Ben More

I tried Ben More back in May when I couldn't get to the top for snow, Sat morning forecast was pretty good and I  left the Vale nice n early driving up the side of a glassy Loch Lomond in the sun. Arrived in Crianlarich blue skies above except for a big grey cloud sitting on top of Ben More and Stob Binnien. Ran up the forest road and found the trail marked with white tape through the trees, lose sight of the tape and I have to fight my way through the last few trees. Onto the open hill at last, a more direct route this time, throughn tussocks, bogs and over moss covered rocks, steeper too. Cross the deer fence and onto the Sron Nam Forsairean ridge at about 2500' where a faint path winds me up and along the craggy ridge. Thermal top, hat, gloves and jacket on as I climb up into the clouds. I'm soon past where I stopped last time, a good decision as the summit is some distance further along the ridge. The path fades in and out over bouldery ground and eventually the summit trig looms out the mist where I stop and catch a breath and something to eat sheltering from the cool breeze. The run off  easy at first down the ridge and I soon warm up when I drop below the cloud. Over the deer fence and I stop to pick a line back into the forest, the tussocks make for a slow careful descent before a steep scramble back into the forest and I find the lucky white tape again. Finish in 3 hours and 1 minute. Some pictures here.

Arrochar Hills

Made up for missing the Arrochar Alps race last week with a run over three of them, Vane, Ime and Narnain, 13 miles and 6500' of ascent. Trail run for 4 miles to start taking me up into Glen Loin and Coiregrogain. Through the bog at the bottom of Vane then the path gets drier as I climb up.

Quite atmospheric today, shafts on sunlight breaking through the clouds as they blow about in the gentle breeze. Good line off the back of Vane, footprints from last weeks race as I go down and these continue over Ime and Narnain. I find my usual ridge to start the climb from Lag Uaine up Beinn Ime then pick up a race trod SE of my usual line, more direct climbing up beside a crag I usually go round, saves me about 5 minutes.

Good running straight down to Bealach a'Mhaim, only Narnain to go, about half way up I traverse NE to a parallel path, a bit steeper but avoids some of the boulders.

Past the trig point and scramble down through the Spearhead onto the twisting and turning path back to Succoth. Washed the mud off in the Jacuzzi, jogged back to the car, just over 5 hours. A few more pictures here.

Ted Baker Pappert Well

Club hill race, the 10th running, 2 of us have managed to run them all. Starts in Bonhill up to Pappert Well and back, a runnable lollipop route, 5 miles with about 1000' of ascent. 24 runners tonight going in handicap order. I set off along the road steady effort over a small up and down before the climb initially past houses then into the woods, where the smooth path up to the stile makes the climb a bit easier. Over the stile and onto a rough path which got muddier the further we went. Round the trig point, no stopping for the views tonight. Stumble along the tricky path almost in the fir trees drop into the woods and splashed my way down the mushy track looping back to join the outward track, firmer ground now, over the stile, smooth path again, preferred this when it was roots and bumps. All downhill now apart from a short up when we get back on the road. Run in to finish in 46:40 to the sound of the bell. Prize giving and refreshments courtesy of Mo & Pete make for a nice end to the race.

Luss

An evening run so it had to be close, Beinn Dubh, Mid Hill and Coille-eughain Hill, about 10 miles and 3600' sounded good. I started up Beinn Dubh the only sounds a rhythmic squelch breathe and a soothing pitter patter of rain on my jacket. The views open up at first then gradually disappear as I climb up onto the cloudy summit ridge.

Thankfully the rain and the breeze ease off for the jog along past the corries and cairns to Mid Hill. I concentrate on keeping to the path, not that I'm going to get lost, its just comfortably familiar and a bit easier to run on. Running off Mid Hill towards the glen when Luss and an island strewn Loch appear as I drop under the clouds.

Crossing an old wooden bridge over Luss Water a quiet Owl lands on the tree next to me where it swivels round to watch me take my camera out before flying off. I'm on the last climb, a steep pull up CE hill, it feels good climbing up accompanied by Larks singing as the light fades. Too soon I am on top looking down over Luss, the streetlights glow brighter as I descend the Paps. 

Leaving the Paps I pick my way through the remains of the forest in the gloom, nearly finished now, just a couple of fields and some farm track to go, I could almost taste the beer until a sudden faceplant in a ditch right where the cows cross. A quick wash in Luss Water removes the worst of it. I finish in just over 2 1/2 hours, a few minutes quicker than last month.

Dollar

Didn't fancy this, forecast poor, wet n windy, yes it was a poor forecast as it turned out sunny for most of the run. Start and finish beside the cricket pavilion at Dollar Academy a 10 mile loop covering 3200 feet of ascent over rolling grassy Ochils in the sun. Over 100 set off up through Dollar Glen for the climb up Saddle and Whitewisp Hills, about 2000' in 2 1/2 miles, the crocodile extending out in front.

Once up on top its good running over Tarmangie and Skythorn Hills to the turning point round Andrew Gammels summit to a shorter than it looks drop down and over Kings Seat Hill back towards Dollar, the minor blip of Bank Hill is the last up with a steep grassy drop into Dollar Glen where I stopped to check out a runner who had taken a tumble, a bit dazed, he had someone with him and help was on its way. A few minutes later I was through the glen and running back towards Dollar Academy to showers, tea and cakes. Finished in 2 hours and a few minutes. Pictures here.