Pappert Cross Country

Last cross country race for this season, 3 suitably muddy laps round the moorland behind Pappert, managed 3 even paced laps, slightly slower than last year due to a wee route error on lap 2.

 

Glen Striddle

Shorter run this week, out and back over Beinn Dubh and Mid Hill, easy running up Beinn Dubh, walked the steeper parts, steady run round to Mid Hill, dropped down a quarter of a mile or so then turned back. Misty morning , not many views, cool breeze on top. Cool down in the Fairy Pools to finish. 

Roon the Vale

Local run today, over the hills round the Vale of Leven, mixture of hill, moorland, trail and roads. Straight up to carman Fort, along Bromley Muir, down Stoneymollan to Balloch, A loop starting through Balloch Park round Whinny Hill, out the back of the Haldane past the local dump and through sodden fields to Pappert Well, legs tired now losing the chance to get round under 4 hours, longest run for a while hopefully spur me on.

Bromley Muir Trig

Snow capped Luss hills from Whinny Hill

River Leven and Loch Lomond from Pappert

Pappert Well Trig

Luss horsehoe

Longest run for a couple of months, uncertain forecast, windy with a mix of sun and showers. Plan was to run up to the top of the glen road, run out over Beinns Eich and  Lochain to Doune Hill, coming back via Mid Hill and Beinn Dubh. 2 miles of tarmac to start, not my favourite surface. Steady plod up Beinn Eich, walking most of the way, the hill keeping much of the cold NW wind away, a small shower blew through clearing just before I reached the top. Set off towards Beinn Lochain into a much stronger wind, ok on the way down, made for hard going back up, walking what is usually a runnable climb to Beinn Lochain. Towards Doune Hill the ridge swings east allowing the wind to help me up the short steep climb to the trig point. Didn't hang about at the top as the sky darkened again, a hail squall blew over me. Soon cleared to leave a pleasant run down into the glen. Another steep climb to Mid Hill, a series of grassy ramps ease the gradient, had to stop a few times to catch my breath and take in the views. Onto the ridge to Mid Hills small cairns. A few hill walkers out now, the first I had passed since the start, a couple of short climbs then a longer gradual descent before a gradual climb back into the wind to Beinn Dubhs cairn. Last couple of miles down to the foot of Glen Luss in pleasantly warm sun, hat and gloves off , jacket and fleece opened.

Doune Hill from Beinn Eich

Doune Hill Trig looking past Mid Hill to Loch Lomond

Glen Luss, Mid Hill left, Beinn Eich, and Coillie Eughain Hill right

A cloud capped Cobbler from Mid Hill 

Google pano from Mid Hill, L to R , Eich, Lochain, Doune(2 tops).