Luss hill run

Wanted to try some of the hills at the top of the glen, difficult parking so parked at the bottom of the glen and cycled up to the end of the tarmac and chained up the bike. Planned route was Beinn Eich and Lochain, across to Cruach an t Sidhein, back via Beinn Chaorach on the other side of the glen. Up Beinn Eich into thick mist, about 30 or 40 metres visibility, it was warm , not much wind a bit like being in a sauna. Over the top and along to Lochain, paths quite difficult to pick out, from Lochain to CATS no paths and with little visibility soon gave up returning to Lochain, ran along to Doune Hill, paths ok then turned back the way I came over Lochain and Eich, at the bottom of Eich turned up the farm track and across to the bottom of the ridge from Chaorach, the one I should have come down, made up some of the miles I lost, the clouds were now rising and I could see the col between Lochain and CATS just under the cloud base, would have been easy to miss it in the clag.

Luss horsehoe

Longest run for a couple of months, uncertain forecast, windy with a mix of sun and showers. Plan was to run up to the top of the glen road, run out over Beinns Eich and  Lochain to Doune Hill, coming back via Mid Hill and Beinn Dubh. 2 miles of tarmac to start, not my favourite surface. Steady plod up Beinn Eich, walking most of the way, the hill keeping much of the cold NW wind away, a small shower blew through clearing just before I reached the top. Set off towards Beinn Lochain into a much stronger wind, ok on the way down, made for hard going back up, walking what is usually a runnable climb to Beinn Lochain. Towards Doune Hill the ridge swings east allowing the wind to help me up the short steep climb to the trig point. Didn't hang about at the top as the sky darkened again, a hail squall blew over me. Soon cleared to leave a pleasant run down into the glen. Another steep climb to Mid Hill, a series of grassy ramps ease the gradient, had to stop a few times to catch my breath and take in the views. Onto the ridge to Mid Hills small cairns. A few hill walkers out now, the first I had passed since the start, a couple of short climbs then a longer gradual descent before a gradual climb back into the wind to Beinn Dubhs cairn. Last couple of miles down to the foot of Glen Luss in pleasantly warm sun, hat and gloves off , jacket and fleece opened.

Doune Hill from Beinn Eich

Doune Hill Trig looking past Mid Hill to Loch Lomond

Glen Luss, Mid Hill left, Beinn Eich, and Coillie Eughain Hill right

A cloud capped Cobbler from Mid Hill 

Google pano from Mid Hill, L to R , Eich, Lochain, Doune(2 tops).

Eich, Lochain, Doune, Mid, Dubh

I had planned this run for a few weeks but didn't have the energy or time to try it, a horseshoe over the north side of Glen Luss. Went out on Friday as I had a day out Saturday at the National Whisky Festival of Scotland in SWG3, great decision as the weather was blue sky perfect on Friday with ;little wind. Parked at the bottom of Glen Luss and ran a couple of miles up the road turning off for a steep trudge up Beinn Eich, the top few hundred feet covered in snow. Stayed above the snowline along the ridge over Beinn Lochain to Doune Hill, slow going but worth it for the views. Dropped down into the glen and Sith Mor before an even slower trudge up the back of Mid Hill, into the snow again near the top. A few icy patches on the flat bog sections on the way to Beinn Dubh. Easy run from the top to the foot of the glen. Took a bit longer than usual with the snow, ice and picture stops.

The top of Eich and view along to Doune Hills twin tops

Crianlarich Munros over Ben Bhreac

Ben Lomond from Beinn Eich

Loch Lomond and Mid Hill from Doune Hill

Cobbler Ime and Narnain from Mid Hill

  

Luss Loop

Steady run over a few Luss hills, parked at the entrance to the glen, ran up the road to the top then onto the hills, Beinn Eich, Beinn Lochain, Doune Hill, drop down to Sith Mor, up Mid Hill, followed the ridge round to Beinn Dubh descending to the entrance of the glen, about 4 hours. Felt like giving up on the climb up Beinn Eich, some food and drink at the top, decided to carry on to Doune Hill, only a couple of small climbs after all & I could turn back when I got there. As you do I decided to keep on with the planned route, some more food before Mid Hill, a bit slower than last time but happy to finish.

