The Cobbler Hill Race

Another go at this short n steep race, in aid of funds for Arrochar Mountain rescue, there was 50 entered but only 32 turned up on the day. Shame as its a good wee race. Steep climb to start on to the An t Sron ridge, once you get there you can run, a bit, to the bottom of the crags up to the summit, they divert you on a loop up a grassy bank to the top then down a rocky track rejoining the outward route about half way down the crags. Once clear of the crags push on down An t Sron on mostly grassy paths, the steep drop at the end of the ridge takes you down a tussocky/grassy trod then mussier through the forest, happy to finish about a minute slower than 2 years ago.

 

Clach Thoull

Port Appin for a few days, ran a favourite wee loop, Clach Thoull, not far 3 and a bit miles with a few hundred feet of ascent, perfect weather.

 

Luss hill run

Wanted to try some of the hills at the top of the glen, difficult parking so parked at the bottom of the glen and cycled up to the end of the tarmac and chained up the bike. Planned route was Beinn Eich and Lochain, across to Cruach an t Sidhein, back via Beinn Chaorach on the other side of the glen. Up Beinn Eich into thick mist, about 30 or 40 metres visibility, it was warm , not much wind a bit like being in a sauna. Over the top and along to Lochain, paths quite difficult to pick out, from Lochain to CATS no paths and with little visibility soon gave up returning to Lochain, ran along to Doune Hill, paths ok then turned back the way I came over Lochain and Eich, at the bottom of Eich turned up the farm track and across to the bottom of the ridge from Chaorach, the one I should have come down, made up some of the miles I lost, the clouds were now rising and I could see the col between Lochain and CATS just under the cloud base, would have been easy to miss it in the clag.

Narnain and The Cobbler

Dreich forecast, set off for an Arrochar run, not many in the car park and decided to stick to the tourist path, as quiet as it gets. Past a few people coming down and a couple going up the zig zags. No one from the Narnain Boulders to the top of Narnain and back towards The Cobbler, past 2 on the climb up the back stairs. Took it easy as the rocks slippery in the wet. Windy on the tops, didn't hang about. Weather was improving and there was a few more people venturing out as I ran down the Buttermilk Burn path, took the Argo track to avoid the zig zags and soon back at the car in Succoth.

Glen Striddle

One of those runs just to get some miles and climbing in, out and back over Beinn Dubh and Mid Hill dropping down towards the road, turning at the stile and back over these two steep wee hills. Not a lot to see as the tops were in the clouds. Photos in reverse.

Glen Fruin

Loop round a few Fruin hills, The Stone up to a'Mhanaich, then Chaorach and Tharsuin, a wee add on running round to Balcnock, then a tussocky drop to cross the Ballevoulin burn and up over Auchengaich hill. Runnable to a'Mhainaich and down to the start of the climb up Chaorach, walk up here then an undulating run round to Balcnock, dropped off the ridge too early and had a tussocky traverse to get along to where I wanted to descend, slow run down to cross the burn then another walk up to the quad bike track that runs up to the top of Auchengaich. Picked my way down more tussocky ground to finish at the bottom of the reservoir access road.

 

Cort Ma Law

First run in this race since 2019, renowned for its bogs, 70 plus runners set off, warm evening thankfully with a breeze when the sun came out, run and walk up the steep starting slope, into a steady run as the gradient eases, keep running all the way to CML summit, the bogs reasonably dry so far, that didn't last, there's usually a few bogs from CML to The Leckett this year they seemed to have joined together for long stretches of strength sapping tussock hopping , hoping, to avoid the mushy bogs, hard work all the way to The Leckett, short downhill into the gulley then a short climb and trudge towards the final pit of doom bog, managed to cling to the fence at the side and avoid a swim, try to pick up the pace as the route undulates down then a mad dash steeply down to the finish in 51st place.

Vorlich and Vane

A few years since I had a run over Ben Vorlich, picked a route from Inveruglas, Vorlich and Vane, a bit shorter than running from Arrochar. Forecast was cloudy and breezy with wind picking up later. Easy run up the access road for Sloy dam, taking the tourist path from the wee cairn, only a few walkers out to use as targets on the climb, quite windy on top so only went to the Trig point, not the real summit, round the Trig and back down the path to the drop off point for the dam, straight down, steep at first then eases into runnable, towards the bottom cross the stream early, its a bit easier, still slow going down to the dam, cross over and go right of the buttress that sits behind the dam, not as steep on this side, pathless with plenty of tussocks. By this time the cloud has dropped to cover the ridge to the top of Vane, arrived on the ridge and found the path, it fades in and out a bit, tricky navigation, as I climb the wind is picking up and I have to crouch low to keep my balance, only a few hundred feet from the top but decided that was enough and turned back, managed to pick out the route I climbed and an easy run down to the dam and back round to Inveruglas.

Sloy dam on the way up Vorlich

Vane from Vorlich

Vorlichs Trig Point

Descent to the dam

Ascent route to Vane

Interesting rock

  

Club races

2 Club trail races this week, Tuesday Fairy Glen, Thursday Ben Bowie. Fairy Glen is short, 3 off 1 mile laps, with a short down and up to keep it interesting. 6 of us set off, a couple of us had started earlier. Ran in second place all the way to the finish. Ben Bowie, an out and back from the end of the tarmac up Stoneymollan to Ben Bowies double top, only two of us made the start, same second place again. Slower than last year in both races but an improvement on Ben Bowie.

Cnoc Coinnich and The Brack

New hill for me today, Cnoc Choinnich, also took in The Brack, both Corbetts, CC only promoted to one in 2016. Started at the Ardgarten car park, 3 miles on road and forest rack to start, climbing up through Coilessan glen, from the high point hang a left, faint paths over moorland then a steepish climb through a wet gulley onto the ridge with a short run to the top, good views down the Clyde estuary and across to the rest of the Arrochar Alps, a bit of cloud blew in as we reached the top. Back down and across Coilessan glen and a path up The Brack, there's a few different paths, picked a better one than usual, took us all the way to the top. Took the race route down, taking our time on the steep, twisty, rocky descent. Finished with a mile or so on forest tracks back to Ardgarten.

The Brack from Cnoc Coinnich

Arrochar from Cnoc Coinnich

The Cobbler and Narnain from The Brack

Bromley Muir

Long run over some local hills this week, out and back over Bromley Muir with a loop round Ben Bowie and Killoeter in the middle, same route as back in April with the loop reversed and a few extra yards climbing Ben Bowie from the Loch Lomond side. Warm, overcast and only a few walkers out. Very dry over Bromley Muir, easier running than usual as the bogs were mostly solidified. 

 

Narnain and The Cobbler

Back to an old favourite, Narnain and The Cobbler, the quiet way, early start before 8, straight up Narnain via the Argo track then block track, a bit muggy today, glad of a breeze as I climb. Eventually spot a few walkers ahead which helps maintain the effort. Clouds skimming the tops makes for interesting views. Surprisingly busy on top, sat behind the shelter wall at the trig for a couple of minutes then off through Bealach a Mhaim to the Cobblers back stairs, as steep as ever. A few people on the Cobblers summit beside the needle, another short stop then down the An T Sron ridge, at the end of the ridge turned North down to the Buttermilk Burn, refreshing wade across and onto the Argo track back to Succoth.

Ridge to A Chrois

The Spearhead

The Brack