Killoeter and Ben Bowie

Reverse of the route from a few weeks ago with an extra loop round Carman reservoir along to Stoneymollan. Snow on the ground from 500'. Ran down past the Black Third taking the Hel n Back route in reverse turning right at the top of the hill up Killoeter's ridge dropped down and across the Three Lochs Way over to Ben Bowie off the back onto the John Muir Trail back to the Stoneymollan running down through Tullichewan, the Vale Hospital and Christie Park to finish.

Across the Vale from Overton Muir

Loch Lomond from the Trig point

Killoeter's summit cairn

Forest behind Ben Bowies summit

Arrochar run

Social media has its benefits, set off for Arrochar inspired by an instagram post from a wild camper on Friday night, clear skies above a cloud inversion and no snow! Started up the zig zag paths in thick mist, after about 20 minutes the mist turned blue and I was in the sunshine above the clouds, jacket off in the heat. Ran up past the Narnain Boulders to Bealach a Mhaim and the Cobblers "back stairs", jog walk to the top, great views, re-fuel and a few pictures. Returned to the Bealach and across to Ime, managed to keep a slow jog going to the top, a few more pictures, turned back to the Bealach and a brisk walk up Narnain. Back to the Bealach and down the walkers path back into the mist and Succoth. Surprisingly few walkers out today, a few runners and cyclists out enjoying the stunning views.

Beinn an Lochain from Bealach a Mhaim

Ben Lomond over a sea of cloud from the Cobbler

Beinn Ime from the Cobbler

Ben Lomond, Narnain and the Cobbler from Ime

Ben More and Stob Binnein from Ime

Cloud covered Lochs Arklet and Katrine from Ime

Cobbler from Narnain

Ime from Naranin

Ben Lomond

Duathlon

2nd last Club race of the year a 4 mile run round the Vale followed by a 12 mile cycle up Auchencarroch road to Gartocharn and back, 6 of us set off in reverse speed order, cool and dry with little wind good conditions for December. 

Beinn Dubh

 Managed a short run up and down Beinn Dubh on one of those blue sky days you need to get out.

Ben Bowie & Killoeter

Trail run with a couple of hills thrown in to maximise the off road terrain. Out and back on Stoneymollan/John Muir Trail and the Three Lochs Way. Short climb up and over Ben Bowie across the bogs for a run down Killoeter's ridge to the Hel n Back route, up past the Black Third and down the Stoney to finish.

Ben Bowie

1st longish run for a couple of weeks, stayed local running up Mount Malow then over Carman and Bromley Muirs to the Stoneymollan, followed the 3 Lochs Way to Ben Bowie, over the top to The John Muir trail back to the Stoney, took the easy way back, down the Stoney, through Tulliechewan and the Hospital. Nice light as sunset approached.

Tinto Hill Race

Short race up and down Tinto hill, about 160 started on a breezy overcast afternoon, rain stopped about 10 minutes into the race, wind into and across made for hard work on the way up and threatened to blow you over on the way down, ground drier than usual helped a bit, finished in 89th place a bit over 48 minutes.

Luss Loop

Shorter Luss loop this time, straight up Beinn Dubh past some inquisitive Tups, along the ridge to Mid Hill, down to the Glen road, turned and ran up just past where the tarmac road finishes across a field to a bridge over Luss water and up the steep side of Coille-eughain Hill, down over the Paps back across Luss water to finish in about 3 hours. Autumn colours everywhere with a splash of sunshine turning things golden.

Tups at the bottom of Beinn Dubh

Looking back down Beinn Dubh

Beinn Dubh with Loch Lomond beyond from Mid Hill

Glen Luss from Mid Hill

Glen Luss from Mid Hill

View over Luss from the Paps

Mid Hill and Beinn Dubh from the Paps

10 Mile Handicap

Longest Club race, just over 10 miles of undulating roads round the Horseshoe. 7 of us set off in reverse order, I was in the second last group, started out just behind my partner then after a couple of miles gradually moved past him on the first hill, reeled in the other three over the next 5 miles and managed to hold on for the last 3 miles, about 30 or 40 seconds quicker than last year and just over a minute ahead of the next finisher, good fun for a road race. Check out the results via Milburn Harriers in the links or my feed in the Strava box below.

Beinn Narnain and The Cobbler, the quiet way

Earlyish start, set off up Narnain on the old walkers access path, the block track, passed a few people on the way up, cool morning with a thin layer of high cloud that broke up after about 20 minutes to let weak autumnal sunshine through, great views opened up all round as I climbed, hills a mixture of greens, brown and orange. You could just see a faint outline of Ben Nevis ad the CMD Arete from the top. Traversed the down and up to The Cobbler without seeing any one else apart from a couple of walkers on top, descended via An t'Sron joining the top of the zig zags, busier here as it's the usual walkers access route. Finished in just over three hours.

Arrochar from Succoth car park

Loch Long from Beinn Narnain

A Chrois from Narnain

The Cobbler from Narnain

The Spearhead a tthe top of Narnain

Peek through to Loch Long

One of The Cobblers tops, a couple of walker coming down the path

The Brack from The Cobbler

Loch Long and the Luss hills beyond from An t'Sron

One of The Cobblers tops from An t'Sron

Cobbler, Ime, Narnain from An t'Sron