Arrochar Hills

Early start for a run over the Arrochar hills, planned route was the race route over the 4 Munros and if I had any energy left The Cobbler. Left Arrochar car park just after 6 on the Glen Loin trail, about 4 1/2 miles to get to the start of the climb up the first hill Ben Vorlich, a lot of patchy cloud made for an atmospheric climb, and a couple of walkers up ahead gave me a target to chase, caught them going along the ridge to the summit cairn, met them again at the trig on my way back to the steep drop off towards the Sloy dam. After 100 or so yards the gradient eases enough to start a slow jog down to the dam, across and up Vanes grassy sides, take a slightly easier, less direct route compared to the race route, brings me on to the ridge between Vane and Beinn Dubh, a few minutes brisk walk and I'm on top, a few walkers here, first I've seen since Vorlich. Drop into Sith Mor, quiet again, easy running on a grassy curving descending traverse missing out the crags a direct route takes you through. Steady trudge up a faint path towards Glas Bealach, turning North up Ime's steep sides, another few walkers on top. Busier now, walkers everywhere on the short run to Bealach a Mhaim and up to Narnains summit plateau, another short down and up to the Cobblers central peak. Descend the much quieter An t Sron ridge, re-joined the masses for a run down the zig zags to finish inside 8 hours. 

Ben Vorlich from Glen Loin

Vorlichs Teig Point

Ridge between Beinn Dubh and Ben Vane, above and below the lcouds

Sloy dam from Vorlich descent

Turning stone on the descent from Ben Vane

Ben Imes gnarly ridge from the Ben Vane descent

Road to Cairndow from Imes summit

Beinn Narnain Summit

Ben Ime from Narnain

Cobbler summit

Cobbler, Ime and Narnain from An t Sron

Copbblers airy north summit from An t Sron

Vorlich Vane

Thought it would be fun to try a hill run with a bit more ascent, clear blue skies as I left Succoth on the Glen Loin trail.

Vorlich first and took the path marked by a small cairn off the road towards the Loch Sloy Dam, steep rocky steps help the ascent, path twists and turns up Vorlichs western flank and along the ridge to its twin tops.

Back along the ridge to a small dip high above the Sloy dam, met 4 runners who had come up here, went straight down this steep descent, its the one they use in the Arrochar Alps race. Across the dam and up Vanes east flank, going up to the right of the crag above the dam, the race route goes left of these crags, its shorter but steeper, the 4 runners who passed me on Vorlich had caught up, I could here them on the race route.

Across a boggy plateau then up a short steep section to join the ridge undulating along to Vanes top, the 4 runners came past on their way to Ime.

A few minutes and I was on top, a quick refuel and set off towards Lag Uaine looping round to avoid the crags a direct line takes you through. Ran along between Vane and Ime to meet up with the Glen Loin trail and back to Succoth in about 5 1/2 hours.

Vorlich and Vane from Inveruglas

Fancied a rockier run with a bit more height than the past few weeks. Parked at Inveruglas and took the Sloy dam access road. Ben Vorlich first, up the newly laid boulder steps into cloud from about 2000 feet. Passing the odd ghostly walker on the way.

Vorlichs Trig Point

Turned at the trig rather than the real summit, missed the sloy dam drop off in the mist descending the slightly longer less steep boulder stairs.

Vane from Vorlich

I coud see the cloud was rising and decided to take the more direct route up Vane from the Sloy Dam rather than the tourist path, I would come down that way, making the route more of a loop. Ran up the road and across the dam, going right of the big crag, slow plod up pathless ground to the ridge between Vane and Dubh.

Looking back to Vorlich from Vane

Reached the top a bit quicker than I thought and Vanes summit looked further away than it was. A bit of both really as I had come up onto the ridge one gulley further along than I wanted to.

Along the ridge to Vanes flat summit, a couple of misty pictures as the top was just in the clouds then off down the steep twisty path.

Back onto the tracks and road for an easy mostly downhill jog to finish in about 4 1/2 hours.

Ben Vorlich

Set off for an easy out and back to Vorlich from the Arrochar Car Parks running up through Glen Loin. Low cloud and a bit of light rain but thankfully no wind.

Slow trudge up Vorlichs steep winding path into the clouds. A few rest breaks as I don't have much energy after the last week or so running and racing. Jacket on just before reaching the summit ridge. Running again past ghostly crag and rock along to the cairn, a short break then return past the trig point and back down the path to Glen Loin. Finished just under 4 hours. A few more pictures here.

Vorlich, Vane and Douglas too

With Ben Vorlich separated from the other Arrochar Alps by Loch Sloy its not one I visit too often, last time was the Arrochar Alps race in 2011. Run up through Glen Loin past Coiregrogain to the wee path that twists and turns up to Vorlich's summit ridge. Pass a few walkers on the way up, on into the mist so no views from the top today. Visit both tops the real top with the cairn and the lower one with trig point. A wee break for a re-fuel then off down the steep drop straight down to Sloy Dam. Across the dam and up to the right of the buttress, the opposite to the race route. Steady trudge up, probably one lump too far to the right and reach the ridge further down and away from the top than planned. Easier climb to the top along the ridge, this time clouds just over the tops and good views to Loch and Ben Lomond. Fun run down the tourist path past a few walkers we had met earlier on. All too soon back on the Glen Loin trail to Succoth, 15 miles, 6700' of ascent in 5 hours 50. Sunday, no plans to run but too good a day to miss and set off for Glen Douglas's hills, Beinn Bhreac, Ben Reoch and Tullich Hill, a nice wee round, 6 miles and 3300' a bit cleggy until into the breeze above the tree line, after the first climb a good undulating run round, ran lochside of the lumps between Bhreac and Reoch, pathless but an easy run, walk to a welcome breeze on the top. A few pictures and off down the steep drop towards Tullich Hill. On the way up a couple of deer amble across a hundred feet or so above. Onto the summit plateau via the usual gulley past the two lochans, more photos and views. Easy run down to Invergroin, 2 hours 45. Saturday pictures here, Sunday pictures here.