Short long run this week, out and back over Beinn Dubh and Mid Hill, turned back three quarters of the way down to the top of Glen Luss, back over Mid Hill and Beinn Dubh. Low cloud meant no views, sheep and bluebells for company. Managed a slow jog both ways, only stopping for a couple of pictures.
Club Hill Race, just under 5 miles with 1200' of ascent, 9 of us this year, started in reverse order, lack of patience meant the later starters went early and gave the handicapper (me) some maths to work out who won, not me. Pleased to get round a bit quicker this year, about 3 mins off last years time but another couple required to get to pre covid times. Great night, ground reasonable dry with a bit of give.
Back to Glen Douglas for the first time in a year, longer run planned, a circuit of the hills on the Loch Lomond side of the glen then across the Glen for a couple of other hills. Parked in the hill access car park and set off for Beinn Bhreac, steady walk up, followed the quad bike track until I could see the fence then straight up, over the fence and it's a short walk/trot to the trig point, good views but a bit limited with the low cloud. Easy run towards Ben Reoch on a quad bike track beside a fence, walked the uphill then left the track as it dropped towards Loch Lomond, a short tussock bash and I'm on top. Tullich Hill next via the Spotty Trig at Monadh Tighe Na Laraich, mostly tussocks with the odd faint path where I could find it. Good views to Arrochar and the Alps from the Spotty Trig. From here faint paths wind up towards Tullich they disappear as the gradient increases. Over the top and descend a better path on the eastern ridge until it reaches the new plantation of native & conifer trees. Stumble down to a track 3/4's of the way through the trees that goes along towards the back entrance to the MOD missile store. Use their bridge to cross the river and set off round the outside of the fence, prohibited area warning signs frown on me as I run along. Back into walk mode as it gets steeper, a well worn path follows the outside of the fence. Leave the fence at the back of the compound and head up a glen towards Cruach an t Sidhein, another handy bridge gets me across a stream onto the North ridge of this steep wee hill, a cold wind makes for hard going, reluctant to stop to refuel, should have as the climb took longer and felt harder than it should. Didn't hang about on top in the blustery wind, jogged down the steep drop for a quick refuel before the climb up to Beinn Lochain. One more hill to go, Doune Hill, but its got 2 tops, thought about going round the 2nd top but it only took a few minutes to go over. Descent via the east ridge to avoid the crags, pleasant grassy quad bike track to start then mostly sheep mown ground before a tussock bash to the river and haven of my car.
First time on the Ben for over 6 months, another sunny day with a bit of haze restricting the views. Set off from the overflow car park or what's left of it as it is full of timber at the moment. Ran along the road onto the West Highland Way for a couple of hundred yards turning off at the Ptarmigan Ridge path soon slowed to a briskish walk, quite few walkers here as it was such a good day. Managed a couple of short jogs then a rest for a few pictures and re-fuel before the last steep climb up through the crags to a busy summit. Took in the views for a few minutes then off down the tourist path although I managed to stay off the path most of the way down picking my way down tracks and paths 10 or 20 yards away from the main path which was busy with walkers. Re-joined the path just before the bottom gate and an easy run back to the car park. Find day for a short long run.
This years Cobbler Hill Race was cancelled, with a fine forecast decided to run it anyway and add some hills on as it is a bit short. Parked at Honeymoon Bridge Car Park in Glen Croe and took the forestry track to the race start point, an old walkers path about a mile from the car park, beautiful day, clear blue skies and a cold wind. Onto the race route, steep trudge up through the forest to the open hill and a faint path to An t Sron, undulates up from here, more runnable. Reached the top in about the same time as I am up and down in the race. Only one other person on top. A couple of pictures and a re-fuel then ran off the top towards Bealach a'Mhaim for the climb up Ime, a few walkers about now. Brisk walk most of the way up, with a few short jogs on the flatter parts. Great views from the top, mountains for miles, Jura, Ben Nevis easy to see. A quick re-fuel in the bitter wind then back down to the Bealach, numbers of walkers increasing through the morning, straight across the Bealach to the Narnain path, another trudge/jog and up through the boulder field to the summit plateau. A bit warmer now. Back to the Bealach for the third time and the last climb back up to the top of The Cobbler, walkers streaming by as I climbed. Busy top, another re-fuel then off down the race route, thankfully not many go up or down here.
