Double Dumgoyne

Shorter run this week, out and back to the Earls Seat going over Dumgoyne on the way out and back. Managed to run to the two big rocks then walked for a bit, started running again from the cross path that traverses round the side to the top.

View from Dumgoyne towards Loch Lomond

A bit cloudy so not too many views with a stiff breeze along the ridge to the Earls Seat. Quite boggy in places.

Dumgoyne on the way back

Finished in about two hours with a quick up and over Dumgoyne.

Dumgoyne and the Earls Seat

Glorious bank holiday Monday weather and we went for a run over this undulating wee route. Steep climb to the top of Dumgoyne to start, managed to run to the bottom of the last steep pull to the path that traverses round to the summit. Good views all round, took a few minutes picking out all the hills in sight.

Run down the back, up towards the wee cairn and along to the trig in about 70 minutes.

Took our time running back, its a bit easier as it undulates down. Finished in about 2 hours, more pictures here.

Dumgoyne and Ime

Saturday's run, double Dumgoyne with the out and back to the Earl's Seat in between. Managed to run to the two boulders on the way up then jog walked to the top. Past a few walkers on the way up Dumgoyne. Good run along to the Earl's Seat.

Sun began to break through on the way back, the climb up Dumgoyne much easier from behind.

 

About 7 miles, finished under two hours. Boathouse afternoon just had to have another double, this time Glengoyne, in celebration of the mornings run.

Sunday, blue sky perfection, away to Arrochar, had meant to run a couple, made do with Beinn Ime, stunning day among the remnants of the recent snows. Finished inside 3 hours, more pictures here.

Luss and a double Dumgoyne

Set off on Saturday for a run round and over Beinn Dubh, Mid Hill and Coille Eughain Hill, 9 miles and 3700' of ascent. Didn't quite turn out that way. Beinn Dubh first, climbing up, jog walk for the first half, then mainly walk, into the clouds and then snow with a cold wind whistling around. Stopped in a wee sheltered spot just short of the summit to put on a second jacket, head scarf and fleecy gloves.

On past the summit cairn snow a bit deeper now, not easy to run in places, slow plod round towards Mid Hill, dropping below cloud base level then back up through drifting snow a couple of feet deep in places. The wind whipping snow off the ground, good for the complexion.

Reached the cairn at the top of Mid Hill and turned back retracing my tracks, by the time I started up Beinn Dubh wind blown snow had covered them up.

As I ran down towards Luss all change within a couple of hundred yards, I dropped out the clouds with patches of sunshine around. Finished just over two hours, 8 miles and 2500' of ascent. Pictures here.

Sunday, sunny but cold and a run over Dumgoyne to the Earls seat and back was planned. A bit sluggish on the initial climb but it was a good day to be out.

From the top of Dumgoyne views to Loch Lomond and snow capped mountains all around. A lot of the boggy ground was frozen, combined with Sealskinz meant reasonably warm  (not frozen) feet. Slow jog walk up Garloch Hill before a breezy run to the Earls Seat. Although only a couple of hundred feet lower than Luss there was no snow only a freezing wind so didn't stop long at the trig. Managed to run all the way back until the last steep wee climb.

Over Dumgoyne again, an easy walk on the short steep climb up the back and a run down the front for the first time, usually take the easy way round instead of over. Loads of walkers out now. Finished in about 2 hours 20, 7 miles and 2700' of ascent. Pictures here.

Dumgoyne

Had to go to Glasgow this morning, came back via Strathblane and took in a wee recovery run over Dumgoyne to the Earl's Seat. There's three parts to this run, how far you can run up Dumgoyne before walking, time to the top, run all the way from the top to the Earl's Seat. Managed to run a good way up to two large boulders one either side of the path, then 27 mins to the top on tired legs was ok but a bit stiff legged coming down the other side.

Ground out the initial run up Garloch Hill into the cloud then along the not as bad as they look undulations to the Earl's Seat,  managed to run all the way. By the time I got there the cloud had lifted giving a good view of the way back.

Cool breeze on the top at the Earl's Seat Trig Point, didn't wait long. Trotted along avoiding the bogs as best I could but still ended up with freezing toes. By the time I got back to Garloch Hill.the cloud was lifting revealing the Loch Lomond Hills in the distance.

Toyed with the idea of running back over Dumgoyne but my quads didn't fancy the extra few hundred feet of steep downhill. Finished in 1 hour 50, about 7 miles with 2400' of ascent.

Dumgoyne

Driving out I couldn't figure why the hills behind the distillery were silver. After last nights rain, got up to a clear blue sky, almost sorry to have a short run this week in prep for next weeks Stuc. First time I've tried this run since last October, running from the distillery over Dumgoyne hill and along to the trig point at the Earls Seat. Crossed the style and started running, how far up could I run? Crossed the next pair of styles through the mud, getting steeper now, kept picking away but had to start walking short of the grassy ramp up to the boulders. Second check, 26 mins 40 secs to the top. I had passed a few a few flecks of snow on the way up and as I reached the top I could see the hills behind had taken a dump of snow.