Finlas hills from Beinn Eich

Looking back to Beinn Eich from Beinn Lochain

Doune Hill trig

Glen Mollochan from Doune Hill

Luss from Beinn Dubh

Luss Hills

Ran todays route about 5 weeks ago except in the opposite direction and in cold and windy conditions, a lot warmer and drier underfoot now.  Todays route was Beinn Dubh, Mid Hill, Doune Hill, Beinn Lochain, Beinn Eich finishing with a run down the glen road. Afternoon run having watched the football on Friday night. Steady jog up Beinn Dubh and along the ridge to Mid Hill, dropped down grassy slopes towards Sith Mor surprising a few deer on the way, crossed tussocky ground then up Doune Hills fern covered eastern flank to the col between the twin tops, up to the trig point then along the ridge over Lochain, Eich and back into Glen Luss for a couple of miles on the road to finish, about 15 mins slower this time, cooled down with a seat in Luss Water.

Arrochar Alps from Beinn Dubh

Couple of Deer on the run into Sith Mor

Looking down Glen Mollochan from ascent of Doune Hill

Last wee climb up to Doune Hills Trig Point

View of Loch Lomond from Beinn Eich

Luss

Start point same as last week at the entrance to Glen Luss early start running for 6:15 going straight up the road to the top of the glen to Beinn Eich, up and over Beinn Eich, bitter wind from about half way up. Down the back, over Beinn Lochain and round to Doune Hills main top with the trig point, no hanging about today, the Arrochar Alps looked bleak. Dropped down in to Sith Mor before the trudge up Mid Hill, back into a cold wind along the ridge to Beinn Dubh, passing 5 or 6 runners going the other way, easy run down to finish in just over 3 1/2 hours.

At the bottom of the climb up Beinn Eich, Beinn Lochain and Doune hills twin tops in the background

Doune Hill from Beinn Lochain

Arrochar Alps from Doune Hill

Mid Hill from the col between Doune Hills twin tops

The loch from Beinn Dubh

Pano of Arrochar Alps with Glen Douglas hills foreground

L to R; Beinn an Lochain, the Cobbler, Ime, Narnain, Vane, A'Chrois, Vorlich

Lusstrous

Abandoned Arrochar due to low cloud, snow and poor forecast, decided on to repeat of a run I did in Sept 2014, 18 miles and 8000' of ascent, all the hills overlooking Glen Luss, last time I took about 9 hours having become dehydrated. Started just after 7 up Beinn Dubh then Mid Hill, Beinn Eich and Lochain, Cruach an t Sithien, Beinn Mahanach, Chaorach, Tharsuinn, Creag an Leinbh and Coille Eughain Hill. Took just over 2 litres of juice. Beinn Dubh and Beinn Eich the bigger climbs, about 2000' each, Mahanach and Chaorach over 1000' each, the rest undulations up to a few hundred feet. Took some of my homemade nutrition, raw energy balls, made from mixed nuts, raisins, cranberries and dates with some water and ground cinnamon. Brisk walk on the ups, running the flats and the downs. Juice and an energy ball on each top/every hour or so seemed to keep the cramps away. Walk run strategy worked fine, pausing only on longer/steeper sections of Mahanch and Chaorach. Snow to start on the top of Beinn Dubh, cloud gradually broke up over a couple of hours giving some sunny patches, made the right choice as Arrochar stayed in the clouds most of the day, only the Cobbler breaking free for a short time later on before black clouds descended again and chased me down Coille Eughian Hill. In between a mixture of sun and cloud with a wee hail shower going up Cruach an t Sithein, cleared at the top for good views to the rest of the route. Good weather over Mahanach and Chaorach , the threat of snow and thunder not far away made for a steady pace over Creag an Leinbh and Coille Eughain Hill to finish ahead of the cloud inside 7 1/2 hours.

A few tups at the start

Beinn Dubh summit, light snow

Loch Lomond from Mid Hill

Glen Luss from Beinn Eich, the river going towards the top heading for Glen Fruin

Cruach an t Sithein from Coille eughian Hill

Lamb on one side of the fence, mother on the other?

Finnart Oil Terminal from Cruach an t Sithein

Mahanach rom Cruach an t Sithein

Cruach an t Sithein from Mahanach

Route back to the foot of Glen Luss from Mahanach

Conic Hill from Mahanach

Dark clouds over Cruach an t Sithein from Creag an Leinbh

Luss Hills and a cycle

First time for a while away from the Vale hills, cycled to the top of Glen Luss, ran out over Beinn Eich, and Beinn Lochain to Doune Hill, then back to the top of the glen.

Overcast when I left the house, sun came out as I started to run, quickly up into the clouds, not a lot to see until I came back into the glen at the end of my run. Good to be back on a bigger hill, ran at first then a brisk walk as legs stiff from my cycle took a while to ease off up the steepening lower slopes of Beinn Eich.

From about half way the gradient eases and managed to start jogging again, pleased to keep it going to Doune Hill then all the way back. Finishing inside 2 1/2 hours. Quick change then an easy cycle home.