Stuc A Chroin

Stuc race back on this year, over 250 entered, forecast was for rain to increase throughout the afternoon, morning was fine, high cloud, maybe it would be ok. Rain came in shortly before the start. Set off at 1pm, a piper sounding the charge. A couple of miles on forest roads and grassy forest paths before the open hillside is reached, A mile of undulating up past Meall Mor before the steep drop into Glen Ample, Beinn Each next, 1500' in just under a mile, you pull yourself up a series of steep ramps using a mixture of heather and old fence posts, the gradient eases for a short traverse then kicked up again into the mist to Eachs summit and cheery marshals. A steep rocky path off the back on to an undulating ridge for a couple of miles to the top of the Stuc, hat blew off, another cheery marshal retrieved under penalty of 15 laps round the summit cairn. A mile and a half back along the ridge is Bealach nan Cabar where we dropped back into Glen Ample traversing along narrow paths to meet the outward trail. The climb out Glen (cr)Ample always fun, about 600' in less than half a mile, cramp offset by a handful of raisins and cranberries, very affective, cramps dissipating in a minute or two enabling an energetic stomp to the top. Just over three miles remain over moorland then forest paths and roads, pushed on free from cramp until the last 100 yards when it came back with a vengeance, hobbled over the line in 3 hrs 44, a couple of minutes slower than 2019. Well organised race, fully marked with taped stakes every 20 or 30 yards, it would be difficult to get lost. Even post covid a huge number of marshals along the course keeps everyone fuelled up with water and jelly babies.

Start and finish area, Strathyre

Beinn Each across Glen Ample

The Cobbler Hill Race

First time this race has been run, I had been looking forward for quite some time as the race had been cancelled for the last two years. Registration in the Ardgarten Hotel then a 40 minute stroll to the start. 50 runners today and chip timing, 50 yards of running on forest road then a fast walk up through the trees to the An t Sron ridge, running again along the ridge for about a mile before another hard walk up to the Needle. Slow start to the descent through rocks then brakes off back along the ridge finishing with a steep plunge through the forest, weather perfect today, clear and cool, dry underfoot.

View down Loch Long from the Ardgarten Hotel

Finish Line

Clubmate Stevie finishing

Hill Reps

Returned to the Luss hills after 3 weekend runs in the Arrochar Alps, a long long run planned, a 16 or 17 mile loop from Beinn Dubh to Cruach Dubh, walking the ups, running the rest. Low cloud to start on the way up Beinn Dubh, forecast was for the cloud to lift as the day went on. Brisk walk to the top, damp in the mist, everything grey, ran along the ridge to Mid Hill, no sign of the cloud lifting, didn't fancy running alone in the mist, Dubh and Mid are busier hills, decided to change the route, I would run down Mid Hill to the top of Glen Luss, turn round and go back over Mid Hill and Beinn Dubh down to the foot of the Glen, turn round and do it again, its just under 5 miles each way, should be about 18 or 19 miles all in. The hill walkers reactions were a laugh as I passed some of them 2 or 3 times, all fairly positive, some asking if it really was me again others just shaking their heads especially on the third pass. The cloud did begin to lift as I finished my run but it had been an interesting challenge.

Beinn Dubh Summit Cairn and stone stack

Summit cairn at Coire na h-Eanachan

Summit cairn at Coire na h-Eanachan

Loch Lomond appearing out the mist on the descent off Mid Hill

Beinn Eich from Mid Hill

Loch Lomomd from Beinn Dubh

Cruach Tairbeirt

A new hill today, short run up Cruach Tiarbert, a 450m hill between Arrochar and Tarbert, ran along the Three Lochs Way from Glen Loin to the Arrochar/Tarbet train station then up a hill walkers path through forestry land onto the open hill, views gradually opened up on both sides, down Loch Lomond and across Loch Long to the Arrochar Alps. A pristine Trig Point on the top, a few pictures then back the way I came.

The Cobbler from the Three Lochs Way

Loch & ben Lomond

Narnain and Vane (back right)

Loch Sloy and Vorlich

 

Ime and Narnain

Third week in a row I've made it to Arrochar for a run, this time we stayed in Glen Loin campsite in our camper. Set off up the zig zags, followed another runner, probably a bit too quick, stopped for a few pictures as we cleared the forest and let him go off. He went up the Cobbler, I ran past to Beinn Ime. A few walkers out on the bright and breezy morning, snowy tops drawing us upwards. Reached the top of Ime between visitors, took in the views for a few minutes. Ran down to Beleach a Mhaim then the short trudge up Narnains steep slopes, lots of walkers about again. On top another few minutes without anyone else, set off through the crowds back to the Bealach and a run down the path beside the Buttermilk burn and through the zig zags.

Vane from Ime

Butterbridge to Loch Fyne from Ime

A Chrois, Ben Lomond & Narnain from Ime

Ime from Narnain

The Cobbler from Narnain

 

Another Arrochar run

Much colder this weekend, double thermal top and thermal leggings compared to short sleeved top and shorts last week. Planned route was Ben Vane, Ime and The Cobbler, having a go at the race descent route. Ran slowly up through Glen Loin to Coiregrogain and the upgraded path at the bottom of Vane, Steady walk up through Vanes rocky outcrops, no one else going up, a couple of lone walkers coming down, the scramble thankfully clear of snow. Cool on top, didn't hang about, set off along the ridge past the turning stone before dropping into Lag Uaine, easy running on dryish ground. Crossed the bottom of the glen and trudged up the small ridge between the burns, through the crag towards Glas Bealach, Ime a bit higher, covered in cloud and colder, jacket on, grass misted with a thin layer of snow nearer the top, short stop at the top then off towards Bealach a Mhaim and the back stairs of the Cobbler, busier now, more walkers about. Top of the Cobbler busy as usual. Set off behind the Needle, tried a couple of potential short cuts avoiding steeper bits of the path, probably slower overall. Dropped down the descent route from the end of An t Sron, there's a few wooden posts to mark the route, easy run down steep grassy slopes, through the forest a couple of short boggy patches, steady run along forest roads to the lower zig zags back to Succoth.

 

Vane from Glen Loin

A Chrois from Glen Loin

Loch Lomond from Vane

Narnain, The Cobbler and Bealach A Mhaim from Vane

Narnain, The Cobbler and Ime from the turning stone

Ime's gnarly ridge with Narnain in the background from Vane

Gnarly ridge from Ime's ascent

Nearly at the top of Ime

Top of Ime looking towards Narnain

Looking back to Ime from Bealach a Mhaim, clear of clouds of course!

The Cobbler from An t Sron ridge, Ime in the background

The Cobbler, with a brave soul on top of the Needle