Luss, bike, run, bike

 Run with a difference this morning, cycled to the top of Glen Luss, ran out and back to Doune hill over Beinn Eich and Beinn Lochain then cycled home. Lindsays idea, but worked out fine, another clear sunny day, great views and runtime under 2 1/2 hours as usual, even managed to stop for a refreshment outside the Loch Lomond Arms Hotel on the way back.

View from Beinn Eich to the Arrochar Alps and Ben Lui behind

Lins near the top of Beinn Eich

Last weeks hills

The Cobbler & Ben Ime from Doune Hill

Paddy's Milestone

Mid Hill

Cruach an t-Sidhein from Beinn Lochain

5 mile handicsp

Latest club road race, slightly different route with the bridge on Drymen road closed, 10 of us set off in reverse order, cool night, good for running, finished 6th over the line, 2nd quickest, handicap system ok with 7 out of 10 finished within a minute 

Crianlarich Hill Run

Made the most of the good weather forecast, early start and on the hill before 7, just as the sun was rising. 

Looking east to Ben Vorlich and Stuc a Chroin

Stob a Choin over Inverlochlariog Farm

Started at the end of the road to nowhere,  Inverlochlarig. Stob Binnein first, steep climb to start, nearly 2000' in the first mile.

Looking towards Stob Binnein's top from Stob Invercarnaig

Stob Binnein from Stob Corrie an Lochain, Ben More behind

Looking along Glen Dochart from Stob Corrie an Lochain

Gradient eases and undulates up over the minor tops of Stob Invercarnaig and Stob Corrie an Lochain on the way to Stob Binnein's table top.

Ben More from Stob Binnein

Stob Corrie an Lochain from Stob Binnein

Short steep drop to the high coll Bealach eader dha Beinn with a short steep climb from there to Ben More's craggy top. Busier now, had only passed 2 people on Stob Binnein, about a dozen here.

Stob Binnein from Ben More

Cruach Ardrain from Ben More

Back down to the bealach to cross the glen towards Cruach Ardrain and Beinn Tulaichean on pathless ground, had been on good paths up till now,

Ben More glen

Descending traverse to the head of Ben More Glen then a steep climb up the flank of Stob Garbh, didn't fancy the climb under the crags, looked a bit too steep and went round to the North of this top, had to lose a bit of height going into Coire Ardrain but familiar ground as I had come off Cruach Ardrain the same way a few years ago.

Ben More, left, Stob Binnein, right, from Cruach Ardrain

Crianlarich from Cruach Ardrain

Beinn Tulaichean from Cruach Ardrain

Twisting path gradually forms for the last short steep climb to Cruach Ardrains top, plenty of people here. Back on good paths its a short jog from here to the last top Beinn Tulaichean.

Cruach Ardrain from Beinn Tulaichean

Descent off Beinn Tulaichean

Loch Doine & Loch Voil in Balquhidder from Beionn Tulaichean

Large cairn at the bottom of Beinn Tulaichean, Stob Binnein behind

The path runs along the crest, South at first then swings South East down to the farm at Inverlochlairig. Interesting mix of quiet and busy, paths and pathless, stunning views, about 6 hours all in. 

Riverbank 5k

 Short club road race in this years GP, start moved back about 100 yards after I remeasured the course on Monday. Set off in a chasing start of 3 groups, slowest first 0 minutes then 2 & 4 minutes, set off in the last group and didn't quite hold on, finished 3rd fastest just over 22 mins, about the same as last year taking the extra 100 yards into account, good fun.

The Cobbler and Narnain

Planned an early start on Saturday to catch the good weather forecast for the morning. I ran this route a couple of months ago except the opposite direction. The first climb and last descent are less used by walkers and runners compared to the bit in the middle, from the top of the Cobbler to the top of Narnain.

Set off about 8:30 up the stream/block path up Narnain to where it meets the path off to the left.

This path runs along a terrace and joins the more popular tourist path that runs up beside the Buttermilk burn past the Narnain Boulders to Sgurr a'Mhaim, crossed the tourist path and burn for a trudge up a boggy path to the An t-Sron ridge.

Ran and walked along the undulating ridge on up to the back of the Cobblers craggy top.

View back down the An t-Sron ridge, buttermilk burn on the left.

Quite breezy on top, didn't hang about and set off down the Cobblers back stairs across Bealach a'Mhaim and up Narnain. 

A rainy squall blew through making for atmospheric conditions across the top of Narnain.

Down through the spearhead for one of my favourite descents back down to Succoth, finished in about 3 1/2 hours, within a minute of my previous run in the opposite direction.

Club 10k

 Set off on just over 7 min mile pace for first couple of miles, slowed through the park then picked the pace up again,  not quite quick enough, dropping 15 secs per mile, finished 2nd by about 11 secs, a few secs quicker than last year, good run.

Eich Doune Mid

Easier run this week, parked at the top of Glen Luss and set off up Beinn Eich.

Down Eichs NW ridge over Beinn Lochain and round to Doune Hills twin tops. Down tussocky ground into Sith Mor.

Tough wee climb up Mid Hill to the two cairned summits, running down Mid Hill back to the glen, finishing inside 3 1/2 hours.