Beinn Dubh to Cruach Dubh the short way

Luss hills for a long run this week, left it until the afternoon to catch better weather, cloud level gradually lifted during the run. Planned loop starting on Beinn Dubh, crossing Glen Luss and on to the top of Glen Finlas, finishing down Cruach Dubh, the hill the Luss Highland Games race is run over. Good paths over Dubh/Mid hills then rougher ground on the Finlas side. Climbed Beinn Dubh, running the flatter bits and walking the steep. Warm on the way up the sun threatening to break through took a layer off, passed a few walking groups and into the cloud towards the top. Stopped for a drink at the top, rain started, jacket and hat on for the run round the corries to Mid Hill. Dropped out the wind down Mid Hill, warmer again. Ran up to the end of the Glen road then across fields to a small bridge over Luss Water and the trudge up Coille Eughain hill. From the top ran and walked up the ridge to Creag an Leinibh over looking Glens Luss and Finlas. From the top turned back toward Loch Lomond along the ridge to Beinn Ruisg then through peat hags to Creagan Hill overlooking Loch Lomond. About 3 miles from here to the finish over Cruach Dubh, pathless and tussocky to start, aimed for Ben Lomond until a quad bike track appears, take that until about half way down, cut off as it turns away, more tussocks and faint sheep tracks until a better path forms for the last climb up Cruach Dubh, a tussocky traverse across the top to the Games Hill race route, finishing past the Luss Water Fairy Pool.

Beinn Dubh cairn

Beinn Ruisg from Coille Eughain Hill

Glen Finlas and Loch Lomond from Creag an Leinibh

Clyde Estuary from Beinn Ruisg

Loch Lomond from Creagan Hill

Riverbank 5k

Club race from behind Cameron House, through Lomond Shores, cycle path to the Vale Academy. Nine of us running this year. Tried to take it easy at the start and not go with the faster runners, happy to finish 4th, with reasonably even mile splits with a slight improvement over the last mile or so.

Narnain & The Cobbler the quiet way

First time in Arrochar for a few months, morning run, low cloud, but warm and dry, straight up Narnain from Succoth, busier than usual and caught and passed a few groups of walkers. Summit plateau to myself for a few minutes then down to Bealach a'Mhaim and a trudge up to the top of The Cobbler, saw no-one but could hear a few voices in the mist. Ran down the An t'Sron ridge then across to the Buttermilk Burn and down the argo track to Succoth. Good to be back out on some bigger hillls.

The Spearhead

Narnain

The Cobbler

On the way to An t Sron

Pappert Cross Country

5 started this 3 lap cross country course behind the Pappert Housing Estate, 3rd time we've ran this race, an undulating course with plenty of mud and ditches to cross and a couple of fallen trees to negotiate, good Cross Country. First lap went well apart from going the wrong way round one of the fallen trees, slightly quicker in the second lap despite a stop for a lace re-tie, third lap slightly quicker again, finished 2nd and happy to improve on my previous times by about 90 seconds. 

Lismore

High winds forecast for the hills, chose a low route today, a 9 mile loop round the north end of the Isle of  Lismore. Found the route on walkinghighlands website. I had walked some of it a few years ago but downloaded the gpx file from their website as I was going a few extra miles over ground I hadn't been on, Worked well, only a couple of minor route issues and the app tells you when you go off course. Got the ferry over from Port Appin to Point, ran round the coast anti clockwise to Port Ramsay then on to Castle Coeffin, from there run across the island and back up to Point via Tirefour Broch. A mixture of coastal paths, fields, farm tracks and a couple of miles on the road back to Point. A couple of eagles soaring up prompted the camera to come out the bag, too late to catch them, the scenery was good. Weather showery to start and as I forgot my jacket fashioned a makeshift wind and waterproof layer from a large plastic shopping bag. Worked well enough to keep me comfortable. Finished in about 2 1/2 hours so had a half hour wait for the next ferry back to Port Appin.

 

Bromley Muir Snow run

Local hills and trails again this week, longer route planned, round Carman Reservoir then along Bromley Muir to Stoneymollan followed 3LW and then onto the John Muir Trail past Ben Bowie coming back to Ben Bowie through Banachra woods, from Ben Bowie down towards Helensburgh disturbed a Buzzard and a Heron before turning up the ridge to  Killoeter, back along the 3LW and down Stoneymollan to finish. Started in the snow, pleasant running, not much wind, snow faded after an hour or so then some blue skies and weak sunshine saw me home.

Auchengaich Circuit

Short long hill run, the hills around Auchengaich reservoir just off Glen Fruin. Trudge across tussocks and bog to a steep climb up Auchengaich hill, started after 3pm so likely to be dark before I finish. Cold wind on the ridge up to Beinn Tharsuin glad of my triple thermal layers and windproof jacket, ground partially frozen meant dryer and warmer feet than usual, Chaorachs top, cairn and trig point separated by a rime covered fence, not a place to hang around despite the good views, ran along the undulating ridge to the steep drop back into the glen crossing over for the fenceline path up to A Mhanaich, still light and I push on down towards Maol am Fheidh and then the Strone,my eyes adjust to the fading  light, headtorch only switched on for the last couple of hundred yards and the run along the road busy with evening traffic.