Ben Bowie

First long run  of the year, Ben Bowie via Carman Reservoir and Stoneymollen, just under 12 miles. 

Along to Renton and up the path behind the reservoir to start then across the Carman and the trail that goes past the quarry, startled by a shotgun going off, a small group beside the path had shot some bird, their dogs retrieved it, still flapping! Path across the bog to the trig, boggy, even the bits that weren't part of the bog. 

Down to the John Muir/3LW Trail for the loop over Ben Bowie, a few walkers out today and a few runners as well. 

Getting tired now and stayed on the 3LW on the way back to the Vale.

Roon the Vale in the snow

Another longer run this week, up behind the reservoir, Stoneymollan, Ben Bowie, Killoeter, Whinny Hill and Pappert Well. Walk the steeper hills and run the rest aiming for about 6 hours. Forecast wasn't good, turned out fine. Snow on the ground down to about 500', not much of a breeze which is ok for a long run. Jog walked up to the Reservoir and up towards the trig, into the snow, a bit deep to run and walked to the Trig and down to the Stoneymollan trail bruised shins from snow crust. Ran out towards Ben Bowie, stayed on the 3 lochs way trail then the Hel n back route to avoid higher snow covered ground on Ben Bowie and Killoeter. Ran most of the way to Whinny Hill except a couple of short sections through the forest. Back down the trail then across fields past Robin House through the Haldane housing estate leaving via tinkers loan up the road towards the dump, a track leads across behind the golf course, another detour, this time into a field to avoid a large bull, re-joined the track to find another 3 bulls luckily they were far enough away to allow me to scuttle past. Across a muddy field to cross to reach the Whinny Hill trail, went up the fire break, snowy swampy ground slowing me to a walk again. From the trig point straight down the ridge onto the trail and home via Bonhill Bridge and the Magic Roundabout. Finished in just over 6 hours.

The Ben from Stoneymollan Trig point

Looking towards Dumbarton from Stoneymollan Trig point

Ben  Bowie from Stoneymollan

Dumgoyne and Dumfoyne from Stoneymollan

Glens Finlas and Luss across Loch Lomond

Cameron House Marina from Whinny Hill Park

Pappert Well Trig Point

Ben Bowie and Killoeter

More off road this week using an out and back over Bromley, Carman and Overton Muirs, with a loop round Ben Bowie and Killoeter in between, less road and trail more hill and moor. Another overcast day, ran it all this week, nice and easy to start, finishing in just over three hours.

Killoeter summit

Ardmore from the Hel n Back route

Mount Mallow summit cairn

Killoeter and Ben Bowie

Reverse of the route from a few weeks ago with an extra loop round Carman reservoir along to Stoneymollan. Snow on the ground from 500'. Ran down past the Black Third taking the Hel n Back route in reverse turning right at the top of the hill up Killoeter's ridge dropped down and across the Three Lochs Way over to Ben Bowie off the back onto the John Muir Trail back to the Stoneymollan running down through Tullichewan, the Vale Hospital and Christie Park to finish.

Across the Vale from Overton Muir

Loch Lomond from the Trig point

Killoeter's summit cairn

Forest behind Ben Bowies summit

Killoeter and Ben Bowie

An out and back route over Stoneymollan today, up behind the Carman reservoir, along the muirs to the Three Lochs Way quickly turning off past Shepherds pool and the Black Third, climbing up for a run along Killoeter's ridge, across the Three Lochs Way for the short up and down Ben Bowie to the John Muir Way back to the top of the Stoney, along the ridge past the Trig point to the Fort, descending home via the Radiomast to finish in just over three hours, light was good this morning, a lot of duck egg blue, the Ben hazy in the distance.

The memory trees behind Carman reservoir

Ardmore and the Clyde off Helensburgh

Looking back down the climb up Killoeter

Looking over Killoeter's cairn to Glen Fruin

The Ben, Loch Lomond and Conic from Ben Bowie

Inchmurirn and Conic from the John Muir Trail

Trig on top of Stoney looking towards the Ben, someone's re-built the cairn!

SM BB K WH PW

Monthly long long run this weekend, Mount Mallow to start via the track behind Carman Reservoir.

Carman Reservoir and Dumbarton from Mount Mallow

Last hill, Whinny Hill from the first hill, Mount Mallow

Along past the Trig Point to the top of the Stoneymollan track, along the John Muir Trail until it starts to descend towards Glen Fruin then a short steep climb up through trees to Ben Bowie.

