Glen Kinglas is a glen located on the Cowal Peninsula, in Argyll and Bute, west of Scotland. The glen is one of the main glens in the Arrochar Alps, the A83 road from Arrochar and Loch Lomond passes through the glen.[1] At the north end of the glen, a pass leads to Glen Croe, passing Loch Restil. At the south of the glen the A815 road leaves the A83 and leads through the Cowal Peninsula to Dunoon on the Firth of Clyde coast. The A83 continues on past Cairndow and Loch Fyne Oysters to Inveraray and Inveraray Castle on Loch Fyne.
Glen Kinglas | |
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Glen | |
Coordinates: 56°14′38″N 04°51′55″W / 56.24389°N 4.86528°W | |
Grid position | NN 22543 09411 |
Location | Cowal Peninsula; Argyll and Bute |
Formed by | glacial erosion |
The glen has the Kinglas Water running through it which runs under the Butter Bridge, one of the sources is Loch Restil, located in the pass between Glen Kinglas and Glen Croe.[2][3]
The Butter Bridge carpark in the glen, gives easy access to the hills and mountains in the area for hillwalkers and climbers.[4][5] The glen gives access to Beinn an Lochain the highest peak on the Cowal peninsula at 901.7 metres (2,958 ft).[6]
The Mountain Bothies Association opened a Bothy within the glen in May 2022, called Abyssinia. Located at grid ref: NN 256 117, on Ordnance Survey map LR56. [7]
The glen is within the Argyll Forest Park and the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park.[8][9]
Mountains
editThe following mountains border Glen Kinglas (from south to north).
West side:
- Binnein an Fhidhleir, Corbett at 817 metres (2,680 ft)
- Creag Bhrosgan, 711 metres (2,333 ft)
- Stob Coire Creagach, 817 metres (2,680 ft)
East side:
- Stob an Eas, 732 metres (2,402 ft)
- Beinn an t-Seilich, 719 metres (2,359 ft)
- Beinn an Lochain, Corbett at 901.7 metres (2,958 ft)
- Beinn Luibhean, Corbett at 857 metres (2,812 ft)
- Beinn Ime, Munro at 1,011 metres (3,317 ft) (Butter Mountain)
- Beinn Chorranach, 888 metres (2,913 ft)
- Ben Vane - Beinn Dubh, 774 metres (2,539 ft)
Butter Bridge
editThe bridge over Kinglas Water, Butter Bridge, named after Beinn Ìme (Butter Mountain). Built in 1749, as part of the Military Road from Dumbarton to Inveraray. Overseen by Major William Caulfeild of the British Army.[2]
Landslides
editThe glen was formed by glacial erosion and has repercussions today, as many areas are still unstable.[10]
The A83 is prone to landslides, including the section within Glen Kinglas. The A83 is a main road to the west coast of Scotland. On 8 October 2023, ten people were airlifted off the road by helicopter, as they were trapped by seven separate landslides along a short section of the road.[11][12]
Aeroplane crash
editA RAF Panavia Tornado F3 crashed in the glen, on 2 July 2009, at 1145. Both occupants were killed.[13][14]
Glen Kinglas hydro
editA hydro electric generating station makes use of the Kinglas Water in the south of the glen. It began electricity generation in January 2004. The system installed has a maximum production capacity of 960 kilowatt or 0.96 Megawatt.[15][16]
Gallery
edit-
Butter Bridge, Kinglas Water
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Glen Kinglas
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Cold day in Glen Kinglas
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A83, Glen Kinglas
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Loch Restil from the north ridge of Beinn an Lochain
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Glen Kinglas towards Beinn an Lochain
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Abyssinia Bothy
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "ROAD SAFETY ENHANCEMENTS AT A83 GLEN KINGLAS". BEAR Scotland. 2024-04-19. Retrieved 2024-06-27.
- ^ a b "Butter Bridge in Glen Kinglas". ScottishHistory.org. October 18, 2023.
- ^ "Wild | The Open Water Swimming App for the UK". Wild.
- ^ "Butterbridge - Scotland's Hills". September 21, 2019.
- ^ "GlenKinglas". www.oakchip.com.
- ^ "Beinn an Lochain - Corbett (Walkhighlands)". Walkhighlands.
- ^ Webster, Helen. "New bothy for Glen Kinglas".
- ^ "Argyll Forest Park". Forestry and Land Scotland.
- ^ Lomond, Loch; G83 8EG, The Trossachs National Park Authority Carrochan Carrochan Road Balloch. "Lochs, glens & straths - Here. Now. All of us". Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ https://geologyglasgow.org.uk/docs/017_283__arrocharalps_total_1383576245.pdf
- ^ "Mother and daughter 'lucky to be alive' after landslide". October 9, 2023 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ "Rest and be Thankful road reopens after seven landslides". October 11, 2023 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ "Accident Panavia Tornado F3 ZE982, Thursday 2 July 2009". asn.flightsafety.org.
- ^ "'No blame' over RAF Tornado crash". March 25, 2010 – via news.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ "Project Details from OFGEM". energymap.co.uk.
- ^ "GLEN KINGLAS HYDRO LTD. overview - Find and update company information - GOV.UK". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk.
External links
edit- Map sources for Glen Kinglas
- Mountain Bothies Association, Abyssinia - Official Website
- Forest and Land Scotland, Argyll Forest Park - Official Webpage
- Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park - Official Webpage
- Met Office, Arrochar - Official Webpage
- Scotland's Charity Air Ambulance - Official Webpage
- Arrochar Mountain Rescue Team - Official Webpage