Ben Vane, Beinn Ime

High pressure and fine weather forecast, busy Succoth car parks, set off up glen Loin, lots of walkers out today, reached the wee bridge past coiregrogain and set off for the trudge through Vanes knobbly bits, had bought the ice axe, didn't really need it, helped on the snow bank up to Vanes flat summit. Pleasing cool breeze on top, drink photos and off towards Lag Uaine, avoided most of the crags made for easy running, crossed two streams and onto the ascent ridge towards the bealach between Ime ans lubhein, I'll go up there sometime. Slow n steady from the bealach to Ime's summit, busy with walkers, wee break to take in the views. Ran down to bealach a Mhaim avoiding bogs as much as possible, trundled over to the back of the Cobbler. Steady run back to Succoth, finished in 4 hours 40, pictures here, super day.

Criffel hill race

First of the 2017 SHR championship races, only 10k with 500m plus ascent, 200 set off, half a mile of road then some forest trail before the fun starts, mud mud tussocks mud, swamp, varying from 6 inches to a couple of feet deep, roots rocks and old fences doubling as trip wires add to the fun, knockendock hill first then a slight drop and heathery swamp to Criffel. Round Criffels small cairn and run down as fast as you dare, fallers everywhere caught out by hidden mud filled holes. Back over knockendock and down the mudslide, took it too carefully until overtaken by a couple of other runners, raised the intensity, caught them up and eased past gradually, the mud dried out , trail running now overtaking a couple then one final kick over the last 50m gained me another place, finished 136th in about 1 hour 25. Not a race I would have gone to if it wasn't a championship one, hard work going up and required full concentration on the way down. Great fun, well organised by Dumfries running club.

The Cobbler and his Wife

Misty morning, didn't see any sun until the finish. From Succoth up the zig zag trails past the Narnain Boulders to the bealach between the Cobbler, Narnain and Ime.

Narnain first, up into the mist, snow patches grew towards the top. Stopped at the snowy boulder field and turned back. A bit boggy at the bottom.

The Cobbler, same routine as Narnain, snow increasing with height. Didn't hang about at the top, cooling down quickly.

Noisy waterfalls tumble along beside the path back towards Succoth.


Took a detour along to the old ascent track to avoid the zig zags, the sun filtering down to Arrochar below.

Hard work today, please to finish in about 3 hours 20.

Killoeter

Easier run today, ran up the stoneymollan trail, past the Black Third farm, down the road to where it meets Darleith, right turn up steep grassy slopes into the heathery ridge. Found a great weekend path along the ridge and down to meet the 3LW. Followed the 3LW back to the stoneymollan and down to Balloch, finished inside 2 hours, nice run in the sun, a few pictures here.