length of Loch Goil.
The road starts a slow descent and strikes away back into the hills until it finally joins part of the Cowal Way Long Distance Path below waterfalls from one of the hill lochs.
Carry on until you clear the trees and see views from above Lettermay back across the loch to Lochgoilhead village with its backdrop of Ben Donich.
If you have planned ahead you will have left a car just by the road, but if not then you can walk along the lochside road into the village.
There is talk of possibly seeing Golden Eagles on the highest part of the walk. I have done it many times and only once did I think, just maybe. There are certainly lots of buzzards, and from a distance it may well have been wishful thinking.
Transport
The Lochgoilhead to Dunoon bus passes the start of this walk so you could leave your car in the village and get a ride to Drimsynie Beg.
Disclaimer
The route description and comments provided here are intended to complement and not replace the descriptions found in official guidebooks. There are walking guides and leaflets available from the Tourist Information Centres and you can find further information online.