Ben Bowie & Killoeter

Easy run today, from Banachra Woods, rain starting as I set off up the forest road, turned off through the forest , a bit of shelter here, left the forest on the path on the North side of Ben Bowie, No views from the top today, set off down the ridge joining the 3LW about half way down, from the crossroads took the Hel n Back route up to the end of Killoeters ridge and onto the narrow path through the forest brake to the top, continued on to rejoin the 3LW and then the John Muir Trail down to Banachra.

Bromley Muir Snow run

Local hills and trails again this week, longer route planned, round Carman Reservoir then along Bromley Muir to Stoneymollan followed 3LW and then onto the John Muir Trail past Ben Bowie coming back to Ben Bowie through Banachra woods, from Ben Bowie down towards Helensburgh disturbed a Buzzard and a Heron before turning up the ridge to  Killoeter, back along the 3LW and down Stoneymollan to finish. Started in the snow, pleasant running, not much wind, snow faded after an hour or so then some blue skies and weak sunshine saw me home.

Stoneymollan and Killoeter

Local long run this week, Carman Fort, Stoneymollan, out to Killoeter on the 3LW straight back down the Stoneymollan trail. Didn't quite work out, on the way down Killoeter realised my backpack was open and contents had spilled out somewhere. Hats, buff and gloves. Turned back up Killoeter hoping to find them. Back over to Carman Fort, found the buff at the side of Overton cemetery, 2 hats on Overton road about 100 yards from my house, no sign of the gloves!

Ben Bowie and Killoeter

Another run over my local hills, took the shorter start via Upper Stoneymollan road, running the Three Lochs Way/John Muir Trail, cut off to investigate the Mountain Bike track that is being constructed beside the 3LW then up the North side of Ben Bowie, down and across the Three Lochs Way onto Killoeter dropping off to pick up the short climb up to the Black Third, back home via Stoneymollan and Mount Mallow.

   

Ben Bowie

Out and back to Ben Bowie again, slightly shorter missing out the other loops to the Hel n back route and Kiloeter I've tried the last few weeks. Easiest ascent route up behind the Carman reservoir, a mixture of flat and up. The three trees at different stages of  leafing out.

Up the track beside the quarry and along to the trig point spotted a wee lizard like thing, too quick for my camera. Views to the Ben a bit hazy today.

A few more people up here than usual but all keeping out of each others way. Through the gate at the top of the Stoney using a handful of grass to minimise contact. 

Ran along the 3LW and JMT turning up to Ben Bowie just after the JMT turns east.

Drop off the back of Ben Bowie through some trees on a less used path that comes out on the JMT, Back up to the 3LW and follow it to the top of the Stoney, Follow the path along to the Fort, radiomast and home.

Ben Bowie and Kiloeter

Did the usual route round Carman reservoir up the track beside the quarry and over the moor to the top of the Stoneymollan joining the 3LW to Ben Bowie. On the way back for a bit of variety went via Kiloeter, theres a narrow trod from the 3LW gate up to the ridge where a faint quad bike track runs towards the Clyde between the old and new plantations, not long after the wee cairn with a stick there's a gap in the trees where the telegraph wires run, a bit of heather bashing soon brings you out at the juncion between the Red Road and Darlieth. Returned on the track past the Black Third farm and along the top of Stoneymollan to the Fort overlooking the reservoir. Followed the club race route home past the radio mast. Paths becoming very worn with the lack of rain and increased footfall.

Stoneymollan and Ben Bowie

Another run on the moors and trails from my front door. Picked a route to try and get some ascent in without doubling back too much. Managed just over 2100' with only a mile or so run twice. Started up the road and along a quiet A82 verge through fields to the trail up behind Carman reservoir. Past the quarry and trig point to join the 3LW for a short distance, leaving the 3LW running past Shepherds Pool and the Black Third farm joining the red blaize track the Hel n Back runners take, joined the 3LW again and ran up to the top with a short diversion up Ben Bowie, rejoined the 3LW/John Muir Way to the top of the Stoneymollan trail, returning home along the tops past the trig to the Fort, mainly on paths and through fields, finishing with a short bit of road.

Ben Bowie

Shorter run today, out and back along the 3LW trail with a short detour up to Ben Bowies double summit. Sunny with a cool breeze made for pleasant running and a busy 3LW trail.

Interesting tree through the forrest. Great views to the Clyde Estuary, Loch Lomond and the surrounding hills.

Easy run back to finish inside 2 hours. A few more pictures here.

Ben Bowie

Late run today, out and back along the 3LW to Ben Bowie, wet, windy and cold. Left about 3. Up the Stoneymollan on to the forest road winding round and up through the trees, path now complete means you can run it instead of ploughing through gloopy mud. Muddy upper trail then a bit of a swamp before the short climb to the top. Loch Lomond out of sight in the mist and rain, Helensburgh's lights just about shining through. Stopped for a few pictures, ran back the same way too dark to run back over Bromley and Carman muirs. 11 miles, 1900' in just over 2 hours. A few murky pictures here.

Luss and the 3LW

Took a while to get moving, after lunch before I got out the door and drove to Luss. Beinn Dubh, Mid Hill and Coille eughain hill, 9 miles or so.

Looking over Inchlonaig to Conic Hill

Slippy in places on the way up and wet n windy on top, chilly with only a light jacket on today, time to layer up. Nice run around the corries to Mid hill, descent slippy at the bottom. Slow trudge up CE Hill, didn't hang around once on top as the rain stung my face. Managed to avoid the worst of the sludge at the bottom of the Paps, slow one today, 2 hours 50. Sunday, layered up, leggings, thermal, real jacket, gloves, the lot, went for a run over the first part of the Three Lochs Way from the Vale to Helensburgh, Stoneymollan to start then some muddy track through the forest, sneaked over Killoeter on a nice path before a swampy detour up Ben Bowie wind swept and wet.

View from Ben Bowie, Helensburgh is somewhere down there.

Well made track once we left Ben Bowie wound its way down into the back of Craigendoran, ran along East Clyde St then up Colquhoun St, picked up a lift back to the Vale from the top of Helensburgh, about 12 miles today. Saturday's pictures here, Sunday's misty offering here.