Luss hill run

Wanted to try some of the hills at the top of the glen, difficult parking so parked at the bottom of the glen and cycled up to the end of the tarmac and chained up the bike. Planned route was Beinn Eich and Lochain, across to Cruach an t Sidhein, back via Beinn Chaorach on the other side of the glen. Up Beinn Eich into thick mist, about 30 or 40 metres visibility, it was warm , not much wind a bit like being in a sauna. Over the top and along to Lochain, paths quite difficult to pick out, from Lochain to CATS no paths and with little visibility soon gave up returning to Lochain, ran along to Doune Hill, paths ok then turned back the way I came over Lochain and Eich, at the bottom of Eich turned up the farm track and across to the bottom of the ridge from Chaorach, the one I should have come down, made up some of the miles I lost, the clouds were now rising and I could see the col between Lochain and CATS just under the cloud base, would have been easy to miss it in the clag.

Glen Douglas

Back to Glen Douglas for the first time in a year, longer run planned, a circuit of the hills on the Loch Lomond side of the glen then across the Glen for a couple of other hills. Parked in the hill access car park and set off for Beinn Bhreac, steady walk up, followed the quad bike track until I could see the fence then straight up, over the fence and it's a short walk/trot to the trig point, good views but a bit limited with the low cloud. Easy run towards Ben Reoch on a quad bike track beside a fence, walked the uphill then left the track as it dropped towards Loch Lomond, a short tussock bash and I'm on top. Tullich Hill next via the Spotty Trig at Monadh Tighe Na Laraich, mostly tussocks with the odd faint path where I could find it. Good views to Arrochar and the Alps from the Spotty Trig. From here faint paths wind up towards Tullich they disappear as the gradient increases. Over the top and descend a better path on the eastern ridge until it reaches the new plantation of native & conifer trees. Stumble down to a track 3/4's of the way through the trees that goes along towards the back entrance to the MOD missile store. Use their bridge to cross the river and set off round the outside of the fence, prohibited area warning signs frown on me as I run along. Back into walk mode as it gets steeper, a well worn path follows the outside of the fence. Leave the fence at the back of the compound and head up a glen towards Cruach an t Sidhein, another handy bridge gets me across a stream onto the North ridge of this steep wee hill, a cold wind makes for hard going, reluctant to stop to refuel, should have as the climb took longer and felt harder than it should. Didn't hang about on top in the blustery wind, jogged down the steep drop for a quick refuel before the climb up to Beinn Lochain. One more hill to go, Doune Hill, but its got 2 tops, thought about going round the 2nd top but it only took a few minutes to go over. Descent via the east ridge to avoid the crags, pleasant grassy quad bike track to start then mostly sheep mown ground before a tussock bash to the river and haven of my car.

Arrochar Alps from Bhreac, looking between Tullich left, Reoch right

Top of Loch Lomond from Bhreac

Tullich from Reoch

The Spotty Trig silhouetted against The Brack from Reoch, 

Arrochar from the Spotty Trig

Cruach an T Sidhein, back right and Doune Hills 2 tops in cloud on the left from Tullich

Beinn Eich from Cruach an t Sidhein

Doune Hills top from its 2nd (lower) top, you can just see the Trig

Luss horsehoe

Longest run for a couple of months, uncertain forecast, windy with a mix of sun and showers. Plan was to run up to the top of the glen road, run out over Beinns Eich and  Lochain to Doune Hill, coming back via Mid Hill and Beinn Dubh. 2 miles of tarmac to start, not my favourite surface. Steady plod up Beinn Eich, walking most of the way, the hill keeping much of the cold NW wind away, a small shower blew through clearing just before I reached the top. Set off towards Beinn Lochain into a much stronger wind, ok on the way down, made for hard going back up, walking what is usually a runnable climb to Beinn Lochain. Towards Doune Hill the ridge swings east allowing the wind to help me up the short steep climb to the trig point. Didn't hang about at the top as the sky darkened again, a hail squall blew over me. Soon cleared to leave a pleasant run down into the glen. Another steep climb to Mid Hill, a series of grassy ramps ease the gradient, had to stop a few times to catch my breath and take in the views. Onto the ridge to Mid Hills small cairns. A few hill walkers out now, the first I had passed since the start, a couple of short climbs then a longer gradual descent before a gradual climb back into the wind to Beinn Dubhs cairn. Last couple of miles down to the foot of Glen Luss in pleasantly warm sun, hat and gloves off , jacket and fleece opened.

