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.

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

  

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

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

  

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.

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.

   

Arrochar Alps hill run

First run in Arrochar for a while, planned route was Glen Loin to start then up and over Ben Vane an Beinn Ime, returning via Bealach a Mhaim and the Buttermilk Burn path, forecast was low cloud/fog to start clearing around mid day. The info I had on snow cover was not much left. Started up the Glen Loin trail, no one else on that route until I joined the road from Inveruglas which was busy with walkers. Turned up Ben Vane just after Coirgrogain, good to see a few groups of walkers ahead I could use as a target to help maintain my effort. Cold gusty wind picked up with height, quite damp once I got into the mist, a few easily avoidable patches of snow and ice. The rocky scramble thankfully clear and dry. Reached the top, pretty cold, didn't hang about, set off for Ime, straight into a large snowbank, thick fog as well, couldn't see much at all, white on all sides, above and below, returned to the top, had a digital compass, got that out, the bearing I take from Vanes summit is 280 degrees, my compass was like a spinning top, no way to take a bearing. Didn't fancy trying my luck, it's easy to end up in completely the wrong place. Turned back going down the way I came up, path busy with walkers, probably encouraged by the good forecast. Reaching the Glen Loin trail, I decided to continue the loop instead of straight back, it's about 5 years since I last ran the complete loop.

Vane from Glen Loin

Misty on top

Loch Lomond, Arklet and Katrine from Vane

Disappearing stream in Glen Loin

Beinn Ime

First run for a couple of weeks, reasonable forecast and decided to try Beinn Ime, late start, not many spaces left in the car park at Succoth, decided to take the zig zags, first run for a while and they are a bit easier. A lot of work has been done on the path through the trees, wider, flatter and surfaced with type 1. Left the shelter of the trees into a cool breeze, gentle at first then picked up on the approach to Bealach A Mhaim, across the Bealach to the start of a trudge up Ime, into the cloud and it got pretty cold, path icy in places, easy enough to avoid, a few walkers ahead gave me some targets to keep the effort up, didn't quite come out the clouds at the top, a bit of blue above, maybe another 100 or so feet would have done it. Didn't hang about, freezing, glove upgrade for the descent. Easy run down, ran beside the path most of the way to the Bealach, easier underfoot and avoided most of the ice. Wind eased as I ran down, warming up once back into the shelter of the trees, gloves off and a steady jog to finish.

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.