Eildon Hill Race

Long drive for a short race, race starts and finishes in the grassy square across from the Greenyards, a short lap and onto the road through Melrose, exit via  narrow alley down some stairs onto a path leading up through woods past some fields and onto a single file path runners queuing as we zig zag up the first hill. Run down and traverse past hill no3 to hill no2 on narrow trails, overtake where I can, no2 is a short climb, walk the first steep bit then running again and off towards no3. Stomp my way up no3, force the pace to try and catch those in front. Descent begins down a stoney trail with a flat muddy traverse to rejoin the outward route, finished just over 53  mins. Race pictures here. 

Cobbler, his wife and A'Chrois

Trying out a new hill today, A'Chrois, attached to Beinn Narnain by its west ridge. Tried it in August last year when the clag forced a retreat. First up today was the Cobbler, easy run up past the Narnain Boulders and loads of Beatson 3 peak walkers, met a couple on top who explained the Beatson walkers would be doing 1, 2 or 3 of Cobbler, Ime and Narnain, good effort for a good cause. Good view to the Brack, new race up there today. Easy run down the stairs and across the beallach to the short climb up Narnain.

 Cobbler from Narnain

Short break on top then found a faint path that wound its undulating way from Narnain along and around a few crags finishing in a short steep climb to the wee summit cairn of A'Chrois. Sat here for a while taking in the views.

 Ben Lomond from A'Chrois

Set off down a ridge towards Arrochar, the path disappeared after a while, some tussocky boggy ground to cover as the gradient eased in the valley. Found a narrow trod beside the stream that ran towards a concrete sump, the path crossed the stream just before it and cut off to the right for a few hundred yards joining the old concrete block covered access path, ran down to finish in about 4 hours. More pictures here.

Fairy Glen Trail Race

Club race in Balloch Park, an undulating 5k, 3 laps, starts along from the castle, down grassy trails past the play area and jetty back along the path to the fairy glen trail rejoining the tar path for the last 100 yards or so to the top, repeat*2, always think the hill is going to be easier until you get there, pleased just to keep running, finished 4th in about 24 1/2 mins.

Luss

Planned run was Beinn Eich over Beinn an Lochain to Cruach an t Sidhein. Low cloud made for a change to an out n back to Doune Hill, CatSidhein requiring more careful navigation than available time. Steady run up Beinn Eich to start, reaching BaL decision was to keep along the ridge to Doune Hill. Brief stop in a chilly cloud then back along to Beinn Eich. First view of the day on the way back down to Glen Luss, finished inside 2 1/2 hours.

Stob Binnein, Ben More

Inverlochlarig to Ben More and back crossing Stob Binnein twice. Tried this run a few years ago, very misty, into cloud about 1500' , popped out above the cloud on the last 20 yards to SB's top, by BM's top the cloud had risen, no views, returned to the beallach and dropped into the glen back to the car avoiding the run back over Stob Binnein. Better outlook today, sun and high cloud, very warm, first part of the climb no breeze just lots of large clegs, through the crags of Stob Invercarnaig and past a path repair team rolling huge boulders about. Gradient eases, still no breeze and more insect swarms, probably crane flies. Gradually a gentle breeze came along and kept them away on the approach to the minor top marked 890m.

 

View from 890m top along Na Staidhrichean ridge towards the next top of Stob Coire an Lochain and a steep wee climb to SB's summit.

View from Stob Binnein back down Na Staidhrichean ridge and across Inverlochlarig Glen to Cruach Ardrain and Beinn Tulaichean with the rest of the Crianlarich Munros behind.

Sharp drop down a brocken rocky path to Bealach eader dha Bheinn before the climb back up to Ben More's trig point. Stopped for a drink, some food and photos before the return.

 Crianlarich from the top of Ben More.

Dropped quickly to the bealach and started the last climb back up Stob Binnein packing my cap with snow seemed to help and kept up a quicker tempo, combined with big raindrops from clouds further North, quite refreshing.

 Stob Binnein from Ben More

Sat on SB's top for another quick refuel, thunder rumbling around got me back on the move. Started to rain in earnest as I approached the 890m top and with some lightning flickering in the clouds above picked up the pace down gentle slopes past Stob Invercarnaig and into safety of the valley, finished in about 4 1/2 hours. More pictures here.

Luss Horseshoe

Plan was to run Mid Hill, Doune Hill, Beinn an Lochain and Beinn Eich. Mid hill to start, then visit the two unnamed tops/cairns. Run into Sith Mor and instead of straight up Doune Hill ran along towards Glen Dougles and up on to the ridge, found a farm/quad bike track and followed it to Doune Hills smaller top. Short down and up onto DH main top with Trig. Followed the trail round the ridge over BAL and up BE. Easy run down to sit in the river to cool off, about 3 1/2 hours.

 Quiet run, saw no-one on the hill, one solitary deer!

 Sunday, cool down round the reservoir and up through the quarry, attacked by a small terrier. Up to the fort and along to the trig point, back to the fort disturbing a deer hiding in the ferns about 20 yards away, watched it bounce away too quickly to photograph.

Cort Ma Law Hill Race

Not sure about this one after the last couple of weekend races, lovely night and went for it, arriving not long before the start and parking away up the road, warm up to and from registration and the car. Uphill start, ran the first part then dropped into a steady walk with occasional jog on the flat bits. Ran the last couple of ups onto the top. Running now, a bit of recovery then a wee bit faster from the lairs to CML summit. Bogs very kind tonight along to Leckett Hill, fast down into the gulley, a bit slower coming out, jogging again back to the last fence crossing, then its relax and run as hard as possible across the boggy undulations and brakes off down a final steep km or so back to the finish inside 72 minutes.