Ben Lawers

Another new route, there are 7 munros here, tried one, Ben Lawers, while working out how to come back and get them all.

Starting from the Nature reserve car park it's a 3 or 4 mile gradual climb to Lawers small summit.

Easily runnable except a couple of steeper section at the end with man made steps.

Windy at the top, low cloud and snowing meant not somewhere I wanted to hang about, not many photos either.

Finished in just over 2 hours.

Beinn Dubh hill race

A tough wee race, my first in this years midweek big n burn race series  4 miles and 2000' of up and down. 100 plus started, immediate thought is too fast! Jog wheezed up the steep start. Managed to get to the plateau without losing any more places. Ran up the plateau and up again, working better now catching one or two as the leaders come flying past on their way back down. Doesn't take long before I'm struggling again until the slope eases a bit and i can run the last couple of hundred yards to the top. Round the cairn and brakes off working hard trying to catch my three clubmates ahead. Past the first one in the first steep descent, ran out of gas a bit across the plateau then managed to pick up the pace on the final drop passing another clubmate on the run back to the start, happy to finish in about 53 minutes.

Clach Leathad traverse

Had my eye on this run for a while, Victoria bridge to Glencoe ski centre then back to Victoria bridge by the West Highland way. Set off about 2pm.

10 minutes along a trail then a path towards Stob a Choire Odhair rising gently at first then steep zig zags before easing to a bouldery summit.

Rewarded with a fly by from a massive eagle.

Off the west ridge towards Stob Ghabhar with a couple of steep scree scrambles onto the airy Aonach Eagach ridge, thankfully not as exposed as the Glencoe version.

Undulating down to bealach Fuar-chathaidh before a steep 1000' climb to Clach Leathad.

Easier running to the Double summit of Creise, the spur to Meall a'Bhuiridh about half way along.

Turned back along the ridge to the spur towards the last hill of the day, Meall a'Bhuiridh, a couple of false summits on the rocky climb test my humour.

Steady run down through the chairlifts to Glencoe ski centre, about 5 hours 40. All that's left is a 7 mile run along the West Highland way back to Victoria bridge as darkness approached, finished inside 7 1/2 hours, tired but happy. More pictures here.

Stoneymollan

Next race in club race series, just under 5 miles with 1000' of ascent. Run handicap style. 9 started, i was 3rd last, finished 2nd, overtaken by one, and third fastest in just over 44 minutes. Good fun.

Ben Lomond

Set off mid afternoon for the Ben, cool sunny spring day. The lower paths have finished their makeover, most of the gnarly bits have been taken out. Kept a slow jog going except for a couple of photo stops and some rocky sections further up.

Looking across to Inverbeg

Easy run up the plateau saving some energy for the steep climb up to the ridge. Quite busy at the top, cool breeze, extra top on while I took a few photos.

Ben Vorlich with Loch Sloy behind and the Hydro Station Pipes running down to Inveruglas

Beinn Dhubchraig from Ben Lomond with Ben Nevis in the background

No rush today legs still tired from Saturday careful to maintain concentration and avoid a tumble. Soon heat up once off the summit ridge, back to a tee shirt. Finished about 2 hours 15, washed shoes and legs in the Loch, a bit too chilly for any more. A few more pictures here.

The Cobbler and Narnain

Windy today, wasn't sure where to go, forecast was for the wind to drop and after a couple of Luss runs this week went to Arrochar, for the Cobbler and Narnain, finishing by running down through the Spearhead, one of my favourite descents, steep, rocky and muddy. Busy busy car parks everyone out for Easter. Jacket on as the rain came down on the way up the zig zag track through the forest. Ran up the trail past the Narnain boulders, thought about going up the front for a change as it might be more sheltered than through the glen and up the back stairs, decided against it, more running the usual way. Short break at the bottom of the stairs then ran up, a few rest breaks on the way.

A few pictures at the top but didn't hang about in the cold wind. Back to the bealach and up Narnain, managed to run most of it with a few breaks to catch my breath.

A few more pictures but didn't hang about and set off for a slither through the Spearhead.

Easy run down passing a few walkers on their way up. Finished just over 3 hours 15, more pictures here.

Glen Douglas

Shorter run this week, the three Glen Dougls hills, about 6 miles round with 3200' of ascent. Beinn Bhreac, Ben Reoch and Tullich Hill. Steep climb up from Invergroin to top out at the trig point across Loch Lomond from the Ben.

Ben Reoch (right) and Tullich Hill (left) from Bhreac

Cold wind, quick photo and off own gentle slopes before the gentle climb up Reoch, followed what looks like quad bike tracks, not the direct route but avoiding the worst of the bogs.

Beinn Bhreac from Reoch

Steep drop from Reoch towards the bealach before Tullich hill, took the first gulley onto the top rather than the last, not so muddy.

Good views to the Luss hills.

Ran down to Invergroin through a new plantation, not sure what kind of trees but didn't look like conifer, so might be ok. Finished in 2 1//2 hours, more pictures here.

Beinn Dubh

Sneaked a wee mid week hill run in, home sharp and drove to Luss, just about enough time before it got dark. There's a race up here in 3 weeks, good practice in peace and quiet. Its about two miles and 2000' to run up, nice an steady taking in the views.

Up in about 50 mins, down in 25, hope to be a bit quicker in the race, more pictures here.

Luss hills

Parked at the top of Glen Luss for a run round Beinn Eich, Beinn an Lochain, Doune hill and Mid Hill. The forecast low cloud broke up on the way up Eich made for interesting views to Ben and Loch Lomond and the Arrochar Alps.

Managed to run all the way, short break at the top, ran off along the ridge to Doune Hill.

Another rest sitting in the sun just off the top. Easy run down into tussocky Sith Mor before the final climb to the two unnamed tops beside Mid Hill.

Ran down to finish just over 3 hours, more pictures here.