Cold Toes

Woke up late today hoping for bad weather but it was to clear skies. Got my gear together and set off for Luss. Arrived at the bottom of the glen under a dark cloud emptying out sleety rain. Sat for a few minutes, didn't fancy being up on the ridges in this and set off for Arrochar for a trail run instead. The skies cleared within a mile or so and I returned to Glen Luss for the planned run over 4 hills, about 13 miles and 5000'.

Today's route, left to right, Beinn Eich, Doune Hill, Mid Hill and Beinn Dubh,

Ran up the glen to start, snow dusted hills all round. Ran and walked up Beinn Eich, into the snow about half way up. Reached the top, great views, ran along to Doune Hill into the teeth of a freezing cold wind over the minor top of Beinn Lochain. Stopped for a few pics on top of Doune Hill, a trifle cold to hang about. Pleasant run into Sith Mor, in the sun most of the way down and sheltered from the wind.

On the slow trudge up Mid Hill my feet start to freeze, worse a squall approached as I arrived at the top luckily it passed by, the wind helping send it off down Glen Douglas.

Ran along to Beinn Dubh, legs tiring and happy to reach the cairn for the 2 mile run down to the foot of the glen, finishing in about 3 hours 50. Some more pictures here.

Sunday and we met for a run round next weeks Cross Country route, luckily the flooding from the Leven is starting to subside and we could get all the way round with dry feet. Disturbed a Heron on the small pool, it hung around long enough to watch our vain attempts to photograph it. Followed the trail back round to the bridge and from there we decided to go for a run over Stoneymollan including a new trail through the quarry up to the fort. Good run along Overton and Bromley Muir's except for my icy feet, no Sealskinz today. 10 miles, 1200' in just over two hours.