Dumgoyne

Driving out I couldn't figure why the hills behind the distillery were silver. After last nights rain, got up to a clear blue sky, almost sorry to have a short run this week in prep for next weeks Stuc. First time I've tried this run since last October, running from the distillery over Dumgoyne hill and along to the trig point at the Earls Seat. Crossed the style and started running, how far up could I run? Crossed the next pair of styles through the mud, getting steeper now, kept picking away but had to start walking short of the grassy ramp up to the boulders. Second check, 26 mins 40 secs to the top. I had passed a few a few flecks of snow on the way up and as I reached the top I could see the hills behind had taken a dump of snow.

Good fun running off Dumgoyne, a bit slippy at first, then the short scree chute lets you fly down to the bottom. Running up Gairloch hill into the snow following some footprints along the trail, these soon turn off leaving only sheep tracks. Working hard in the snow eventually reaching the small cairn marking the summit and the cold wind blowing across the moor soon cools me down. The sheep tracks veer off and leave the trail, now running over pristine snow in the sun, things could be worse. I can see the trig point in the distance, it seems to take an age to get there as the trail sweeps round past the cairn in an undulating arc. One last uphill stretch and I'm there, pause to take in the views before the run back.

Easier run back along, good fun, the snow smooths the worst of the tussocks and even the swampy bits are more or less frozen. Soon I'm running down towards Dumgoyne and the ground turns back to muddy brown. Finish in just over two hours, some more pictures here.

Spoilt for choice

Struggled to get up this morning, it's been a hard week. I couldn't make my mind up on the route for my run, decided on Luss Hills, about 12 miles and 4 hours of undulations, the last part would be new as the last time I tried it I bailed out in a low cloud and snow whiteout. Finally managed to leave the house about half an hour late, driving along I saw this.....

A quick change of plan and about turn to Ben Lomond. Arrived at a busy Rowardennan car park, full of people harnessed to various shapes and sizes of Huskies. They set off up the hill before I was ready. Started out nice n easy until I caught up with the canine train and just had to pick up the effort to get passed. Onto the open hill with a few groups of hill walkers ahead, picking up the pace as I approached each group trying to ignore the oxygen debt until I got passed. Impending implosion meant I had to ease back the pace and finally managed this across the plateau. Into the snow just before the steep climb up to the summit ridge, picked my way up, the path seemed to attract the snow, a couple of feet deep in places. Onto the ridge and the nice clear top pictured from Duck Bay earlier had disappeared into the mist.

Paused for a quick drink at the top then picked my way back along the snowy ridge and down to the plateau. Steady run along the plateau then some fun on the steep rocky track as it drops down towards the loch. Finished in 2 hours 20. A few pictures here. 

Arrochar

Sunday run for a change and I left for Arrochar just before 8 a sunny blue sky morning with a cool breeze. Car park nearly empty as I set off on the Glen Loin trail, cool breeze now slicing through me even with double thermals. Gradually warmed up as the trail undulated up towards the days hills Ben Vane and Beinn Ime. Reached the Vane path and into walk mode, caught a couple of walkers too quickly then eased back for the trudge through Vanes rocky outcrops the path disappearing every few yards in the snow. The top a pleasant contrast to the climb, no wind. Ran off the back along the ridge to the usual rock before turning left into Gleann Uaine where a tip toe descent, watchful of the black icy patches hidden in the grass, made it
difficult to use enough energy to stay warm.



Crossed Lag Uaine and found a feint ridge path that would take me half way up towards Glas Bealach on dry firm ground. Through some crags then the gradient eases over wet ground until I get to Glas B. Back into the snow from here traversing round as I climb to avoid some snowy crags. Higher and steeper and I am glad to find the footprints of two walkers and use these to improve the grip, sometimes using them for hand holds as well. The snow makes for a tough climb and towards the top I stop for a few seconds every twenty yards or so then push on before my feet freeze. The top breezy and I rest for a few seconds to take a drink and gaze at the surrounding snowy tops. The run off Ime fun in the snow, lower down towards the Bealach I manage to find firm ground and keep my feet reasonably dry. A lot of walkers about for the run along the track between Narnain and the Cobbler and down the zig zags back to a packed car park, 14 miles and 5700' in 4 hours 45.

