BOO

Got up to clear skies, sun and no wind. Drove up to Bridge of Orchy - BOO - and set off for the two Munros that overlook. Beinn Dorain and Beinn An Dothaidh (Pron Dohay). The first mile a rocky boggy path up into the clouds to Coire a Dothaidh. I reach the high Beallach between to the two hillls and I'm through the clouds, a cold breeze here but endless blue skies and sunshine, stop for a few pictures.

Hills overlooking the Black Mount from the beallach.

Dorain first, a 1000' and a mile or so South, steep at first then levels off, more runnable with a few wee steep bits. Double summit, the real summit is the second one, 100' or so down and up. More photos here, views are good today.

Lui and Arrochar hills and Ben Lomond

About turn through the dip and back to the Beallach, catching a Glory on the clouds below. The path up Dothaidh good at first then fades into bog, the path reappears on the short climb to the SE top, run round the other two tops, the middle on is the real summit. More pictures!

Beinn Achaladair's rolling summit ridge and Beinn a Creachain behind

A reluctant run back to the Beallach and the boggy rocky path down to BOO, Just under 3 1/2 hours for the 9 miles and 4300'. Views from Ben's Lomond to Nevis, the CMD clear beside it, Cruachan, Lui, and the Arrochar Alps all poking through the clouds, mountains for miles. More pictures here.

Road Race

Glasgow Uni 5 mile Road Race, one of the few road races that I run, route has evolved into sort of a two lap affair to avoid public roads as much as possible, includes a few undulations. Starts and finishes within Gascube Sports Complex touching the Switchback, Dawesholm and Maryhill on the way round. Finished just inside 37 minutes in 142 place from 211 finishers, times ranged from 25 to 54 minutes. Cakes after not as good as they used to be or rmaybe need to run faster.

See Planes

Saturday was a nice day for a run, drove up to Arrochar, plan was to run to Beallach A Mhaim then up a couple of hills. Easy run up the zig zags and past the Narnain Boulders, Narnain and the Cobbler in cloud. Started up Narnain's NW ridge to the sound of Sea Planes overhead. Reached the top, clouds swirling around and below, views to Loch Long, Gareloch and beyond opening and closing every few seconds.

The Cobbler from Narnain.

Easy run down and up the Cobbler while the clouds were sliding over the surrounding summits,.usual crowds of people on the Cobbler.

 The Needle, Arrochar and Ben Lomond.

Just over 3 hours for the 10 miles, 4500'. More pictures here.

Tinto

Third attempt at this little up and down traily hill race. About 250 entries for the 4 miles and 1500' makes for a crocodile like start as we trot up the path in a line, track muddy at first gradually gives way to a broken stoney trail then smoother chuckies towards the misty top. Round the huge summit cairn, the downward trail seems rougher than on the way up, good fun bombing down the steeper sections, finished inside 50 minutes just before the rain started. Pictures here and here.

Ben Lomond

Cooler today for today's cool down run over the Ben. Up the tourist path, down via Ptarmigan Ridge, about 8 miles and 3400'. Steady jog at the start, not too many walkers about so walked the steeper bits. Breeze picked up as we approached the plateau via the off path track, jacket, gloves and hat. Ran most of the plateau then walked up the steep steps onto the summit ridge, into the clouds and a  stiff breeze, running now to keep warm. Short break at the top then off down the rocky Ptarmigan Ridge. Looking back the summit cleared, stick like figures just visible on the top. Out for about 2 1/2 hours.

Looking back to the summit from Ptarmigan Ridge, more pictures here.

Dumyat Dash

New shorter route for this Autumnal race up and down Dumyat from Menstrie. We set off going back towards Striling, after a few minutes steep single file track we are on to a wider trail traversing along the Southern flank of this popular wee hill losing most of the hard fought height already gained before turning up a deep gulley attacking Dumyat from the South. Steep at first then eases off allowing a steady trudge, pop out the gulley and head for the top joining the usual Dumyat Hill Race route for the last 50 yards. Straight over the top and down the back, a grassy trail takes us to the same narrow wee trod we started on. About 47 minutes for 3 miles with 1500' of up and down. Good day for my first race for a couple of months, sunny with a cool breeze, super views from the top of Dumyat.