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

  

Glen Douglas

First run round these hills since my LDFF run last June. Beinn Bhreac, Ben Reoch and Tullich hill with a visit to the spotty Trig at Monadh Tigh na Laraich. Managed to run the first half of Bhreac, followed the quad bike track until it veers towards Reoch then straight up. Great views from the top. The trail to Reoch runs beside a fence, handy on misty days, mostly runnable until a short steep pathless climb to the top. Tulloch hill next with a detour to the spotty Trig overlooking Arrochar and the Alps. Pick some good lines, sheep and deer tracks ease the terrain. Last wee climb to Tulloch hill, undulates up then a steep bank to the top. Visit the multiple tops and wee lochan before the run off the hill, a dog gate saves climbing the steps over the deer fence, take my time through trees and ditches of the new plantation and a short road run to finish.

Photos in reverse order.

Arrochar hill run

 Short and steep run today, away from the crowds, started from Butterbridge onto a track to the foot of Beinn Lubhein, steep tussock pathless until I got the ridge where a faint path leads to the summit, great views all round. Beinn Ime next, slight detour required to find the gate through the new deer fence then another steep climb to Ime's summit. Beinn Chorranach to finish, steep descent off the back of Ime with a short climb to Chorranachs summit, straight down to Butterbridge from here, more pathless tussock bashing, a tough wee route.

Stuc a Chroin 5000

Another go at the Stuc, forecast was for cool , damp conditions, turned out fine, a bit warm with a nice cooling breeze higher up. 150+ entered, less than half of last years British Champs race. First 4 miles went well, on the forest road, Meall Mor, the drop into Glen Ample and the first half of the Ben Each climb I gained about 4 minutes on last year, after that I lost time all the way to the finish. Over Ben Each and ran along the ridge to the crossover, well inside the cut-off, undulated up to the top of the Stuc, most of the field ahead and passed me on their way back. Around the cairn and set off for the cross over before the steep tussocky drop into Glen Ample, across a stream and the descending traverse along the glen, took a refuelling break before the climb out of Glen Ample, didn't help as I had to stop for some cramp relief as the gradient increased. Soon going again and not long until I made it over the top, 3 undulating miles back down to the finish, moorland at first then a mixture of forest tracks and roads, passed a few runners on the way back, tried to catch one more on the last climb before the drop to the finish, good progress until cramp reappeared, slowed to a walk then slowly jogged into the finish.

The Cobbler

Short long run this week, fine weather , ran up the forest track from Honeymoon Bridge car park, about a mile to where the Cobbler hill race starts from. The first of a series of old white wooden posts mark the path that climbs up through trees to the open hillside to An t Sron, fairly boggy in patches, steep climb on faint paths up to the ridge then mostly runnable to the base of the Cobbler summit crags. Short trudge up pathless tussocky ground to the summit, busy summit, great views with a partial inversion,  though a bit hazy. Took in the views and watched someone thread the needle before the run back down, slow at first as the path picks a way through bouldery ground, then easy running on grassy paths to An t Sron then a steep drop through tussocks, trees and bogs with an easy mile on forestry track to finish.

   

Stoneymollan

 Club handicap hill race, 8 of us turned up, nice sunny evening, pretty wet and boggy over the hill, still suffering after Saturdays run and didn't expect too much, finished 6th in the handicap and 3rd by time, happy to finish inside 50 minutes but about 3 minutes slower than last year.

Luss Hill Run

One of those runs where you could use some miles and ascent, can't make up your mind where to go and pick an out and back 10 miler. Ben Dubh and Mid Hill then down to Glen Luss, turn round and go back the same way. 10 miles and 4000'+ of ascent, ran the first half of Beinn Dubh, then jog/walked to the top, ran round the Corries to Mid Hill and down to the glen road, on the way back ran the first half of Mid Hill then walked to the top, back round the Corries and down to finish at the foot of the hill. Bit of a struggle today I usually run more of the hills, but good to be out.