Arrochar Alps Sun 1st April

The current schedule has to be flexible to cope with the variable weather in the West of Scotland. So having been out for over 4 hours last weekend this was meant to be an easy day but the good weather continued so I was keen to access the Arrochar tops & get another long run in. Plan was to run from Succoth up Glen Loin to Corriegrogan then Bens Vane, Ime & Narnain before dropping back down to succoth, a total of 13 miles and 6500' of ascent.

The first part of the run up through Glen Loin was cool and the ground frozen as it was still in the shade. As the path steepend up to reach the sun the temperature rose quickly although the breeze would cut you in two.

From Corriegrogan its straight up Ben Vane which ranges from steep and boggy to steep to really steep. As you approach the summit views open up to Ben Lomond and the other Arrochar Alps, also the Crianlarich hills and Tyndrum Hills and the tops of Goat Fell/Glen Rosa on Arran were visible as well as the Luss hills. Several lochs show themselves, Lomond, Gareloch, Arklet, Katrine and down the Clyde Estuary.

The drop off the back of Ben Vane down towards Lag Uaine went back in to the shade with the ground unable to decide if its Winter or Spring with a mixture of frost and streams.

From Lag Uaine to the top of Ben Ime via the Glas Bhealach is just over a mile with 1700' of ascent and took about 50 minutes. The first part to Glas Bhealach through tussocks and streams then frozen boulder strewn turf to the top. The higher you go the colder the wind so important to keep moving. Didn't stay long here, busy summit compared to the empty Ben Vane.

Jog down towards the last big climb up Ben Narnain tougher than usual as the feet were suffering due to the hard frozen ground covered already. Thankfully the Bealach a Maim is not as low as Lag Uaine and 25 minutes covered the last big ascent of the day, 1000' in a mile to the top of Narnain.

The initial descent from Narnain feels quite airy as you scramble through the Spearhead. Then the path undualtes its way around Cruach Nam Miseag but went over this minor "top" for fun as well ( = took the wrong path). Mixture of minor scrambles and streams all the way back down to the car park at Succoth. Out for a total of 2 minutes over 5 hours, a few pix in the Galleria.