Glen Finlas loop

 A bike, run, bike day, out and back cycle to the Glen Finlas reservoir with a run round the surroundng hills in between. Abandoned the planned outing to Arrochar and set off for Finlas on the bike, couple of steep climbs on the way up the Glen to warm me up before the hill run. Took the trail alongside the reservoir, more like a river today, then a faint path that leads up to the ridge, an old fence marks the way,  a steep wee climb, about 1000' in less than half a mile, a small herd of deer watched my slow progress from the top. Up on to the ridge, fine views all round, down the Clyde estuary to Arran, over Loch Lomond and towards the white topped Crianlarich and Arrochar munros. Once I reach the ridge there's a better path, good running over Beinn Ruisg, Creag an Leinibh and the 2 Balcnoc tops, all down hill from the second one. Leave the path about a mile and a half after Balcnoc2 for the pathless descent towards the reservoir, doesn't take long to realise I left the path too soon again, should have stayed on another half mile or so, traverse along sheep and deer trods to avoid the worst of the tussocks and ditches. Short run across the dam back to the bike, cold toes on the cycle home.

 

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

Luss Hill Run

New route over familiar hills today, ran up the glen a couple of miles to the end of the road,  cutting through fields to avoid the farm at Edentaggart, after the farm continued up the glen for a mile or so on a farm track, found a small bridge to get across Luss Water and followed a quad bike track to the bottom of a nice grassy ridge leading up to Beinn Chaorach. From Chaorach it's an undulating run back to the bottom of the glen over the tops between Glen Luss and Glens Fruin and Finlas. Tharsuin and Balcnoc to start then Creag an Leinibh, turned away from Glen Finlas to drop down Coillie Eughain Hill, you always forget how much slower its peat hags make the run down this ridge, finished with a tussocky run down the paps and back over Luss Water at the Fairy Pools.

Towards Cruach an t Sidhein from the end of the quad bike track 

Another Fairy Pool?

Stream tumbling from Balcnoc

Ridge line to the bottom of the glen from Chaorach

From Chaorach towards Arrochar

From Creag an Leinibh towards Loch Lomond & Conic Hill

Ascent ridge to Chaorach from Creag an Leinibh

Beinn Dubh and Mid Hill (Glen Striddle) from CE Hill