Trossachs run

Chose three separate hills rather than commit to a bigger single run, Ben A'an, Ben Venue and Ben Ledi about 16 miles and 6500' of ascent, meant I could pull out without a long escape. Ben Venue car park to start the alternative Ben A'an as the usual route was closed due to forest ops. 3 miles with 1500' mostly runnable apart from the crowds of walkers. A bit rough with kindly placed ropes to help with the muddy bits.

 Scotlands answer to via ferrata.

Great views for a little hill. Up and down in an hour, change of shoes and shirt for Ben Venue, 8 miles and 2500'. First and last 2 miles on trail, middle bit on the hill. More forest ops made for better views with trees either side of the trail cleared. Onto the hill, avoided the walkers by taking the south west ridge from the edge of the forest. views open up with height.

Loch Achray and Loch Venacher from Ben Venue, Ben Ledi to the left

Short break beside the summit cairn starting back the same way but turning south east, meant a trudge through brashing but cut off some of the trail, up and down in 2 1/2 hours, probably a mile shorter with the direct line taken off the hill. Into the car for Calendar, some fruit and flapjacks from Tesco express then off to Ben Ledi, 5 miles and 2500'. Tracksters and Helly on, a bit cooler here on the east side of Ben Ledi in the shade. Ran the first few hundred yards up the steep trail then settle into a steady walk with more than a few rest stops. Traversing below the crags moving too slow and jacket on to combat the cool breeze. Onto the ridge, into the sun, a last 30 minutes of up. Ledi a cruel hill, up and down two wee steep false summits before a final up, its a double summit, one with a large cross on it the other the trig point and summit cairn.

Sat for a few minutes sheltering behind the cairn taking in the evening views. Arrochar Alps, Ben Lui, the Stuc all beckoning in the hazy sunshine. Gloves on as I was cooling down quickly. Set off for an easy run down, legs complaining at first, gradually loosen off and enjoy the technical trail run, finished in 2 hours 10. All in 5 hours 40 of movement, 15 or 16 miles and 6500' of ascent. More pictures here.

Cobble

Went to Arrochar to check out the conditions, still plenty snow. Set off for the Cobbler running up the glen past the Narnain boulders, path ok some snow around. trudge up the back steps,nearly at the top and a bank of snow across the steps, a lot of walkers using it. Stopped for a few pics then turned back to avoid the grief trying to go round it on the way back.Back to the car park, 8 miles, 2500' feet in a couple of hours. A few pictures here. Sunday Reservoir, quarry, fort and home run.

Stoneymollan

Club race, inside 5 miles with about 1000' of ascent. First mile and a half road and trail followed by two miles of undulating moorland with a short descent towards the radiomast at the bottom of Overton Muir, last two and a bit miles back onto trail and road, nothing very steep, runnable all the way, finished 5th out of 9, second over the line and 6 seconds outside my handicap time.

Luss again

Saturday short Fort run, Sunday, longer run, Luss horseshoe, this time Beinn Dubh, Mid Hill, Doune Hill, Beinn an Lochain, Beinn Eich, reverse of 4 weeks ago. Set off under low cloud, cool, no breeze. After a mile and 1000' popped up through the clouds to skylarks and blue skies above a sea of cotton wool. Views got better with every step.

View back down Loch Lomond from near the top of Beinn Dubh

Along the ridge then down into Sith Mor, cloud flowing up the Glen like a high tide from the Loch. Steady trudge up to the trig point on Doune Hill.

View to Arrochar Alps past Doune Hill's Trig point.

Running again up and over Beinn an Lochain and Beinn Eich and a last look to the snowy peaks. Steady run to the Glen road pausing to watch two Eagles spiral slowly up and round to their eyrie in a neighbouring glen.

Today's route, Beinn Dubh, Mid Hill, Doune Hill from Beinn Eich.

About 13 miles and 5000' of ascent, just under 4 1/2 hours, somehow always takes longer in this direction. quiet today only one person on Beinn Dubh side and one small group starting up Beinn Eich as I came down. More pictures here.