Doune Hill from Beinn Eich

Doune Hill Trig looking past Mid Hill to Loch Lomond

Glen Luss, Mid Hill left, Beinn Eich, and Coillie Eughain Hill right

A cloud capped Cobbler from Mid Hill 

Google pano from Mid Hill, L to R , Eich, Lochain, Doune(2 tops).

Eich, Lochain, Doune, Mid, Dubh

I had planned this run for a few weeks but didn't have the energy or time to try it, a horseshoe over the north side of Glen Luss. Went out on Friday as I had a day out Saturday at the National Whisky Festival of Scotland in SWG3, great decision as the weather was blue sky perfect on Friday with ;little wind. Parked at the bottom of Glen Luss and ran a couple of miles up the road turning off for a steep trudge up Beinn Eich, the top few hundred feet covered in snow. Stayed above the snowline along the ridge over Beinn Lochain to Doune Hill, slow going but worth it for the views. Dropped down into the glen and Sith Mor before an even slower trudge up the back of Mid Hill, into the snow again near the top. A few icy patches on the flat bog sections on the way to Beinn Dubh. Easy run from the top to the foot of the glen. Took a bit longer than usual with the snow, ice and picture stops.

The top of Eich and view along to Doune Hills twin tops

Crianlarich Munros over Ben Bhreac

Ben Lomond from Beinn Eich

Loch Lomond and Mid Hill from Doune Hill

Cobbler Ime and Narnain from Mid Hill

  

Luss Loop

Steady run over a few Luss hills, parked at the entrance to the glen, ran up the road to the top then onto the hills, Beinn Eich, Beinn Lochain, Doune Hill, drop down to Sith Mor, up Mid Hill, followed the ridge round to Beinn Dubh descending to the entrance of the glen, about 4 hours. Felt like giving up on the climb up Beinn Eich, some food and drink at the top, decided to carry on to Doune Hill, only a couple of small climbs after all & I could turn back when I got there. As you do I decided to keep on with the planned route, some more food before Mid Hill, a bit slower than last time but happy to finish.

Finlas hills from Beinn Eich

Looking back to Beinn Eich from Beinn Lochain

Doune Hill trig

Glen Mollochan from Doune Hill

Luss from Beinn Dubh

Luss Hills

Ran todays route about 5 weeks ago except in the opposite direction and in cold and windy conditions, a lot warmer and drier underfoot now.  Todays route was Beinn Dubh, Mid Hill, Doune Hill, Beinn Lochain, Beinn Eich finishing with a run down the glen road. Afternoon run having watched the football on Friday night. Steady jog up Beinn Dubh and along the ridge to Mid Hill, dropped down grassy slopes towards Sith Mor surprising a few deer on the way, crossed tussocky ground then up Doune Hills fern covered eastern flank to the col between the twin tops, up to the trig point then along the ridge over Lochain, Eich and back into Glen Luss for a couple of miles on the road to finish, about 15 mins slower this time, cooled down with a seat in Luss Water.

Arrochar Alps from Beinn Dubh

Couple of Deer on the run into Sith Mor

Looking down Glen Mollochan from ascent of Doune Hill

Last wee climb up to Doune Hills Trig Point

View of Loch Lomond from Beinn Eich

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

Luss

Start point same as last week at the entrance to Glen Luss early start running for 6:15 going straight up the road to the top of the glen to Beinn Eich, up and over Beinn Eich, bitter wind from about half way up. Down the back, over Beinn Lochain and round to Doune Hills main top with the trig point, no hanging about today, the Arrochar Alps looked bleak. Dropped down in to Sith Mor before the trudge up Mid Hill, back into a cold wind along the ridge to Beinn Dubh, passing 5 or 6 runners going the other way, easy run down to finish in just over 3 1/2 hours.

At the bottom of the climb up Beinn Eich, Beinn Lochain and Doune hills twin tops in the background

Doune Hill from Beinn Lochain

Arrochar Alps from Doune Hill

Mid Hill from the col between Doune Hills twin tops

The loch from Beinn Dubh

Pano of Arrochar Alps with Glen Douglas hills foreground

L to R; Beinn an Lochain, the Cobbler, Ime, Narnain, Vane, A'Chrois, Vorlich