Narnain and The Cobbler the quiet way

Arrochar run before the weather breaks, straight up Narnain, across Bealach a'Mhaim to The Cobbler, down via An t Sron and the Argo track. Looked good for a run, high cloud and little wind, set off for the block path up Narnain, a few people out on the climb meant I had a some targets to catch, helps keep the effort up. Good views, the cloud skimming the surrounding tops and a bit of fog floating around added to the atmosphere. Reached the summit plateau empty except for a couple of people sitting at the cairns. Passed a couple of walkers on the run off towards Bealach a'Mhaim, then had it all to myself, no one about, no wind, silence apart from my breathing and footfall, this area is usually really busy, set off for The Cobbler, still no one about, another empty summit apart from a couple sitting behind some rocks looking towards Loch Fyne. Ran down the ridge to An t Sron, rocky at first then grassy with the odd bad step, fine views. Ran down over the Buttermilk burn and took the argo track back to Succoth, peaceful run today without the usual Arrochar Alp crowds.

  

Arrochar hill run

It's been a couple of months since I was in the Arrochar hills, plan was for Narnain and Ime, ended up taking in The Cobbler as well. Set off about half 8 in heavy drizzle, ran along the road behind Succoth village and up through the woods avoiding the zig zag path, along the forest track to the argo track starting the climb up Narnain, reached the concrete block path as the rain stopped, another runner passed and asked to tag along, which was fine except he was a good bit faster than me, helped me to push the pace a bit which must be a good thing. Soon into the clouds, not much of a breeze and reasonable warm. Didn't hang about on top of Narnain, down through the boulder field then took the grassy option towards Ime, steady trudge up Ime, back into the clouds, a few photos on top then a run back towards the Bealach, a wee route change here, climbed the back steps to The Cobbler then descended via the An t Sron ridge, rocky at first then easy grassy tracks with a few rocks, from An t Sron dropped down to the Buttermilk burn and over the tourist path to get to the argo track avoiding all the zig zags on the way back to Succoth.

    

Narnain & The Cobbler the quiet way

First time in Arrochar for a few months, morning run, low cloud, but warm and dry, straight up Narnain from Succoth, busier than usual and caught and passed a few groups of walkers. Summit plateau to myself for a few minutes then down to Bealach a'Mhaim and a trudge up to the top of The Cobbler, saw no-one but could hear a few voices in the mist. Ran down the An t'Sron ridge then across to the Buttermilk Burn and down the argo track to Succoth. Good to be back out on some bigger hillls.

The Spearhead

Narnain

The Cobbler

On the way to An t Sron

Narnain & The Cobbler

Afternoon run in Arrochar, straight up Narnain, over to the Cobbler, descending the ridge to An t Sron, from their down to the Buttermilk Burn at the top of the zig zags, crossed the path onto the argo track for a nice easy run down this grassy trail. 

Narnain and The Cobbler

Late night meant an afternoon start on a sunny Saturday, lots of route choices finally went for Narnain and The Cobbler, the quiet way, although not as quiet as usual. Straight up Narnain from the car park, through forest then the path that's a burn, clear of the trees a series of man made step ramps make for steady progress, great views open up as I climb, plenty of people coming down and only a couple going up at this time of day. Some small patches of snow, easily avoided, didn't stop at the busy trig point continuing down to Bealach A' Mhaim then up the back stairs to The Cobbler, met a pushy Collie who's idea of friendship was to lean into your legs and push, not the best thing on a staircase. Easy jog across the plateau then a last trudge to the top beside the needle. Stopped to take in the views and some juice before departing down the rocky path to the grassy ridge to An t Sron, boggy path down to the Buttermilk burn, avoided the zig zags using the argo track then a short section of the block path/burn although managed to spot where the argo track comes out for future runs. Beautiful afternoon, views to Paddy Milestone, Jura and a snowy Ben Nevis.

Ridge to A'Chrois from Narnain ascent, almost went that way!

Ben Nevis from Narnain

Ben Vane , foreground, Lui Munros background from Narnain

Cobbler from Narnain

Ben Lomond from back stairs to The Cobbler

Narnain from back stairs to The Cobbler

The Cobbler from An t Sron

Narnain and The Cobbler, the quiet way

Fancied a longer run today, changed my mind at the Succoth car park ticket machine, wen for a 3 to 4 instead of a 4 to 5 hour ticket. Straight up Narnain, by the Block path at first then the new steps winding my way up into the mist, the sun trying to shine through. Only passed two people just before the Spearhead, no one on top, stopped for a picture and a drink. Down to Belach a'Mhaim and up to The Cobblers summit, a few people leaving as I arived, left before anyone else came up. Down via An t Sron, took my time, again no one on this ridge. A mile or so on forest track to finish, another couple of people sitting taking in the views. Good peaceful run, cloud and mist made for atmospheric views, and finished before 12.

Ben Lomond from Narnain

The Spearhead

Narnain summit cairn

Narnain summit Trig and cairn

Towards Butterbridge from Narnain

Arrochar from An t Sron

Loch Long

Narnain and The Cobbler, the quiet way

Shorter run planned today, about 8 miles, up Narnain's South East ridge, across to The Cobbler, descending via An t Sron. Started with a short run then a steep walking climb up Narnain, most of the walkers go up via Bealach a'Mhaim, great views open up as you climb, blue blue sky this morning. Over Narnian's flat top then a short down to Bealach a'Mhaim and the steep climb up The Cobblers back stairs. Descending off the Cobbler behind the crags, easy running down to An t Sron then steeper tussocky ground back to the forest tracks to Succoth.

Glen Luss, Douglas, Fruin and Finlas hills from Narnain

Cobbler from Narnain

The Spearhead at the top of  Narnain

Beinn an Lochain from The Cobbler

A couple of Needlers on The Cobbler, Ben Lomomd in the background

The Cobbler from An t Sron

Another Arrochar run

Much colder this weekend, double thermal top and thermal leggings compared to short sleeved top and shorts last week. Planned route was Ben Vane, Ime and The Cobbler, having a go at the race descent route. Ran slowly up through Glen Loin to Coiregrogain and the upgraded path at the bottom of Vane, Steady walk up through Vanes rocky outcrops, no one else going up, a couple of lone walkers coming down, the scramble thankfully clear of snow. Cool on top, didn't hang about, set off along the ridge past the turning stone before dropping into Lag Uaine, easy running on dryish ground. Crossed the bottom of the glen and trudged up the small ridge between the burns, through the crag towards Glas Bealach, Ime a bit higher, covered in cloud and colder, jacket on, grass misted with a thin layer of snow nearer the top, short stop at the top then off towards Bealach a Mhaim and the back stairs of the Cobbler, busier now, more walkers about. Top of the Cobbler busy as usual. Set off behind the Needle, tried a couple of potential short cuts avoiding steeper bits of the path, probably slower overall. Dropped down the descent route from the end of An t Sron, there's a few wooden posts to mark the route, easy run down steep grassy slopes, through the forest a couple of short boggy patches, steady run along forest roads to the lower zig zags back to Succoth.

 

Vane from Glen Loin

A Chrois from Glen Loin

Loch Lomond from Vane

Narnain, The Cobbler and Bealach A Mhaim from Vane

Narnain, The Cobbler and Ime from the turning stone

Ime's gnarly ridge with Narnain in the background from Vane

Gnarly ridge from Ime's ascent

Nearly at the top of Ime

Top of Ime looking towards Narnain

Looking back to Ime from Bealach a Mhaim, clear of clouds of course!

The Cobbler from An t Sron ridge, Ime in the background

The Cobbler, with a brave soul on top of the Needle