The Cobbler and Ben Narnain

Longer run before the Ben race in a couple of weeks, earliesh start up the zig zags and past the Narnain Boulders to Bealach a Mhaim, ran up the back stairs to the Cobbler, stopped a couple of times to catch my breath. Reached a murky summit, the Needle appearing through the mist. Didn't hang about, back down the stairs to the Bealach. Bags of boulders have been dropped up Ime's muddy path in preparation for more path construction.

Steady progress up Narnains newly constructed blocky path using the same approach as the Cobbler, jog and rest and jog, reached the summit cloud swirling around giving brief glimpses of the surrounding tops.

Stopped for a couple of pictures then off through the spearhead and the twisty rocky descent back to Succouth in just over 3 hours.

Arrochar run

Set off early for a run over Ben Vane and Beinn Ime. Warm running up Glen Loin, a few walkers out. Onto the hill path and found it hard work, stopping every few minutes. Good views to Loch Lomond, Ben Vorlich and A'Chrois on the way up.

Thought about turning back at the top, a drink of water and a couple of jelly beans seemed to resolve the problem and within a few minutes felt fine as I reached the top of Vane.

Views were good with a bit of cloud floating about for atmosphere.

Met a few people on the usually deserted down and up between Vane and Ime. Took the quick line up the gulley. Views to Paddy's Milestone and the Paps of Jura from the top.

Easy run down to Bealach a 'Mhaim then followed the path beside the Buttermilk burn then zig zags back to the finish at Succoth in just over 4 1/2 hours, more pictures here.

Narnain and the Cobbler

Late morning run set off in low cloud and drizzle. Started up the zig zags then along to the old block covered trail, one of my favourite descents I ran down last time, hadn't run up this way for a few years. Climb up through a series of grassy crags with short flattish bits between. Stopped half way up to put on a decent jacket as the breeze picked up, met a couple of runners coming down.

The last up bit rather rocky, named the Spearhead.  Didn't hang about on the exposed top. Running down to bealach a'Mhaim past a busy path construction team. Ran up the back steps to the Cobblers top.

Quiet today in the mist and rain. Steady run down the slippy steps and the tourist path back to Succoth just under 3 hours. A few more pictures here.

Cobbler n his wife

27, 14, 15, 21, the Cobbler is running by numbers, each feature has its own time slot. Saturday afternoon run today, cool and clear to start, hardly any wind made for comfortable conditions. Only a few walkers out, a group of mountain bikers too. Stop start run up the back stairs to the Cobbler summit. Picture's and off towards Narnain. Jog walk up through snow patches near the top. Turned back towards bealach a'Mhaim, mist and cloud rolling in, easy run back to Succoth. Finished in just over 3 hours. Some pictures here.

Wintery weekend

Saturday set off for Luss, same run from a few weeks ago the road works stopped. Good day for a run, no wind, ground frozen so dryish warmish feet. Parked at the top of the glen, set off for Beinn Eich, into snow about 1500'.

 From Beinn Eich towards Doune Hill

About a foot deep at the top, kept to the less snowy south (left) side of the ridge. Run towards Beinn an Lochain kept low (left) avoiding the snowier ridge path. Doune Hills top nice and snowy, picked my way down the back keeping to the tussocky ground where I could avoiding the smoother steep snow slopes.
 

 Mid Hill from Doune Hill

Climb up Mid Hill back into some snow at the top before an easy run off into the glen now filled with warm sunshine, finished under four hours, photos here. Sunday's plan was a short run over Stoneymollan, sun and blue sky changed that, set off for Arrochar. Both car parks full to overflowing, ran up the tourist path, got a row for taking a shortcut from a guy who claimed he helped make the paths.

 The Cobbler

Out the forest and a white topped Cobbler shining above a heathery hillside, the path clear of snow until the Narnain boulders, maybe that's why they are there. Ran up Narnain from the bealach, snow smoothing the way, microspikes on as it got steeper. Walkers and climbers everywhere. Snow cover made crossing the boulder field easy, stunning views from the top.

