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

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

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.