Not The Cobbler Hill Race

This years Cobbler Hill Race was cancelled, with a fine forecast decided to run it anyway and add some hills on as it is a bit short. Parked at Honeymoon Bridge Car Park in Glen Croe and took the forestry track to the race start point, an old walkers path about a mile from the car park, beautiful day, clear blue skies and a cold wind. Onto the race route, steep trudge up through the forest to the open hill and a faint path to An t Sron, undulates up from here, more runnable. Reached the top in about the same time as I am up and down in the race. Only one other person on top. A couple of pictures and a re-fuel then ran off the top towards Bealach a'Mhaim for the climb up Ime, a few walkers about now. Brisk walk most of the way up, with a few short jogs on the flatter parts. Great views from the top, mountains for miles, Jura, Ben Nevis easy to see. A quick re-fuel in the bitter wind then back down to the Bealach, numbers of walkers increasing through the morning, straight across the Bealach to the Narnain path, another trudge/jog and up through the boulder field to the summit plateau. A bit warmer now. Back to the Bealach for the third time and the last climb back up to the top of The Cobbler, walkers streaming by as I climbed. Busy top, another re-fuel then off down the race route, thankfully not many go up or down here.

The Brack and Ben Donich from An t Sron

Ime from An t Sron

Narnain from The Cobbler

Lui Munros with views all the way to Ben Nevis and CMD

View from Ime to Ben Lomond over Narnain/A Chrois

Hills of Glen Douglas, Luss, Fruin & Finlas from Narnain

  

Arrochar run

Another run over The Cobbler and Narnain, different ascent and descent from last week, avoiding most of the walkers, went up the Cobbler via An t Sron. Steep climb to start then a runnable ascent along the ridge with a short steep climb to the top of The Cobbler to finish. Followed the walkers paths down into Bealach a'Mhaim and up to Narnains flat top. Descent off Narnain through the Spearhead, more walkers than usual coming up here today.

The Brack from An t Sron

Eyes of the Needle

The Cobbler from Narnain

The Cobbler and Narnain

Too nice a day not to run up a hill. Stuck to the trails in Arrochar, through 2 sets of zig zags then undulating up past the Narnain Boulders. Brisk walk up the back stairs to the Cobbler plateau and central top, easy run back to Bealach a'Mhaim, another briskish walk to the top of Narnain, easy running back to Succoth. Nice and peaceful at that time on a Friday, maybe saw 10 or 12 others instead of the usual 100.

Ben Lomond

Ben Donich, left, Beinn an Lochain, right from The Cobbler

The Brack from The Cobbler 

Ime and Vane from The Cobbler

 

  

Narnain and the Cobbler the quiet way

Shorter long run this week, weather perfect, blue skies , a bit of cloud and a gentle cool breeze. Avoided the zig zags out of Succoth, straight up Narnain, usually this is fairly quiet, not so today, gave me plenty of people to chase and pass. A few people between Narnain and The Cobbler, the Cobbler summit busy as usual. Peace at last descending the An t Sron ridge before the mile or so of forest track back to Succoth.

The Brack from Narnain

Ben Vane from Narnain

The Cobbler, Ime & Narnain from An t Sron

Arrochar Hills

Longer run this week, Glen Loin, Ben Vane, Beinn Ime, Narnain and the Cobbler. Struggled through Glen Loin and up Vane from Coiregrogain, took my time and pleased to see I was only a few minutes slower than usual. Steady climb to Vanes flat top, over the back avoiding most of the crags down grassy slopes towards Lag Uaine. Up a faint path towards Glas Bealach gradually turning up the racing line, steep, to Imes small summit. Set off for Narnain via Bealach a'Mhaim, some walkers about now but fewer than usual. Soon on Narnains flat rocky top, round the Trig and off towards The Cobbler, steep steps then a short runnable climb before another steepish climb to the top. Descended via the Cobbler race route avoiding the zig zag walkers path to finish at Succoth.

Loch Sloy with Vorlich behind from Vane

View from Vane over A Chrois

Ime from Vane

Imes summit

Narnains top

Narnain from The Cobbler

Loch Long, Arrochar with Ben Lomond behind

The Cobbler and Narnain

Late run today, started just after 5, passed a few people coming down on the way to the Narnain Boulders, very few after that. High cloud, good visibility, no wind and no people made for a fine peaceful run. Took in the Cobbler first, A couple coming down the steps, no one after that. Back to Bealach a Mhaim then up Narnain, no one about, a couple could be seen descending Ime. Views for miles, Arran down the firth of Clyde, Ben Nevis and Carn Mor Dearg to the North. Nice light. One of those evenings you wanted to stay up all night. Steady run down past the Narnain Boulders to the sound of the Buttermilk Burn rushing by.

 

Arrochar run

Social media has its benefits, set off for Arrochar inspired by an instagram post from a wild camper on Friday night, clear skies above a cloud inversion and no snow! Started up the zig zag paths in thick mist, after about 20 minutes the mist turned blue and I was in the sunshine above the clouds, jacket off in the heat. Ran up past the Narnain Boulders to Bealach a Mhaim and the Cobblers "back stairs", jog walk to the top, great views, re-fuel and a few pictures. Returned to the Bealach and across to Ime, managed to keep a slow jog going to the top, a few more pictures, turned back to the Bealach and a brisk walk up Narnain. Back to the Bealach and down the walkers path back into the mist and Succoth. Surprisingly few walkers out today, a few runners and cyclists out enjoying the stunning views.

Beinn an Lochain from Bealach a Mhaim

Ben Lomond over a sea of cloud from the Cobbler

Beinn Ime from the Cobbler

Ben Lomond, Narnain and the Cobbler from Ime

Ben More and Stob Binnein from Ime

Cloud covered Lochs Arklet and Katrine from Ime

Cobbler from Narnain

Ime from Naranin

Ben Lomond

Narnain and The Cobbler

Friday afternoon run, set off just after half 3, straight up the old hill access path with the concrete blocks, this route is usually quiet and only met three people on the top half. Warm in the afternoon sun, once I cleared the treeline a slight breeze helped. The path on the next part has been upgraded, large rocks and stones form an uneven staircase, ok going up, not so good for a fast descent. Views open up with height to A'Chrois and the Cobbler, through the Spearhead onto Narnian's summit plateau, great views all round the Arrochar Alps, the hills beyond fading into the haze. Down to Bealach a'Mhaim and up the Cobblers back steps to the central peak, another 3 people, usually its 103. Descended behind the summit crags onto the ridge to An t-Sron, from there descending grassy slopes to meet the walkers access path, passed a few more people here, down the zig zags to Succoth inside 3 hours.

The Cobbler from ascent of Narnain

A'Chrois from ascent of Narnain

The Spearhead

Ime from Narnain

Narnain from the ascent of The Cobbler

The Brack from The Cobbler

Descending behind the Cobblers crags

The Cobbler ftom An t-Sron

Beinn Ime and Narnain

Started off clockwise round the Glen Loin loop, left the trail at the disappearing stream for a trudge towards Lag Uaine. Climbed up the back of Ime beside the Gnarly ridge, up to the minor top and on to the summit. Tried and failed to shelter from the wind and set off for the Bealach before the short climb to Narnain. Another short break to take in the stunning views, left the top through the Spearhead and the interesting descent to finish in about 4 1/2 hours in Succoth.