 Views down Loch Long to Arran from Narnain

Stayed and took in the views for a few minutes, fun run down in my microspikes. Finished inside three hours, more pictures here.

Midweek hills

Beautiful sunny morning with a free night ahead decided to go for an evening run up Narnain and the Cobbler. Only a few walkers coming down and a couple of tents just above the forrest made for a quiet run in the evening sun. Gentle breeze to keep me cool. Steady trot up the zig zags past the boulders to Bealach a'Mhaim, fast walk to Narnain's rocky summit, a few minutes to catch my breath and take in the views.

Across Loch Long to Glen Douglas and Luss Hills

Back down to the Bealach for the short jog walk to the Cobblers middle peak. A bit cooler here as the sun dropped towards the horizon, Lui and More touching the clouds in the distance.

Beinn Ime

Back to the Bealach, cut along to the old blocky path to avoid the zig zags on the way back. Finished 11 miles and 4500' in just over 3 hours, more pictures here.

Arrochar run

Looking for a short run today with a bit of climb, Narnain and the Cobbler sounded right, 11 miles and 4500' of ascent. Mostly man made paths, makes it easier, no route choices, most of  it runnable. Zig zag tracks to start from Succoth, gradient eases alongside a foaming allt A'Bhalachain, shelter beside the Narnain Boulders, jacket on from here, hard work against the wind funneling through the glen. round Bealach a'Mhaim, climb up Narnain wind assisted, nobody on top, a couple of pictures then off before the next shower blew through. Jog walk the Cobbler steps, muddy trail, steep grassy bank.

Ime from the Cobbler

Nobody on top, steady run back through the glen, 2 hours 50, some more pictures here.

Arrochar Trails

Contrasting weather from last weekend, colder, wet n windy, route plan was to run from Succoth, along the trails to Ardgarten, Cat Crag loop and back to Succoth, about 12 or 13 miles and 2500'.

Half way round the CC loop

Not many people out today, the trees keep most of the chill breeze off, a good day to run only without the views, arrive back at Succoth and run annother 2 or 3 mile loop/500' for 15 miles, 3000' inside three hours. Mixture of trails with a couple of miles on the road to join them together. Some pictures here.

Arrochar and Glen Douglas

With Dan Duxbury on his Munro round and due to run the Arrochar Munro's today I thought I might run three of them the opposite way and see how he was doing. Sadly he lost a day in Glen Etive and won't be in Arrochar until tomorrow, today he was on the Lui Munros, so I took a few photos of them.

Ran up Glen Loin to Coiregrogain then onto the Ben Vane path which alternates between steep and very steep, trudged up avoiding the odd snow patch, great day, good views. Cool refreshing breeze on top, took a few photos then dropped off the back into Lag Uaine. Lucky there was no one with me today to see my wee slip into the mud at the bottom. Steady walk in to Glas Bhealach passing the snow filled gully then directly south for a steep climb to Ime's top, bit cooler here, 300' higher than Vane.

Photo and fuel break before the easy run down to Bealach A' Mhaim. One more climb, up the twisty rocky path to Narnain's flat top. Took in the last views of the day before heading down through the Spearhead, a 30 strong walkers party gathering at the bottom, soon found out why as I ran on down, a large snow filled gully, it was only a 10 yard crossing  but the run-out was a trifle rocky, skirted round the snow scrambling down through steep bouldery ground before climbing back up to the track past the snow, legs starting to complain at the unexpected work.

Cramp soon eased as I got running again. Super day out, returned to a jam packed car park, 5 1/2 hours after I started. More photos here.

After a late night and morning, blue skies and sun again, drove along to Invergroin in Glen Douglas for a run up Beinn Bhreac, a steep wee grassy hill across the loch from Ben Lomond with great views of the loch and the Arrochar Alps beyond. Contrast from yesterday's rocky busy Arrochar run, Beinn Bhreac was deserted, steady plod up the steep tussocky hillside, the trig point hidden from the glen by several false summits.

The Cobbler and Narnain from Beinn Bhreac.

A seat in the sun to take in the views before a leisurely jog back down. A few more pictures here.

