Luss Lollipop recce

New race next week, went for a run round the route, I have run most of it in my training runs in the Luss Hills except for the drop into Glen Mollochan and the climb up Southern flank of Beinn Dubh. Runnable climb up Beinn Dubh and round to Mid Hill, rough tussocky descent into Glen Mollochan. Sting in the tail is the 1000' climb back to the top of Beinn Dubh in half a mile, varies between steep and hands and knees steep, mercifully it's only half a mile then a nice grassy run  down to finish at the bottom of Glen Luss inside 2 hrs 15.

Beinn Dubh ascent

Beinn Dubh ascent 2

Beinn Dubh descent

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 Mollochan Horseshoe

Another earlyish start, drove up to the top of the glen, the one car space was full, as I turned to go back down the glen a couple of guys came out the field carrying rucksacks, parked just down the road to wait and see if they had camped and were on their way, a few minutes later and off they went so I got my space and set off.

Beinn Eich with Doune Hills two tops back right

Beinn Eich to start, taking it easy up the initial steep slopes, into the mist just before the top.

 Running off the back of Beinn Eich heading for Beinn Lochain

Looking back to Beinn Eich on the way up Beinn Lochain

Slow and steady running along the undulating ridge over Beinn Lochain and up Doune Hill.

Doune Hill Trig Point

Doune Hill's second top

Stopped at Doune's trig then down and up to its second top, the descent into the glen much smoother from here as the drop off after the first top is gulley ridden making for a stop start run.

 Looking along the glen towards Glen Douglas

Sith Mor with Mid Hill behind

Ferns and tussocks to negotiate as I reach Sith Mor, pick my way through sticking to the grassier bits as much as possible before the trudge up the back of Mid Hill, a few clegs in the stillness of the glen encourages a bit of effort to gain height and hopefully a breeze to discourage the stealthy biters. Breeze kicks in about half way up then its back into the mist for a wee detour to the two small cairns on the unnamed tops that you need to visit.

Unnamed top "657"

Turned round and ran back in to the glen to finish in three and a bit hours.

Luss Horseshoe

Afternoon run, very warm today, thankful for the breeze once I gained a bit of height. Wasn't sure of the route and decided on Eich, Lochain, Doune, Mid. Set off easy up Beinn Eich, stopped to watch a couple of eagles wheeling around.

Tried to take a picture with my phone!

Thankful for sunscreen and a breeze towards the top. Stopped for a couple of pictures, only local hills, the rest lost in the haze.

Cruach an t Sidhein  from Beinn Eich

Ran off the back and stopped to look at a route change, turning left and returning via Chorach/Tharsuin, will do that another day and take in CTS. Ran over Beinn Lochain and up to Doune's trig point summit, a couple of pictures, then down and up its second slightly lower summit.

Doune Hills trig point from its second top

Running down into the glen towards Sith Mor is easier from this top, not so many gullies and steep drops to avoid, worth the few minutes of extra climb.

Beinn Dubh from last wee cairn 

Across the tussocks at the bottom and trudged up Mid Hill, took in the two wee stone cairns and a couple of pictures before turning back and dropping into the glen finishing inside 3 1/2 hours with a cool down in the Glen Mollochan burn.

Luss again

Saturday short Fort run, Sunday, longer run, Luss horseshoe, this time Beinn Dubh, Mid Hill, Doune Hill, Beinn an Lochain, Beinn Eich, reverse of 4 weeks ago. Set off under low cloud, cool, no breeze. After a mile and 1000' popped up through the clouds to skylarks and blue skies above a sea of cotton wool. Views got better with every step.

View back down Loch Lomond from near the top of Beinn Dubh

Along the ridge then down into Sith Mor, cloud flowing up the Glen like a high tide from the Loch. Steady trudge up to the trig point on Doune Hill.

View to Arrochar Alps past Doune Hill's Trig point.

Running again up and over Beinn an Lochain and Beinn Eich and a last look to the snowy peaks. Steady run to the Glen road pausing to watch two Eagles spiral slowly up and round to their eyrie in a neighbouring glen.

Today's route, Beinn Dubh, Mid Hill, Doune Hill from Beinn Eich.

About 13 miles and 5000' of ascent, just under 4 1/2 hours, somehow always takes longer in this direction. quiet today only one person on Beinn Dubh side and one small group starting up Beinn Eich as I came down. More pictures here.