Helensburgh from Killoeter

A frozen Shepherds Pool

Killoeter next then onto the Red Road up past the Black Third and Shepherds pool, down the Stoney trail to Balloch.

Fairy Glen 

Into the bottom of the park along to the Fairy Glen trail up to the loop round Whinny Hill trail, back in to Balloch, up through the Haldane and followed track and trails that pass between the Golf Course and dump to Whinny Hill.

First hill, Mount Mallow from last hill, Whinny Hill

A lot of the paths were as hard as the roads, frozen solid with ruts and lumps, tough on my feet in fell shoes with their thin soles. Covered over 20 miles and nearly 4000 of ascent, walked the steeper up hills and stopped every 1 to 2 hours for some food, flapjacks were good except nearly frozen and brain freeze quickly followed each drink of juice.

Ben Bowie

Boxing day run over my local hills, made my way through fields to the track up behind Carman Reservoir, up beside the quarry through soggy ground to the trig point, running in constant wind and rain with low clouds, only a few of the islands on Loch Lomond visible.

Followed the 3 Lochs Way towards Helensburgh cutting off for the short climb up Ben Bowie. Even less of a view here.

Took the same route back to the fort on Mount Mallow.

Ran down to the radiomast and home in just over 2 1/2 hours.

Ben Bowie

Back to local hills and trails this week, Stoneymollan, Ben Bowie, Killoeter, joining them up using the Three Lochs Way and John Muir Trail. Mist and drizzle all the way round. Started up the trail behind the Carman reservoir, along the Muirs to the Stoney.

Trails to Ben Bowie then Killoeter, returning past the Black Third onto the trails.

Back over the Muirs to Carman Fort and down past the Radiomast, finishing inside 3 1/2 hours.

Stoneymollan, Killoeter, Ben Bowie

 Local run this morning, up behind the Carman reservoir over very wet Carman, Overton and Bromley Muirs, joining the 3 Lochs Way trail for a few hundred yards before continuing down past the Black Third farm.

Climbing up through trees to the Killoeter ridge line.

Helensburgh and Firth of Clyde from Killoeters summit

Loch Lomond from Ben Bowie

Ardmore Point from Ben Bowie

Narrow trod goes up the ridge past the small cairn and follows a gap in the conifers all the way round to cross over the Three Lochs Way and up to Ben Bowie's double top. Off the back of Ben Bowie along a muddy ramp and down onto the John Muir Trail.

Inchmurrin from Gowk Hill

Detouring up Gowk Hill for a couple of pictures, returned along Overton and Bromley Muirs past the Fort, Radio mast and Cemetery to finish in just over three hours.

Ben Bowie

Same route as last week which was a bit hot and set off earlier. Nice and quiet on the way out, getting busier on the way back walkers, cyclists and runners, great views to the Ben and Primroses still blooming.

Ben Bowie

Out and back to Ben Bowie again, slightly shorter missing out the other loops to the Hel n back route and Kiloeter I've tried the last few weeks. Easiest ascent route up behind the Carman reservoir, a mixture of flat and up. The three trees at different stages of  leafing out.

Up the track beside the quarry and along to the trig point spotted a wee lizard like thing, too quick for my camera. Views to the Ben a bit hazy today.

A few more people up here than usual but all keeping out of each others way. Through the gate at the top of the Stoney using a handful of grass to minimise contact. 

Ran along the 3LW and JMT turning up to Ben Bowie just after the JMT turns east.

Drop off the back of Ben Bowie through some trees on a less used path that comes out on the JMT, Back up to the 3LW and follow it to the top of the Stoney, Follow the path along to the Fort, radiomast and home.

Ben Bowie and Kiloeter

Did the usual route round Carman reservoir up the track beside the quarry and over the moor to the top of the Stoneymollan joining the 3LW to Ben Bowie. On the way back for a bit of variety went via Kiloeter, theres a narrow trod from the 3LW gate up to the ridge where a faint quad bike track runs towards the Clyde between the old and new plantations, not long after the wee cairn with a stick there's a gap in the trees where the telegraph wires run, a bit of heather bashing soon brings you out at the juncion between the Red Road and Darlieth. Returned on the track past the Black Third farm and along the top of Stoneymollan to the Fort overlooking the reservoir. Followed the club race route home past the radio mast. Paths becoming very worn with the lack of rain and increased footfall.