Arrochar Trails, Killoeter and Ben Bowie

Hoped to get a hill run in this morning, weather outside didn't match the one on the telly and we drove past Luss for Succoth, ran along the lower track to Ardgarten and up to the top of the Rest and Be Thankful.

Just about the only view today, The Cobbler disappearing into the clouds from across Glen Croe.

Pouring all the way apart from a 5 minute respite. OK on the way up, sheltered by the trees, more exposed on the run down the newly tarred old road, got off the road and back on to the trail towards Succoth at the bridge, good short climb past Ardgarten. A bit quicker this week, 14 miles, 2800' in 2 1/2 hours. Local run Sunday, along the bypass and up Stoneymollan, ran across the top past Black Third Farm and down towards Cardross. Trudge up onto Killoeter via a break in the trees close to where Darleith road meets the Red road. Ran up the ridge, easier than it used to be as there's a good quad bike track alongside the newly planted conifers, ran off Killoeter across the 3LW and up Ben Bowie. Cold on top.

Ran back to the Vale via the 3LW, some work needed through the forest, muddy, slippy and poorly marked, 11 miles, 2000', 2 hours 45.

Whinney Hill and Glen Loin

Club Cross Country, round and out the back of Balloch Park. Woke up to a cool calm morning, perfect for running, pity the wind and rain blew in by the time 14 of us set off round a muddy park and onto the Whinney Hill trail. We marked the top part of the course Fri PM and had an idea it was muddy, marked the park on Sat before the race, it was worse not a lot of traction for my trainers with an inch or two of slipperiness on top. Its about a mile round the park before you get onto the WH trail which undulates up through a couple of muddy forests. The run back, mostly downhill, brought three of us together by the time we reached Balloch Park, good fun as we finished within a couple of seconds of each other. Post race tea, coffee and sugar sheltering from the elements in the castle rest rooms. Sunday's forecast poor, managed to get up reasonably early, went to Arrochar for a run round Glen Loin, anticlockwise then the out and back to Ardgarten, similar to last week but too wintery to chance a detour over the Beallach. Thought about sitting in the car until the monsoon eased, just got on with it and no respite for the first half hour. Cleared up for 20 minutes or so until I was lured into the upper reaches of the glen where it was not so pleasant for a mile or so each side of the ford, slushy snow underfoot with howling sleety rain.

Good test for my gear, and with a change of gloves the only problem was cold toes. Met a few mountain bikers sliding uphill as I ran back towards Succoth and slush free trails. Toes gradually warming up as I ran the out and back to Ardgarten, out on the lower trial, back on the upper trail from Honeymoon Bridge, about 17 miles, 3000' in 3 hours 10. No camera today, only a few phone pictures here.

Trailing undulations

Arrochar trails beckoned in the low cloud and rain. Plan was to stat at Succoth up onto the trail to Ardgarten and back followed by a loop round Glen Loin, if the weather cleared on the way back to Glen Loin go up the Cobbler trail to Bealach a'Mhaim and come back through Glen Loin. Drizzly to start then lashing as I ran along the high trail to Honeymoon Car Park just past Ardgarten.

Looked like today's pictures would be the waterfalls along the way, did manage to snap a couple of hazy pictures of The Brack and Ben Donich through the gloom.

Started back up the lower trail keen to get back into the shelter of the trees, looking back the Cobbler's SW top above Glen Croe was clear.

The rain and wind eased so I went up the Cobbler trail, its a good climb reaching 2000' in 3 or 4 miles. Past the Narnain Boulders any sheltered spot was covered in snow. The weather closed in again on the approach to the Bealach, hail instead of rain.

The run across to the Bealach fun as I found a few ditches and streams hidden under a smooth layer of snow. Big detour to avoid the swamp at the exit from the Bealach, happy to drop down into the shelter of the Glen, nice new fence to hold onto down the steep slippy ground.

Took the rougher path to the right of Alt Coiregrogain to avoid crossing the swollen river further down. Hail had turned to rain for a soaking steady run down the Glen back to Succoth, 16 miles, 3500', 3 1/2 hours.A few more pictures here. Sunday we had a recce round next weeks Whinney Hill race route from the Moss O'Balloch, rain pouring down as we started, gradually cleared and dried up with some blue skies as we finished, underfoot went from wet to muddy to wet to muddy.