Good fun running off Dumgoyne, a bit slippy at first, then the short scree chute lets you fly down to the bottom. Running up Gairloch hill into the snow following some footprints along the trail, these soon turn off leaving only sheep tracks. Working hard in the snow eventually reaching the small cairn marking the summit and the cold wind blowing across the moor soon cools me down. The sheep tracks veer off and leave the trail, now running over pristine snow in the sun, things could be worse. I can see the trig point in the distance, it seems to take an age to get there as the trail sweeps round past the cairn in an undulating arc. One last uphill stretch and I'm there, pause to take in the views before the run back.

Easier run back along, good fun, the snow smooths the worst of the tussocks and even the swampy bits are more or less frozen. Soon I'm running down towards Dumgoyne and the ground turns back to muddy brown. Finish in just over two hours, some more pictures here.

Dumgoyne Run, Loch Lomondside Sunday Cycle

Saturday forecast was drizzle and winds, witht he wind gaining strength with height so I decided to stay low with a run over Dumgoyne to the Earls Seat, 7 miles and 2200' of ascent. The first mile a near 1400' climb up Dumgoyne followed by a steep 300' drop off the back. After a steady 600' climb in the next mile the path undulates on for another mile and a half to the Trig Point at the Earls Seat, the highest point just under 1900'. Driving cross wind makes it difficult to run, breathe and keep your balance all at the same time. Low cloud so no views today just concentration on foot placement and trying to move forward. We turned for home, the odd wee bit of shelter but no real respite from the wind. Passed a few walkers on the drop down to the fields behind Dumgoyne thankful we had finished for the day. Sunday and a cycle to Tarbet and back about 36 miles. On the way out we kept to the Loch Lomondside road reaching Tarbet in just over an hour. On the way back we kept to the cycle path to Luss then back on to the road for the last few miles, pleased to finish my longest cycle to date in just over 2 1/2 hours.

Dumgoyne

 Back to Dumgoyne, set off from beside the distillery, aim was to run a bit further up the hill than last time, took it easy on the run up the field, once over the styles I didn't look up, just concetrated my gaze a couple of feet in front and kept my breathing under control, a wee bit further this time and managed to reach the top of the grassy stretch then jog walked to the top, 1/2 a minute quicker than last time.

The main gulley looked good for a run but when I got into it the scree didn't flow and ended up walking more than running, slower than the smaller chutes and a longer traverse back round from the bottom.

 

View towards Glasgow from the bottom of the chute

Back on track for the undulating run to the Earls seat, worked hard at taking the climbs nice n steady and managed to run all the way arrived at the trig in 66 mins. Stopped for a drink and a picture of the cloud lying in the Corrie of Balglass.

Turned for the run back, jacket on in the misty rain, only a few short ups and managed to run them all, finished in 1 hour 45.

Earls Seat in the clouds

Short run today, 7 miles with 2500' of ascent. Starting beside the Glengoyne Distillery, ran up through the fields onto the steep climb up Dumgoyne Hill, reached the top in just over 25 mins, 1 minute quicker than last time. Dumgoyne summit was sitting just under the cloudbase, the rest of the route in cloud. Over the back and a nice scree run on the way down. Didn't try the main scree chute it looked a bit rocky.

 

 After Dumgoyne an nice run along undulating grassy slopes past a couple of cairns to the trig point. Reached the first cairn in another 20 mins then the trig in 20 more. A short stop at the trig point to empty the scree from my shoes then easy running back along the undualting ridge to finish in 1 hour 41.

Dumgoyne and the Earls Seat

Short run this morning, 7 miles with 2500' of ascent. We started beside the Glengoyne Distillery, running up through the fields to the steep climb up Dumgoyne Hill. Over the back and a nice scree run on the way down.

View of Dumgoyne from the back, next time we'll try to access the main scree chute rather than the smaller one that starts half way down.

After Dumgoyne its an undulating run up into the clouds to the cairn at the top of Garloch Hill. Past the cairn the path runs through a series of short ups and downs all the way to the Earls Seat. A short stop at the trig point and then we turn for home, easy running back along the undualting ridge then a fast grassy descent back to the finish.

View towards Loch Lomond from Garloch Hill.
A nice short run, we were 65 minutes out and 30 minutes back, that includes 26 minutes to the top of Dumgoyne, would go quicker on fresh legs.

Earl's Seat Sat 1st Nov

I have passed the Dumgoyne distillery by car and running on the WHW, today parked in the layby opposite and set off for a walk to the Earl's Seat, at 578m the highest point in the Campsies.

There are paths either side of the distillery which soon steepen after you cross the fence below Dumgoyne a steeeep little hill in itself. Luckily our route went past on the west side rather than over the top. Past Dumgoyne the route undulates along over Gairloch Hill past Clachertyfarlie Knowes and a couple of un-named tops to the Earl's Seat. No mega climbs and always a path to follow. Even the sun came out as we made our way along.



Views galore, over Glasgow's high flats, Ailsa Craig, Arran's peaks, Loch Lomond & it's East facing Glens, Finlas, Luss and Douglas, the Arrochar Alps with the Cobbler obvious and Ben Ime's peak glowing white, on to Ben Lomond, Conic Hill, the North horizon filled with snow covered peaks, Ben Lui, Ben More & Stob Binnien prominent.

More pics in the Galleria.