Beinn Dubh to Cruach Dubh the short way

Luss hills for a long run this week, left it until the afternoon to catch better weather, cloud level gradually lifted during the run. Planned loop starting on Beinn Dubh, crossing Glen Luss and on to the top of Glen Finlas, finishing down Cruach Dubh, the hill the Luss Highland Games race is run over. Good paths over Dubh/Mid hills then rougher ground on the Finlas side. Climbed Beinn Dubh, running the flatter bits and walking the steep. Warm on the way up the sun threatening to break through took a layer off, passed a few walking groups and into the cloud towards the top. Stopped for a drink at the top, rain started, jacket and hat on for the run round the corries to Mid Hill. Dropped out the wind down Mid Hill, warmer again. Ran up to the end of the Glen road then across fields to a small bridge over Luss Water and the trudge up Coille Eughain hill. From the top ran and walked up the ridge to Creag an Leinibh over looking Glens Luss and Finlas. From the top turned back toward Loch Lomond along the ridge to Beinn Ruisg then through peat hags to Creagan Hill overlooking Loch Lomond. About 3 miles from here to the finish over Cruach Dubh, pathless and tussocky to start, aimed for Ben Lomond until a quad bike track appears, take that until about half way down, cut off as it turns away, more tussocks and faint sheep tracks until a better path forms for the last climb up Cruach Dubh, a tussocky traverse across the top to the Games Hill race route, finishing past the Luss Water Fairy Pool.

Beinn Dubh cairn

Beinn Ruisg from Coille Eughain Hill

Glen Finlas and Loch Lomond from Creag an Leinibh

Clyde Estuary from Beinn Ruisg

Loch Lomond from Creagan Hill

Wander in the Luss hills

A longer run this week, walking the ups, running the flatter bits and the downs, start and finished at the bottom of Glen Luss, climbed Beinn Dubh as the sun rose, the moon visible above the Glen Finlas hills I would return over on the way back, along to Mid hill, fantastic views to the Arrochar Alps and Crianlarich munros in the early morning haze. Dropped into the top of Glen Luss at Sith Mor, rough climb up to Doune Hills trig point, Beinn Lochain next before Cruach an t Sidhein, a steep descent and traverse round Mahanach at the back of Glen Fruin, gradual climb up Chaorach at first then straight up beside the fenceline to the Trig and Cairned summit, most of the climbing done now, an undulating run across Tharsuin, and a couple of minor tops before descending over the Paps finishing at the bottom of Glen Luss.

Arrochar Alps from Beinn Dubh

Ben More and Stob Binnien from Beinn Dubh

Beinn a Mhanach from Cruach an t Sidhein

View from Cruach an t Sidhein, route back via hills on the right

View from Chaorachs Trig/Cairn summit to the Clyde/Ardmore point

Conic Hill from Chaorach

Loch Lomond from the Paps

Luss Loop

Shorter Luss loop this time, straight up Beinn Dubh past some inquisitive Tups, along the ridge to Mid Hill, down to the Glen road, turned and ran up just past where the tarmac road finishes across a field to a bridge over Luss water and up the steep side of Coille-eughain Hill, down over the Paps back across Luss water to finish in about 3 hours. Autumn colours everywhere with a splash of sunshine turning things golden.

Tups at the bottom of Beinn Dubh

Looking back down Beinn Dubh

Beinn Dubh with Loch Lomond beyond from Mid Hill

Glen Luss from Mid Hill

Glen Luss from Mid Hill

View over Luss from the Paps

Mid Hill and Beinn Dubh from the Paps

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 Fruin Finlas

Longer run this week, cycled to the foot of Glen Luss, a cold start, frozen gear mechanism made for hard work. Set off up Beinn Dubh under blue skies and a cool breeze with a brisk walk and jogging the flatter parts.

Ran along the ridge to Mid Hill  as great views opened up to the Arrochar Alps, Crianlarich Munros and beyond. Dropped off to the North into Sith Mor and a long trudge up Doune Hill.

Stopped at Doune Hills trig for some food, water and chat with a hillwalker. Ran back towards Loch Lomond to Beinn Lochain then out to the hills overlooking Glens Fruin and Finlas. 

Clouds bubbling up now, snow and hail showers coming in from the North. Short climb up Cruach an t Sidhein then a steep drop, on the climb out the Luss water gulley cramp kicked in, thankfully a few raisins and cranberries seemed to solve the problem as I had 6 or 7 miles to go. Walked most of the tussocky traverse to the watershed between Glens Luss and Fruin before the last big climb up Beinn Chaorach.

From here an undulating ridge over Beinn Tharsuin and Creag an Leinbh overlooking Glen Finlas, dropping back towards Glen Luss down through the peat hags covering Coille Eughain Hill to finish back at the foot of Glen Luss, about 6 1/2 hours, steady cycle home.

Luss Horseshoe

Easier run this week, a shorter Luss horseshoe, Beinn Dubh, Mid Hill and Coille-Eughain Hill. Set off just after nine as the sun rose at the Balloch end of Loch Lomond. Ground half frozen meant my feet stayed reasonably warm and dry. 

Beinn Eich from Beinn Dubh

The Ben looked good, snow and cloud capped across the loch. A few patches of snow on top of Beinn Dubh, bitter wind with fantastic views to the hills at Arrochar, Crianlarich and beyond.

Second pair of gloves on running along the ridge to Mid Hill gradually thawed out my fingers. Warmed up again as I got out the wind on the descent into the glen. Across and up Coille-Eughain Hill.

Beinn Dubh and Mid Hill from Coille-Eughain Hill

Thankfully CE Hill is not so high and more sheltered from the wind, easy run down over the Paps couple of detours, one to go around a new deer fenced area the other to help a sheep stuck in a gate.

Finished in about 3 1/2 hours