Glen Finlas

Set off on the bike for a run in the Luss Hills, change of plan along the way, Glen Finlas is nearer, aimed to chain the bike at the bottom of the glen, run up and do a horseshoe round the tops, then a cycle home. The bottom of the glen was too busy, filled with vans and scrambling motorbikes, cycled up to the dam and chained the bike there. Ran along a track that runs beside the reservoir, at the end turn uphill beside an old fence, faint path through grass and ferns. Come to a clear path on the top of the ridge and set off for Beinn Ruisg, the path was marked with orange flags, soon the sound of motorbikes disturbed the peace and blotted out the skylarks singing overhead, I could see bikes going up the ridge towards Balcnoc on the other side of the glen, ran on over Creag an Leinbh to the top of the glen, the bikes were coming up in small  groups then turning off towards Tharsuin, I ran down towards Balcnoc jumping off the path every few minutes to let the bikes pass. Dropped down at the end of the reservoir, the sound of the bikes fading. No phone or camera so no pictures , found out later it was the Loch Lomond Motorcycle club out for a two day trial.

Beinn Dubh and Mid Hill Doubler

 Glen Luss for a run this morning, simple route starting at the foot of the glen up Beinn Dubh, along to Mid Hill and down to the top of the glen, turn round and run back over Mid Hill and Beinn Dubh. Busy hills this morning, lots of walkers out and a few runners as well. High cloud meant the surround tops were in view just a bit dull under the high cloud. Managed a slow run up Beinn Dubh, round to Mid Hill and down to the glen road. Turned and started up Mid Hill, another slow run to the top. The run back to Beinn Dubh a bit easier knowing that most of the climbing is done, easy run down Dubh's grassy slopes to the foot of the glen.

Arrochar Alps from Mid Hill

Crianlarich Hills from Mid Hill

Whinny Hill Trail Race

Club race, used to be a Cross Country run in January, changed to a Spring Trail race as most of the paths have been upgraded with hardcore for easier public access to the trail behind Balloch Park. 7 runners tonight, to start a loop round Balloch Park to the bottom of Fairy Glen, straight up the path beside the stream onto the Whinny Hill Trail, undulating up through the trees, clockwise loop at the top, on the way back take a left through the trees popping out at the back of the car park for a short run to the finish at the back of Balloch Castle.

 

Crianlarich Hill run

Travelled up past the top of Loch Lomond to the large layby outside Crianlarich. There are 7 munros in this group, my planned route was round 2 pairs, An Caisteal and Beinn A Chroin them Beinn Tullaichean and Cruach Ardrain, Low cloud and mist all the way up the Lochside. Started up the forest track for 10 or 15 minutes then a worn path leads off to the right that takes you onto Sron Garbh then to An Caisteal, after about 20 minutes the grey above changes to blue and I pop up into sunshine and mountains above a sea of clouds. Expected to be out for about 6 hours and a brisk walk is good enough on the uphills, run the flatter parts and the downs. Pass a few walkers on the way up, stop for a couple of pictures and take on some fuel on the top, I would repeat this routine on at the top of the other 3 munros. Good running down to Bealach Buidhe. It's only a short climb to the top of Beinn a Chroin with 1 wee scramble just below the summit plain, 3 tops here, takes twice as long to cross them all as it did to get to the top. From the third top a path leads down a grassy ridge towards Crianlarich, a short way down leave the path for a grassy gulley heading north on pathless ground towards Beinn Tulaichean, to minimise descent and reascent contour round Stob Glas as close as possible to the large cliffs and crags. Steady climb up grassy slopes to the ridge betwen Tulaichean and Ardrain. Tulaichean first then back along the ridge to Ardrian's twin tops, the higher one furthest away of course. Back towards the ridge then drop steeply down grassy slopes on one of two exit paths, they join together further down on the way to Meall Damh and Grey Heights on the undulating ridge towards Crianlarich, the path turns sharp left at a deer fence, down towards the glen, as dry as it gets today soon back at the forest track for a short run to the car after a seat in the River Falloch to cool off.

An Caisteal right, Beinn a Chroin back left

Ben Lomond from An Caisteal

Cruach Ardrain, left, Beinn Tullaichean from Beinn a Chroin,

Ben More and Stob Binnien behind

Ben More and Stob Binnien from Beinn Tulaichean

Cruach Ardrain from Beinn Tulaichean

Beinn Tulaichean from Cruach Ardrain

Bromley Muir

Kept it local this week, up to Bromley Muir via Carman Reservoir, along to the top of Stoneymollan and the Hell n Back route in reverse cutting off for Killoeter and Ben Bowie, returning via John Muir and Three Lochs Way. No views, tops misty and drizzly and trails quiet, everybody must have been watching the telly.