Mid Hill

Monday and Wednesday evening runs up Mid Hill, pre Ben race runs, with Tuesday nights longer Stoneymollan run probably too much.

Bein Narnain

Last long run before Nevis race next Saturday, up the zig zag paths past the Narnain Boulders to the new path up the North Eastern shoulder, lots of large rocks positioned like steps packed with mud and grit to form a solid rocky staircase, paths complete for about half of the climb, piles of boulders in place for the rest. Makes it more runnable on the way up.

Short break on top, dramatic views through the clouds. Back down the same way to finish inside three hours. More pictures here.

Ben Lomond

Weather and time combined to allow a mid week Ben run. Arrived at Rowadennen at 6 and set off up the tourist path, most folk coming down at this time, passed one walker just after the bad step, not so bad now with the path improvements. Steady/easy running all the way, concentrating on keeping heart rate and breathing under control. A runner passed on their way down just as I reached the summit ridge. Not much to see from the top in the Bens cloudy cap. Turned and set off down, no rush a nice steady run, passed the walker near the top, making good time, only a few hundred yards behind me.

Onto the plateau and out the cloud, stayed on the path all the way ignoring the race route options. Arriving at the car park in just over 2 hours as the runner I had passed near the top set off on a second ascent. The fast walker arriving 10 or 15 minutes later.

Mid Hill

Weekday run up Mid Hill to the two wee cairns and back to the glen. Warm and no wind at the bottom, slight cooling breeze on top, good views to Arrochar and Ben Lomond.

Finished in about 1:15.

Glen Luss

Friday run as I'm away this weekend. From the top of Glen Luss up Beinn Eich along the ridge over Beinn an Lochain to Doune hill, dropping back into the Glen and climb up the other side to the top of Mid Hill. Kept moving through a heavy shower and cool breeze on the way to Doune Hill, sheltered from the wind dropping into the glen, wind and rain kicked in on the way back out towards the top.

 Finished back down in the glen, 8 miles, 3500' of ascent in about 3 hours 15.

Beinn Dubh

Keeping up variety in mid week runs, blowing a gale and pouring with rain, set off up a stream of a path. Met a backpacker on his way down looking for a dry alternative to his leaky tent. Up in about 50 mins and didn't hang about, touch the cairn and run-stagger back down, rain eased off to plan in the last two minutes before reaching the car.

The Cobbler

Last day of my summer holidays and went for an easy run up the Cobbler. A few more photo breaks than usual, busy paths with the number of walkers about.

Great views on top. Visited two of the tops before a steady run back though the glen beside the Allt a'Bhalachain.

Finished in three hours. More pictures here.

Beinn Eich

Short run today, up and down Bein Eich, parked a the top of the glen and soon on the up for about 50 minutes. Short break on top for a couple of pictures. Ran back down to finish in about 70 mins.

Sgur Choinninch Mor

Visit to Glen Nevis, looking for an easier one after yesterdays Bidean run. Decided Sgurr Choinnich Mor the most Westerly of the Grey Corries.

Started from the Upper Falls car park running up a busy gorge path past Steall falls and on up the Glen towards Meanach. Took a faint walkers path past Sgurr a Bhuic and up towards the coll between Choinnich Mor & Beag.

Sgurr Choinnich Mor

Short run up into the clouds and Mor's narrow summit ridge. Visited the two tops before deciding the first one was probably higher. Ran back towards Choinnich Beag, last time I was here I went on a narrow trod round the back to avoid the re-ascent as this is not a Munro, only a short climb and managed to get over the top.

Sgurr a Bhuic

Longer descent to the coll before Sgurr a Bhuic thought about this climb as well but gave up and ran down to the valley floor beside a series of tumbling waterfalls and back through the gorge to finish just over 4 hours. More pictures here.

Bidean nam Bian

Have driven past many times pausing to admire the view, came up about mid day and stopped for a run. Up through the hidden valley to Stob Coire Sgreamach, back across to Bidean nam Bian, the return over Stob Coire nan Lochain and down Coire nan Lochain. Good paths all the way, some erosion on the way out the hidden valley at the steeper bits and similar on the drop off Bidean.

Great views over the Aonach Eagach to the Ben, down loch Etive and over the Ballachulish bridge, mountains for miles.

Running into Coire nan Lochain unusual for a herd of deer to be hanging around, became clearer as I got closer I could see a Stag standing on its own about 50 yards from the herd, got up to about 20 yards when  realised it was injured, damaged leg.

Ran past and down the glen to finish just over 4 hours. More pictures here.