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

Glen Douglas

Planned a route round the three Glen Douglas Hills, cross the glen and climb Cruach an t Sidhein, Beinn Lochian and Doune Hill. Two objectives today, reach the Trig point on Monadh Tighe na Laraich on Tullich Hills North ridge and find a good descent line off Doune Hill into Glen Douglas. I had failed to reach the Trig twice before, once through fatigue and once in the clag. The direct descent off Doune Hill is full of crags and gullies, the first time I got through easily the second time cost me half an hour of re-ascent and traversing to pick my way through. Early start before 6:30, Beinn Bhreac first, no views today with cloud covering the tops, hopefully it would lift enough to reach the Trig. Ran along to Ben Reoch, the path criss-crosses a new fence line. Down towards Tullich Hill next, keeping close to the watershed to minimise height loss, the cloud had risen above the trig and I took a rising traverse towards Monadh Tighe na Laraich, hit the ridge a bit too soon giving some extra climb. This would be a good viewpoint for the Arrochar Alps on a clear day, I'll need to go back. Just over a mile to the top of Tullich Hill then the run down in to Glen Douglas through a new plantation of natural Scottish trees. I thought about stopping here but had made good time, just over three hours, and decided to stick to the plan. Set off round the Glen Douglas military base towards Cruach an t Sidhein. Steep at first following the fence line round the base then a gradual climb to a small bridge over the stream, a rising traverse to the ridge which steepens as you approach the summit, another cloudy one. Another new fence to follow down to the col before Beinn Lochain, a shortish climb then along to the twin tops of Doune Hill. Descent to Glen Douglas is off the second top, mindful of staying away from the crags I overcompensated and realised I had turned 180 degrees and was going back the way I came, luckily realised pretty quickly and only lost a few minutes. Tried again and picked a better line, avoiding the crags but not quite staying on the ridge I had hoped for, still made for an easy grassy descent to finish inside 6 1/2 hours, about an hour longer than I had hoped for probably as this route doesn't have as many paths as the other hills round Luss.

Tullich Hill from Beinn Bhreac

Loch Lomond from the traverse to Ben Reoch

Tullich Hill from Ben Reoch

Deer on Tulloch Hill

Trig on Monadh Tighe na Laraich

Arrochar from Monadh Tighe na Laraich

 Monadh Tighe na Laraich trig with Tullich Hill in the background

Doune Hills craggy flank from the descent off Tullich Hill

Ridge to Cruach an t Sidhein on the right over the Military base from Tullich Hill

Panorama of the 3 Glen Douglas hills from Doune Hill

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

Glen Fruin

Better forecast and an early start.

View up the glen towards a cloud topped A Mhanach and t'Sithein from ascent of Auchengaich 

Cool breeze climbing Auchengaich Hill not as windy on the ridge to Beinn Tharsuin and Chaorach, misty on top and clouds blowing round the Luss hills across the Glen.

Beinn Lochain and Doune Hill from Tharsuin

Dropped off the back and down to the bottom of the Glen for a traverse on a deer/sheep trod round A' Mahanach to Cruach an t Sithein, steep climb to stunning views all round from the top.

The Cobbler, Ime and Narnain from an t Sithein

About turn and back down towards A' Mhanach, went up the West side for a change, looked a bit shorter.

Looking back to An t Sithein from ascent of A Mhanach

Small herd of deer off the side of A Mhanach

Followed a fence line passed the crags then straight up the last wee grassy climb. Steady run down the Strone to finish inside 4 1/2 hours.