Logged Visits:

27th Feb 2022  15:31  by thejackrustles

Gridref: NH 53314 24127   FB Number: S8175  Condition: Slightly damaged  Score: 8/10

From Balnagarline NH 55290 25728 (approaching on yellow road from Inverness not the Inverfarigaig Road), over bridge crossing river NH 54461 24664, past house (Dirichurachan) that looked like a son of house of Bruar, along a 'track' along the tree line and then headed into the forest NH 53263 23680. Short section of densely packed conifers with wee lakes and ponds and fallen criss crossed trees, all good 'trigger' traps usually but they didn't get us today. Then a more open section of fern, luckily low at this time of year. Then some birch and rocks to negotiate and then up onto the dun, along the dun to the trigpoint which has stunning views of Loch Ness and Urquhart castle. Back via same route although the last section proved more difficult as it was hard to see the route through the dense trees and criss crossed wind fall. All in all much much easier than expected.

Route ©thejackrustles
The view ©thejackrustles
80's hair selfie ©thejackrustles
Dun Garbh collage ©thejackrustles

25th Feb 2022  15:30  by gerryu2

FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Good  Score: 9/10

Drove down the track from the road. Passed a “House of Bruar” looking mini castle but they didn’t look as if they served lunch or sold tweed garments. Drove to end of track and through open gate to a large new looking turning area. Parked up then followed the main track until it had a smaller track going off to the right. Followed this a bit then decided to hoof it up the hill while clambering over fallen trees. Once at the top, followed deer paths on the ridge up to the trig. Great views of Loch Ness from the more scenic side. Once the photo shoot was over and the Pokémon stop was spun, e turned back down the ridge and then of the hill. We ventured off too early and ended up having to back track due to impenetrable fallen trees. Eventually found a way through them and then had to navigate around and over water holes and swamp ground. We eventually got back on to the wee track and a straight forward walk back to the car. A fun time.

11th Feb 2022  16:40  by Ilovetrigs

FB Number: S8175  Condition: Good  Score: 5/10

Walked up from Balchraggan. Brashings everywhere after leaving the track. Standing water. Slippery fallen leaves. Fallen branches hidden under low growing plants. Found later that my hair was full of bits of scratchy gorse too - took some removal! All part of life’s rich pageant! At least we got back to the track just before the daylight went. Another cracking day.

Flush bracket Flush bracket ©Ilovetrigs

14th Mar 2019  20:11  by Chalky

FB Number: S8175  Condition: Good  Score: 8/10

Spider centre open no cap or plug

10th Apr 2017  12:21  by BigJ

Gridref: NH 53318 24133   FB Number: S8175  Condition: Slightly damaged  Score: 9/10

First of all, read Clochandigher's excellent description of the minor road used to gain access to the area. Be warned, it's even worse now, if that's possible. Spent a bit of time exploring various ascent options but due to the river and steep bits of rock, decided on the approach via the track and bridge. Parked at Balchraggan and spoke to a nice old gentleman who invited us in for a cup of tea before we started. He also had an eight year old tup who thought it was a dog. But I digress. We declined the tea but listened to his suggestions of a possible route. We followed the forestry road heading south and crossed the marked bridge. Shortly thereafter, we turned right across the open field, just passed the wooden house, and entered the wood. We followed an old overgrown track through the trees for a while but when it turned downhill, we decided to head up the ridge on the left. There followed an adventurous route up through a mixture of birch, heather, rocky bluffs and dead bracken. Distance wise it wasn't too far but it seemed to take ages. Deer tracks are OK but they don't always lead to the summit. Eventually we crested the final rise and there it was. And what a view. All the way up Loch Ness and all the way down. Well worth the effort. To descend we cut straight down east heading for the gothic castle at Dirichurachan. We had to bash through some dense forest but eventually popped out on to the marked track. Easy walk back to the car. After refusing another cup of tea, we set off back along the so called public road and reached flat tarmac in no time at all. With Nozzer.

©BigJ

10th Apr 2017  12:14  by nozzer

Gridref: NH 53316 24115   FB Number: S8175  Condition: Good  Score: 9/10

Visited with Big J

Good view down Loch Ness©nozzer

23rd Jul 2011  19:49  by coinea

Gridref: NH 53316 24117   FB Number: S8175  Condition: Good  Score: 8/10

23rd Jul 2011  19:47  by clochandighter

Gridref: NH 53317 24119   FB Number: S8175  Condition: Good  Score: 8/10

Overall approach from northeast. Finding a suitable safe approach for a starting point was the first challenge. Approaches from the south, west and north were all thwarted by rivers and sheer cliff faces. Then decided east was the only safe way in. The first challenge was to drive the steep multi hairpin road heading northeast (inland) from Inverfarigaig. I am used to driving lengthy single track roads but this was something else! Further on, the surface was breaking up, and anything over 20mph on the straights would have risked damaging the car. Parked on verge at NH588254 (Balchraggan). Followed mapped track south then southwest, via bridge at NH544246. Continued to open field surrounding eccentric modern looking `castle` at Dirichirachan. Into woods at NH537238, random route NW through trees then up rocky faced, head high fern clad slopes. Managed to climb the wrong rocky `dun` Then found that these deep ferns between duns were cluttered with rotting fallen trees, making progress though the rocks very difficult to negotiate. Got to the pillar eventually having finally approached it from the NE. The reward was a stunning 360° panoramic view which includes a good length of Loch Ness. Pillar with some moss coverage but in good condition. Spider centre open. Flush bracket faces north, compass reading 353°. Vented through south sight hole. Tried to opt for simpler route back, became disorietated in the woods and used compass and GPS for a quick route back to the field south.

S8175 - Dun Garbh & GRP
view from S8175 - Dun Garbh Loch Ness
view from S8175 - Dun Garbh that `castle`
view from S8175 - Dun Garbh the parking spot
view to S8175 Dun Garbh from the parking spot.
S8175 - Dun Garbh pillar & FB

23rd Nov 2007  12:00  by peregrinus

FB Number: S8175  Condition: Slightly damaged  Score: 8/10

Shallow horizontal crack at half height. Largeish cairn adjacent. No cap or plug. Fine little summit, fine view of Loch Ness. Approach from S simpler than expected, with makeshift bridge of fallen trees spanning the burn, and small area of plantation putting up little resistance.

11th Apr 2006  19:30  by spidym

FB Number: S8175  Condition: Good  Score: 7/10

Again left this far too late. However this time managed to bag it. Nightmare of a climb due to so many fallen trees while climbing the hill and navigated without map and of course GPS useless in the trees. There is also the fact that you have to go so far round just to find the bridge crossing the river. Was getting dark on way back so thought "what the heck " just walk through the river as cant be that deep. Well it was up to my waist. Be warned ,use the bridge even on the way back! PS for some reason the site reckons the flush bracket number is wrong ,however see pics.

The correct Flush Bracket as entered on site For some reason this appears as wrong on site
Trig with stunning view over Loch Ness

7th Apr 2006  17:00  by spidym

FB Number: NONE  Condition: Unreachable but visible  Score: 2/10

Left this one until a little too late. Got there and seemed a nice day until started snowing (heavy) so didnt fancy crossing river and having to change clothes in the snow. Will be back sometime soon to try again

22nd Mar 2006  15:30  by Allymac

FB Number: Not logged  Condition: Unreachable but visible  Score: 2/10

I attempted this in a snowstorm which gradually grew so bad I had to turn back having got within 700m of the trig. Wise move as the single-track road I followed to get to the base of the hill was closed shortly after I departed for the warmth of home. I'll attempt this again in better weather.

The last view of the hill before the whiteout.