Beinn Dubh to Cruach Dubh, the short way

This weeks long run in the Luss Hills, started and finished at the foot of the glen, Beinn Dubh to start, Cruach Dubh to finish, in between a few paths, some tussocks and lots of peat hags. From Beinn Dubh ran along the ridge to Mid Hill and down to the top of the Glen Road, there's a small wooden bridge across Luss Water before the steep climb up Coille Eughain Hill, instead of running down over the Paps from there, turned west up to Creag An Leinibh overlooking Glen Finlas then running South East on a broad grassy ridge over Beinn Ruisg to Creachan Hill via 100s of peat hags, only 2 or 3 miles to go now, the first couple south west, pathless and tussocky and luckily mainly downhill, a short climb up the back of Cruach Dubh before a last run down to the foot of Glen Luss.

From Mid Hill looking back to Beinn Dubh

Luss Water from the bridge at the top of the glen

Loch Lomond and Conic Hill from Creag An Leinibh

Luss Water Fairy Pool from the bridge at the bottom of the glen

Beinn Dubh to Cruach Dubh, the short way

Luss hill run, Beinn Dubh to start, along to Mid Hill and down in to the glen, cross over for the climb to Coille Eughain, ridge up to Creag an Leinibh, coming back over Beinn Ruisg, Creaghan hill to Cruach Dubh, called the short way as its only about 13 miles, I have a route I would like to do that starts and finishes with the same hills but takes in the a few more hills.

Running up through Bluebell woods to start, clear skies today with a cold cold wind on the way up Beinn Dubh, views to the Arrochar Alps and beyond well worth it. Easy run along to mid hill, caught by a couple of runners on their way to Doune Hill. Down to the glen road, the day warming up now, short run to the top of the glen and a trudge up Coillie Eughains steep flank, running again on a faint path weaving round the peat hags towards Creag an Leinibh, walk the last few hundred feet as the gradient increases. Route undulates down from here on, running parallel and above the Finlas reservoir the path fades out on the approach to Creaghan hill. From there its sheep track, tussock jumping and heather bashing down to the back of Cruach Dubh picking up a quad bike track to the top then the Luss Highland Games Hill race descent path back to Luss.

Bluebell slopes at the bottom of Beinn Dubh

Ben and Loch Lomond from Beinn Dubh

Creag an Leinibh from Coillie Eughain Hill

North from Creag an Leinibh, mountains for miles

Sparkling Finlas reservoir from Beinn Ruisg

Cruach Dubh and th eloch from from Beinn Ruisg

Arran over the Roseneath Peninsula from Creaghan Hill

Mid Hill from the bottom of Glen Luss

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.

Finlas and Fruin

Bike, run, bike today, cycle to the top of Glen Finlas, run a loop round the Finlas and Fruin reservoirs, cycle home.

The Ben from Duck Bay

Bright and breezy morning with some cloud on the tops. Along the track until just past the reservoir then up joining the low part of the ridge between Creagan Hill and Beinn Ruisg.

Conic Hill and islands of Loch Lomond from Beinn Ruisg

Finlas reservoir and Loch Lomond from col at the head of Glen Finlas

Followed the ridge round the top of the glen over Creag an Lenibh to a top marked 693. Due west to Beinn Tharsuin then NW to Chaorach.

Beinn Chaorach summit cairn and trig

Conic from Chaorach

Mahanaich from Chaorach

Steep drop NW into the glen and across Auchengaich burn.

Fruin reservoir from Mahanaich

Continuing NW climbing up into the clouds to find the top of Beinn a Mhanaich. South from here down the ridge skirting the bump that is Maol am Fheidh and down the Strone to the Haul road.

Fruin reservoir from the start of the climb up Auchengaich hill

Crossed the Auchngaich burn again and turning east immediately through the gate up Auchengaich hill, North to Tharsuin then East to top 693, South over another bump called Balcnock.

Ardmore from Balcnock

Descent to Finlas reservoir

SE and East down steep slopes to the Finlas reservoir in just over 5 hours.

Beinn Dubh to Cruach Dhubh

Planned this route for a few weeks, weather and things getting in the way. Set off later than I wanted starting to run before 9, Beinn Dubh first, easy jog to the top in about an hour, passed 3 people going up , 1 coming down. Ground dry and part frozen with the cold wind made keeping feet dry and toes warm a possibility. Around the corries to Mid Hill, good views of the Arrochar Alps, snowy hills beyond a bit hazy.

High cloud meant not much sun. Ran down Mid Hill turning right up to the top of the glen road, through fields to the river, crossing via a small bridge hidden among trees, shortish steep climb up Coillie-eughain Hill, onto the ridge and ran South West up to Creag an Leinbh on the Glen Finlas horseshoe.

Creag an Leinbh from Mid Hill

From Creag an Leinbh ran along the ridge towards Loch Lomond over Beinn Ruisg, good views all round.

The path disintegrates through peat hags and swamps on the approach to Creagan Hill. From there I turned North and down towards Cruach Dhubh.

Chasing deer and other wildlife over trackless ground, trying to get a good picture instead of concentrating on navigation and arrived at the wrong top and had to back track to the main top behind Luss the one used for the Highland games Hill race.

Luss from Crucah Dhubh, new flag required!

Short drop down and back across the river finishing inside 5 hours. More pictures here.