Fairy Glen

Club 3 mile race with a difference, a 3 lap 5k route in Balloch Park each lap taking in a wee steep bit up the bottom section of Fairy Glen. 17 of us set off on a perfect sunny morning for this short sharp roller coaster run. Happy to finish sub 24 minutes, followed by a Millie al fresco breakfast. Some pictures here.

Dumgoyne and the Earls Seat

Short run this morning, 7 miles with 2500' of ascent. We started beside the Glengoyne Distillery, running up through the fields to the steep climb up Dumgoyne Hill. Over the back and a nice scree run on the way down.

View of Dumgoyne from the back, next time we'll try to access the main scree chute rather than the smaller one that starts half way down.

After Dumgoyne its an undulating run up into the clouds to the cairn at the top of Garloch Hill. Past the cairn the path runs through a series of short ups and downs all the way to the Earls Seat. A short stop at the trig point and then we turn for home, easy running back along the undualting ridge then a fast grassy descent back to the finish.

View towards Loch Lomond from Garloch Hill.
A nice short run, we were 65 minutes out and 30 minutes back, that includes 26 minutes to the top of Dumgoyne, would go quicker on fresh legs.

PWWHSM

Friday afternoon long run capturing some good weather, a lap of the Vales hills, Pappert Well, Whinney Hill & Stoneymollan, about 18 miles and 3100' of ascent. The aim was to run at an effort level I could maintain the whole way. A short road section and I was soon onto the Pappert trail reaching the Trig point in 36 minutes, stopped for a drink then off by the Well, down to the style and right turn across the fields and Golf Course to Auchencarroch and the track into the back of the Haldane, met a couple of younger residents with a Golf Flag and encouraged them to return it. Kept to the road up past Mollanbowie and the hospice. A warm run up the Whinney hill trail stopping for a seat, 1 hour 40. Nice run down the trail and through Balloch Park, the road through Balloch not so good. Walked past the Kennels and the first climb up the Stoney then back into jog mode to the top. Hard work along the moor reaching the Trig in 2 hours 50, another drink stop then followed the race route back home, a fair effort for 3 hours 16.

Maddy Moss

Perfect evening for running, and a new race for me. This is the longest of the midweek races, 6 miles and 2500' of ups and downs to come. The start is a few flights of steps up the Mill Glen behind Tillicoutry. A short steep climb to start so a wee jog for show then walk till we get to a narow runnable path contouring round Kirk Craigs into Mill Glen, a short drop down steps into a gulley then up onto the Law. A scramble at the bottom before steep grassy slopes, hands on knees and push for about half an hour until I crested the top, sweat pouring off me and the other 127 runners on the tough climb. The next top, Ben Cleuch is less than a mile away with only 300' up so we all run it, not very fast but its running. Round the cairn and ease downhill halfway back towards the Law and we swing across to Andrew Gammel Hill, another short runnable climb. Just over half way now and its downhill all the way from here. A nice track takes us into a Glen where we run along a narrow path cut into the steep hillside, difficult to overtake. Just when the path opens out the ground becomes steeper and rockier to test your nerve. We join the outward route for the last hundred yards dropping down through gorse, rock and heather. Stood and watched the next few runners finish before a quick change and a pint in the Woolpack. Drove home to a crimson skyline silhouetting the mass of peaks to the north. Pictures here.

Beinn An Lochain

A short but steep run this week 5 miles and 2500' of ascent. Early start, warm but tops in cloud. Ran along from the R&BT car park to the North End of Loch Restil, crossed the stream and went up a feint path in an obvious gulley to meet the ridge path coming up from Butterbridge. Soon into the cloud which meant we could not see the views or much of the airy drops which accompany this climb.

Reached a claggy top in 68 minutes and carried straight on over to the second lower top then down the SW ridge for a couple of hundred yards to miss the crags below the summit before turning SE then E dropping steeply down soft grassy slopes into Gleann Mor and back round to the R&BT Car Park. Finished in just under 2 hours.

Glen Douglas

New route today, I had made a loose arrangement to mebee run with one of the other runners who was at Luss yesterday, after a couple of texts I left the Vale to meet in Tarbet at half 11 and after a short section of railway track we set off straight up Ben Reoch, pathless tussocky steep. Climing 2000' in just over a mile soon had me sweating last nights beer out. The plan was Ben Reoch, Beinn Bhreac, Doune Hill (ha) and Tullich Hill to finish depending how we? felt. No paths and few if any people on these quiet hills overlooking Lochs Lomond and Long. Easy running from Reoch to Bhreac where we had a break for food and photos. We then gave back the hard earned 2000' on the steep descent to Invergroin in Glen Douglas. Across the road and up beside the missile base fence towards Doune Hill via the adjacent unamed top. Another stiff climb 1800' in a mile and a half, my partner for the day took in both tops, one of them twice, I met him about half way up DH's final climb turning back for the run into Glen Douglas. We separated on the descent and after a bit of a delay met up in the valley where I decided to run back to Tarbet via the Three Lochs trail my pal running back over Tullich Hill. Stunning views and weather requiring plenty of sun cream, water and visits to just about every stream we crossed. Excluding waiting time about 5 hours 40 for 14 miles and close to 6000' of ascent. I took a few pictures from Beinn Bhreac and one from the Three Lochs Trail.

Luss Highland Games

Summer arrives for today's games, had a go at four races, the local 90 m, last, and in trying to sprint realised how stiff I am, 20 minutes later the local 200 m led until about 20 metres from the end, victory snatched from my grasp, 5th I think. The local Hill race about half an hour later takes you half way up the small hill behind the games field then back, 4th out of 6 in 19:53, the Open Hill Race a couple of hours later goes to the top of the same hill and back, 7th out of 9 in 33:56. For both hill races you enjoy a lap of the games field at the start and the finish, and a good reception from the crowd. Other highlights of the day, two cake stalls and the beer tent. Missed the kilted dash as I had no tartan although one guy ran in a teddy bear rug?