Glen Douglas and Whinney Hill

Set off from Invergroin up into the clouds on Beinn Bhreac, passed a few deer on the way up. Dropped out the cloud on the way to Ben Reoch, passed more deer running towards Loch Lomond, cloud lifted off the Glen Douglas tops for good Loch L views, Arrochar Alps still in cloud. Followed the fenceline for a steep run down off Reoch and then up Tullich Hill, more deer at the top, spotted antlers on the horizon and tried to sneak up for a photo, they took off too soon & I still can't run fast enough to catch them. Finished just over 2 1/2 hours. More pictures here.

Sunday drove to Balloch for a run through the park and on to the Whinney Hill trail, couple of loops round the top then detoured onto the Boturich track on the way back.

Arrochar and Luss

Another scorching weekend, Saturday set off for Arrochar, different route although some of the same tops, Glen Loin (coiregrogain path) Ben Vane, race route from the top of Vane down and up Ime and Narnain, 13 miles and 6500' of ascent. Glen Loin hot, passed a few walkers, most of them sitting down in the shade. The path up Vane dry even the swamp at the bottom, cooling breeze from about half way up, passed a British Gas charity walk, only a couple of people on top. Easy running in the dry ground into Lag Uaine, sat in the stream cooling off for a few minutes before climbing Ime. No-one at the top, sat a couple of minutes for a drink enjoying the views and the breeze. Passed a couple on the way down then a few more on the way up Narnain, pretty quiet today. Scrambled through the Spearhead then down the twisty track to rejoin the forest path just above Succcoth, lay in the jacuzzi to cool off before the drive home. Finished just over 4 1/2 hours, some pictures here. Good views from the tops today, mountains for miles, a bit hazy in the distance. Sunday and the cloud didn't clear until lunchtime as I drove to Luss, run over Beinn Dubh, Mid Hill & Coille-eughain Hill, 9 miles and 3700', passed 5 people on the run off Mid Hill, no-one else apart from some noisy sheep as I climbed up CE Hill and noisy swimmers in Luss Water, finsihed in just over 2 1/2 hours, a few pictures here.

Ted Baker Pappert Well Hill Race

Club hill race, about 5 miles with 1000' of ascent, 3/4 of a mile on road to start and finish, some trail in between, the run up to and away from the trig a bit rougher going. 14 of us set off in reverse order, took it easy for the first couple of hundred yards then pushed on a bit up the side of Pappert Estate and onto the trail, the first part a hardcore path too smooth for my liking, I preferred the old roots and rocks, relaxed after the style where the gradient eases a bit and enjoyed the run through pine trees popping out for the short run to the trig point. The way back starts up and over a wee climb too close to the trees so you have to run at a bit of an angle. Muddy bit follows back down to the style for the hardcore path and finally 3/4 mile of pavement to the finish. good run this year 6th over the line, 3rd on time. Pete and Mo, great hosts as ever, put on a lovely spread of cakes and tablet.

Arrochar and Glen Douglas

Only my second Arrochar hill run this year, plan was to run up the Glen Loin trail climbing into Lag Uaine, over Ben Ime, Narnain and the Cobbler, 16 miles and 6500' of ascent. The first 5 miles up the Glen in glorious sunshine, then as I trudged into Lag Uaine the sun disappeared, up into thick cloud keeping the gnarly ridge on my left I worked my way up to the summit ridge, painful cries of unseen birds flying from side to side overhead added to the atmospheric conditions. It was comforting to hear voices as I ran across to the main summit, about a dozen people sitting about in small groups. Sat behind the rocky top for a drink and some food then off down the scraggy path dropping out the cloud half way down towards Bealach A Mhaim. Straight up Narnain back in to the cloud, this summit quieter, about turn back towards the Bealach swinging round to the west and up the Cobblers rocky path, another busy top, although the East peak quiet on top, a few glimpses of the views as the cloud broke up, ran down the path beside the Alt A Bhalachain.

I looked back and the cloud had cleared revealing a classic Cobbler view, finished in warm sunshine just under 4 1/2 hours. A few more pictures here.

Sunday looked like another good day, drove along to Glen Douglas, parking at Invergroin, short run, 6 miles and 3400', over Beinn Bhreac, Ben Reoch and Tullich Hill. The first climb is the longest, feels fine apart from the Clegs nipping away at the start, above the tree line the breeze keeps them away. A short break at the top then easy running down the NW ridge, take a good line up Ben Reoch closer to the ridge than usual smoothing out some of the undulations. From the top I follow the old fenceline down steep ground into Ant Sreang, the sun comes out again for the climb up Tullich Hill, I leave it late to climb onto the ridge popping up a dryish stream, from there its only a few minutes to the top. Only sheep and a frog for company today, a quiet little group of hills. Run down the grassy slopes back to Invergroin, just under 2 1/2 hours. A few pictures here.

Maddy Moss Mash

Bog n Burn hill race, 6 miles and 2400' of ascent, 90 of us start on a steep uphill slope, through ferns and rocks to a flat narrow trail towards the Law. Cross the bridge and up we go, 2 miles of effort, run, walk shuffle, manage to run off the Law, up Ben Cleuch round the cairn, back past the Law and up Andrew Gannel Hill before a nice thee mile undulating downhill run to the finish, wrong choice when the path split, new something wasn't quite right but just followed the crowd on the higher track. Beat my number (63), finishing in 62nd place just  under 75 mins, a minute slower than two years ago.

Luss n Dumgoyne

Saturday was this years Highland Games at Luss, went along for the two Hill races, the local one disappointing only two entrants, I was 2nd just inside 19 minutes, too soon after the Open race, 16 started and eventually 16 finished. 3rd in this one in 33 1/2 minutes. Getting changed and they were looking for victims for the 1600m, ok shoes & number back on, first two laps ok, the next three not so good, 5th of 5. Pleasant afternoon followed sitting in the sun watching the games finish up. Sunday and after a working morning drove to Dumgoyne for a couple of hours of grassy undulations, made it to the Earl's Seat this time, 2400' of ascent, 7 miles, just under 2 hours.