Arrochar undulations

Set off early for today's run, from Succoth, tide in, up Glen Loin, over Ben Vane, Beinn's Ime and Narnain and the Cobbler to finish avoiding the crowds by returning to Succouth via a new route for me the Cobblers SE ridge. Took it easy through Glen Loin walking the bigger hills, the track to the Ben Vane turn felt hard. Steady trudge up Ben Vane, thoughts of cutting the run short never far away, towards the top into the clouds and a blustery wind, sheltered just before the summit for something to eat and dug the compass out for the 280 degree run off. Over the top and into a gale, trot along the bearing to this rock, time to turn left and drop down into Lag Uaine. Soon out the cloud and work my way round the crags into the glen. Find my exit ridge for the climb towards Glas Bhealach, its between two streams and has a faint path to follow, easier than the open hillside. From Glas Bhealach things got harder as an icy squall blew in, sheltered behind a boulder, two buffs on and hood up then set off for Ben Ime's steep northern slopes. Head down and went for it, a bit of dermabraision from the hail, arms wrapped around me for warmth, the higher I went the colder I got, legs turning blue but didn't want to stop to put on extra gear in case it got blown away on the exposed slopes. Reached the top a bit quicker than usual. Some more food then gloves on sheltering behind the summit. Decided to call it a day after this unless the cloud lifted. Legs painful on the descent, kept working, trying to get some life back into them. Started down on my usual bearing but soon under the clouds. Gradually felt better until I realised Narnain and the Cobbler were both clear. Ran though Bealach a' Mhaim, easy to locate the path up Narnain, ran where I could. Reached the top in just under 4 hours. More food in the shelter of the wall at the trig point. The run back towards Bealach a'Mhaim a bit stop start on the badly eroded path. Lots of walkers climbing the Cobbler's back stairs and set off after them, great climb and as the gradient eases I manage a run to the busy summit ridge. Pick my way slowly along the twisty bouldery ridge path to the western end for a run down the quieter SE ridge. Great views back towards the Cobbler and across to Narnain. Legs complaining a bit on the run off the ridge to meet the new zig zag path. A nice easy jog back to Succoth, tide out. 15 miles and 7700' of ascent over the four tops, finished in 5 hours 44. A few pictures here.