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.

Vane Ime

Back to Arrochar for a harder run, ran up Glen Loin to start turning off at the Ben Vane path, steady trudge to the top, short break to take in the views. Easy run down to Lag Uaine and another steep trudge to the top of Ime. Ran down the Buttermilk Burn path past the Narnain Boulders, cut off for a nice run down the argo track to finish.

Nearly Beinn Ime

First run in Arrochar for a while, taking the easy route up the walkers paths as they zig zag slowly upwards. Past the Narnain Boulders to decision time at Bealach A'Mhaim. Which way to go, Cobbler, Ime, Narnain or two or all three, I wanted to do all 3. Decided to try Ime on its own as I am not at my fittest and had struggled a bit on the run up. Steady trudge up the path into the clouds, a little snow at first, gradually increasing until about 500' from the top I was in a white bubble, sky merged into ground, I could get my compass out to stay on track or turn back, I was moving a bit slow and getting cold so I turned back, easy run back to the top of the zig zags where I took the path that traverses across the front of Narnain and found an old quad bike track we used to take to avoid the zig zag and block paths, good end to the run with easy running on this grassy track.

Ime from Bealach A'Mhaim

Into the snow

Across Glen Croe from Ime

Narnain from the boulders

Buttermilk burn

Loch Long from quad bike track

   

Arrochar Run

Change of plan due to the low cloud, instead of the hills round Glens Finlas and Fruin which turn into vague grassy lumps in the mist went to Arrochar for mostly easy to follow trails. Ran up the Glen Loin trail to Coirgrogain on to the Ben Vane path, a steep trudge accompanied by noisy complaints from various departments, quads, glutes and hips, probably due to 2 races in 5 days this last week. Quite a few walkers out today, you hear them first, their outlines emerging from the grey mist and rock then fade back to noise after I pass them. Vanes summit empty and cold in the mist and wind, a quick re-fuel and off towards Ime via the turning stone, the turning stone is a large boulder that marks my preferred descent. Easy run down through tussocks, soft rushes and over streams and bogs, all looking unfamiliar in the mist. I had hoped to drop below the mist at Lag Uaine, the lowest point between Vane and Ime, no luck today the mist fills the glen. Make my way across to a narrow ridge to start the climb to Glas Bealach half way to Ime, a faint path winds its way up fading at the bottom of a crag where a grassy ramp provides a way through, the next part towards Glas Bealach is pathless again, the climb feels too easy and I've veered away from the up slope, stop to check the ground aspect, I don't want to end up on Beinn Choarranach instead of Ime, a quick traverse and I was back on track for the steep climb from Glas Bealach, despite aches and pains going up Vane this climb went better than usual, more ghostly shapes appear as I reach the summit, lots of walkers from here. Drop off Ime to Bealach a'Mhaim then down the path that runs past the Narnain Boulders, the Buttermilk burn providing pleasant company to the top of the zig zags back to Succoth.

Glen Loin trail

Lochs Lomond, Arklet & Katrin from Vane

Ben Vane summit

Turning Stone

Crag on Ime

Ime's summit

Buttermilk Burn

Arrochar run

Weather window on Saturday morning promising a gentle breeze decided to drive up to Arrochar for the first time in about 6 weeks for a run in the Alps. Stuck to the walkers paths and trails, initially up past the Narnain Boulders to Bealach a'Mhaim, from there Narnain, back to the Bealach then The Cobbler turning back to the Bealach again and back down the path beside the Buttermilk burn and the Narnain Boulders. Pleased to be out even though a bit damp and no views with the low cloud.

Narnains summit trig

The Needle on the Cobblers summit

Buttermilk Burn

Tulllch Hill (Glen Douglas)

Arrochar run

Fine weather forecast for Saturday decided on an Arrochar hill run for the first time in 3 months, last one was the week before Christmas. After two years of cancellations a new race up and down the Cobbler is hopefully going ahead at the end of April, decided to try and find the route. After a couple of miles on forest tracks from Ardgarten found a white marker on a narrow path heading through fir trees towards the SE end of the An t Sron ridge, steep, out the trees a faint path and still steep until the An t Sron top then run walk the undulating path up to the Cobblers summit. Continued over the Cobbler down to Lag Uaine and maintained a slow jog to Ime's summit, back to Lag Uaine then the short trudge up Narnain. Dropped back down to Lag Uaine onto the Buttermilk burn path past the Narnain Boulders to the top of the zig zags, from there traversed across around the lower slopes of An t Sron hoping to pick up the Cobbler race descent. Pathless tussocks at first then an old quad bike track, followed that as it dipped towards the forest, made for an easy route through the trees and soon reached one of the many forest tracks, a few switchbacks later and I was on familiar ground, a short easy run back to Ardgarten.

Loch Long

The Cobbler from An t Sron

Ime from the Cobbler

Ime's summit

The Cobbler from Narnain

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

Arrochar run

Early start ran up the Glen Loin trail to Coiregrogain then trudge up the Ben Vane access path, visibility poor in mist on the lower slopes, opened up a bit about half way up, a couple of showers but warm enough to run without a jacket. A short break on the top then dropped off the back down grassy slopes into Lag Uaine, across the valley floor and up towards Glas Bealach turned south up steep slopes to Ime's rocky top, a few people here, the first I had seen since leaving Succoth, sheltering behind the cairn. Another short break then down to Bealach a'Mhaim and the path beside the Buttermilk burn back to Succoth inside 4 1/2 hours.

On the way up Ben Vane

Looking back down Ben Vane

Ben Vane summit

Turning stone, 280 degree bearing from Vanes summit

Lochan on the way down to Lag Uaine

Water falls on the way up to Glas Bealach

Ben Ime's summit cairn