Puck's Glen.
Start. Puck's Glen car park.
Route. Puck's Glen car park - Upper Glen - Lower Glen - Old Bridge - Puck's Glen car park.
Notes. We're in Argyll for a few days hill walking, a chance to capture the Autumn scenery, an excuse to relax and have someone else do the cooking, unfortunately the weather gods had other ideas, we arrived in the wake of the strongest Atlantic storm in three years, half the roads are blocked with fallen trees, the other half flooded. But here we are so lets make the best of it.
A dark and atmospheric trail, a magical experience full of tumbling water, between high rock walls overhung by mosses, shadowed by towering trees in the company of a lovely Highland burn. This is Puck's Glen named after Puck a mischievous spirit who haunts many legends, even appearing in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Nights Dream.
Come take a wander with us through a woodland gorge enhanced at great expense in the 1870s by James Duncan, Laird of Benmore, in an attempt to charm his many guests, it certainly charmed me. The wind was howling forcing the pine forest into a frenzied highland dance, it was a bit unnerving leaving the Puck's Glen car park, stepping into a forest so animated. Wind, rain and sunshine we had the lot as way-marked paths guided us through dense woodland, above a water filled ravine we walked before reaching a forest track and finger-post, an invitation to descend the water filled ravine, this is Puck's Glen a gorge to rival anything in the Alps. Into the gorge we descended, an awe-inspiring experience, a good path honed from the cliffs guided us along the edge of the burn, under overhanging walls of rock we walked, splendid wooden bridges aided our passage. Many cataracts, cascades and rapids later we stepped onto the old road linking Strachur and Dunoon to start the short walk back to the car park.
From the car park the route ahead.
The path guided us up hill twisting it's way through mature pines.
A view to the tree tops.
Rising above the tree tops, Creag Mho'r and Stronchullin Hill.
Autumn in the woods above Puck's Glen.
Before descending into Puck's Glen gorge we escape the pine forest, the delights of this birch wood welcomed us.
Welcome to Puck's Glen, mosses and ferns, mixed woodland and a tumbling burn, who cares about the rain.
The photographer at play.
Another view up the glen, Sue's obviously found something interesting on the cliff face.
The view down stream.
This may be a man made landscape but 150 years after it's creation nature is certainly in charge, we are but guests in this delectable place.
The descent to the Lower Glen.
The Eas Mor burn cuts it's way through this impressive gorge as it has for many thousands of years.
One of many small burns entering the gorge.
This old bridge carries the Strachur/Dunoon road over the Eas Mor burn, it marks the end of the glen and the start of a short walk along this once busy single ribbon of tarmac..