Good fun despite the weather. A squidgy 6 miles in 1 1/2 hours.

Arrochar Trails and Ben Lomond

Set off for Arrochar for a run round some undulating trails, starting in Succoth, along to Ardgarten, a nice run on the trail to the top of the Rest and Be Thankful, back down towards Ardgarten on the new tarmac surface on the old road before taking the upper trail back to Succoth. About 14 miles and 2800' in just over three hours.

Clouds just above the tops, most of the them snow covered, we were lucky and got it dry. Some more pictures here.

Sunday's run, Ben Lomond, we set out early to beat the forecast wind and rain. Pleasant running up the lower slopes, dry and not too windy. On the climb up to the plateau the wind picked up, time for wooly hats, into the cloud with the first snow on the ground. The snow got deeper as we went along the plateau, but the wind dropped so not too cold. Had a go at climbing up to the summit ridge, ok but didn't fancy coming back down so I waited at the end of the plateau while my companion went on up to the summit ridge, not quite topping out, too icy. Waiting for him to come back I put on my spare fleece, jacket and overtrousers, only my feet suffering from the cold, even with Sealskinz.

Easy run back down, snow and ice along the plateau, nice slippy rocks for the rest of the way. Came back out of the clouds as we left the plateau, wind reduced to a gentle breeze, jacket, overtrousers, hat and gloves all had to come off, it was too warm, some contrast to the arctic world a 1000' feet above.

We ran about 7 miles with 2800' of ascent in 2 1/2 hours including my 15 minute wait.

Back to Back to Back

This year I've had a few back to back weekends, running both Saturday and Sunday, two not so long long runs, it seems to have worked ok, improving endurance and I'm not as tired. This weekend I added the Monday in as well.

Saturday, we ran up Doughnot Hilll from Milton. I've been up the Crags before but never made it to Doughnot Hill.

A bit of road to start and finish, in between a mixture of grassy single track, muddy paths and forest road, 7 miles and 1300' in 90 minutes.

Sunday, Luss, Beinn Dubh, Mid Hill and back down the glen, another 7 miles and 1400' in just under 2 hours.

A lot of snow and slush on the climb and along the top made for frozen feet. The Sealskinz socks helped, although it still took a couple of hours for my toes to thaw.

Monday, trail run with a couple of miles on the road. Starting from Succoth, up to the lower trail to Ardgarten, round the Cat Craig Loop back to Ardgarten.

Ran back to Succouth via the higher trail, 13 miles, 2500' in 2 hours 20. A few more pictures here.

Arrochar and Luss

Another scorching weekend, Saturday set off for Arrochar, different route although some of the same tops, Glen Loin (coiregrogain path) Ben Vane, race route from the top of Vane down and up Ime and Narnain, 13 miles and 6500' of ascent. Glen Loin hot, passed a few walkers, most of them sitting down in the shade. The path up Vane dry even the swamp at the bottom, cooling breeze from about half way up, passed a British Gas charity walk, only a couple of people on top. Easy running in the dry ground into Lag Uaine, sat in the stream cooling off for a few minutes before climbing Ime. No-one at the top, sat a couple of minutes for a drink enjoying the views and the breeze. Passed a couple on the way down then a few more on the way up Narnain, pretty quiet today. Scrambled through the Spearhead then down the twisty track to rejoin the forest path just above Succcoth, lay in the jacuzzi to cool off before the drive home. Finished just over 4 1/2 hours, some pictures here. Good views from the tops today, mountains for miles, a bit hazy in the distance. Sunday and the cloud didn't clear until lunchtime as I drove to Luss, run over Beinn Dubh, Mid Hill & Coille-eughain Hill, 9 miles and 3700', passed 5 people on the run off Mid Hill, no-one else apart from some noisy sheep as I climbed up CE Hill and noisy swimmers in Luss Water, finsihed in just over 2 1/2 hours, a few pictures here.