Clachnaben

The first race in this years SHR Championship, just south of Banchory, its a long day out. I ran this race in 2009 the last time it was a championship event. New course for this year a bit shorter although over the same two hills, Mount Shade and Clachnaben with its rocky Tor. Car parking on a forest road and then a 10 minute walk into the forest to registration. At noon a couple of hundred of us set off from reg to the start a few hundred yards down the track.

Soon we are off onto a muddy trail winding through the forest then we start to climb up via a couple of short firebreaks before coming out on the open hillside. Time for a photo break in the queue for the style, the field strung out ahead on their way to Threestane Hill.

Heathery stuff now, after Threestane Hill we continue up the ridge towards Mount Shade, with Clachnaben peeking out behind. 

The descent from Mount Shade takes us south, away from Clachnaben then skirts the edge of some woods and a traverse round Mt Shade's Western flank back towards Clachnaben for the last climb zig zagging up to the summit Tor.

From the Tor we run down a scraggy walkers path beside a narrow stream, a soft peaty heathery mush. I'm catching up those in front until we hit the forest road again for the last 3k where they pull away from me. We get to within a few hundred yards of the finish and are sent off on a narrow track through the forest, uphill of course, a few unexpected minutes effort brings me in to the finish, I should check the route map more carefully in future.

Time for a seat and a beer courtesy of Deeside Brewery one of the race sponsors. Plenty of prizes, apart from the ones for those that run quickly, prizes are given out for the dirtiest runners, the runner with the most Scottish name, the most helpful DNF and those who found the tiny Easter chicks hidden around the course.

Pictures here here here and here.   

Stoneymollan

The 10th Stoneymollan race, two of us have run them all. There were 16 runners tonight, set off in handicap order, target for all to finish at 7:30. Cool evening good for running, 16 minute climb for me to the top of the track. The next part is on a hill path undulating over Bromley and Overton Muir's, kept the effort going, soon on top and able to relax for a few minutes before the next short climb. A slight route change before the last steep wee climb then downhill for a run through the brown stink bog and gorse alley. From there its rough track and road to the finish. Missed 7:30 by a minute and a half. Tea and cake to finish, helps keep the weight up. Some pictures from the run here.

Another Luss Hill Run

On sight, map and compass in the bag and it stayed there on a delightful spring morning round of a few Luss hills. Started the same as last week with a plod  up Beinn Eich, followed the path all the way to the top for a change. Ran off the back and traversed to the beallach before a short climb to the top of Cruach an t-Sidhein, only the last 50' as steep as it looked.

Beinn Eich on the left, Beinn Chaorach on the right from ascent of an t-Sidhein.

Good views from the summit to Arrochar and the Ardgarten peninsula. Sat and refuelled for a few minutes planning the route back then set off south west for Beinn a Mhanach, 1000' feet down and 1100' back up in just over a mile. Kept as high as possible crossing the glen to save re ascent, curved ascent to avoid gullies and crags on the run up to Mhanach's top which is some way back from where you expect it to be. Another 1000'+ descent and re ascent to get to Ben Chaorach, starts with an easy run down over grass and soft rush to cross a boggy bealach. A steep climb undulates up beside a fence before the gradient eases onto a gentle broad runnable ridge to the summit, relieved now that most of the day's climbing was done. The last third of the route is a gently undulating ridge run over Beinn Tharsuin and a couple of minor tops and the day's efforts began to have an effect, any uphill meant walk or maybe the odd shuffle if it wasn't too long. All too soon I was looking down to Coille Eughain Hill over Creag an Leinibh and the last couple of miles of running all the way to the finish 2000' below. Out for 5 3/4 hours. A few pictures here.