Back to Arrochar for a harder run, ran up Glen Loin to start turning off at the Ben Vane path, steady trudge to the top, short break to take in the views. Easy run down to Lag Uaine and another steep trudge to the top of Ime. Ran down the Buttermilk Burn path past the Narnain Boulders, cut off for a nice run down the argo track to finish.
Long run on a Friday for a change, fine day for a run if a bit hot, planned route was Glen Loin, Lag Uaine, Beinn Ime, Narnain. Turned out slightly different. Steady run round Glen Loin from Succoth, the trail goes up in a series of ramps round the base of A'Chrois into Coiregrogain, left the trail at the top of the loop into the glen between Vane and Ime, briskish walk to start, narrow paths and sheep tracks fade in and out on the way to Lag Uaine, at the end of this flat plain turn up Ime's steep slopes on pathless ground, climbing a series of small grassy ridges beside rocky crags before the main corrie opens up, one last climb to the summit ridge, as I topped out views to Narnain and the Cobbler opened up, in the back ground the Luss hills were invisible in black cloud and rain, thunder rumbling, thought I might be ok as there was little wind and its a few miles away, as I left the summit I could see a need to get off the hill a bit quicker, initially running towards Bealach a'Mhaim and the storm then turning left down into Coiregrogain, hopefully away from the storm, and somewhat safer among fir trees, heavy rain, quite refreshing, and loud extended rumblings as I reached the valley floor, the first lightning flash followed by more thunder a few seconds later, pushed on down the glen, the next flash and bang thankfully further apart. Running back round A'Chrois the rain went off and sun came out again, the only moan was sore feet running on the stoney forest trail.
Change of plan due to the low cloud, instead of the hills round Glens Finlas and Fruin which turn into vague grassy lumps in the mist went to Arrochar for mostly easy to follow trails. Ran up the Glen Loin trail to Coirgrogain on to the Ben Vane path, a steep trudge accompanied by noisy complaints from various departments, quads, glutes and hips, probably due to 2 races in 5 days this last week. Quite a few walkers out today, you hear them first, their outlines emerging from the grey mist and rock then fade back to noise after I pass them. Vanes summit empty and cold in the mist and wind, a quick re-fuel and off towards Ime via the turning stone, the turning stone is a large boulder that marks my preferred descent. Easy run down through tussocks, soft rushes and over streams and bogs, all looking unfamiliar in the mist. I had hoped to drop below the mist at Lag Uaine, the lowest point between Vane and Ime, no luck today the mist fills the glen. Make my way across to a narrow ridge to start the climb to Glas Bealach half way to Ime, a faint path winds its way up fading at the bottom of a crag where a grassy ramp provides a way through, the next part towards Glas Bealach is pathless again, the climb feels too easy and I've veered away from the up slope, stop to check the ground aspect, I don't want to end up on Beinn Choarranach instead of Ime, a quick traverse and I was back on track for the steep climb from Glas Bealach, despite aches and pains going up Vane this climb went better than usual, more ghostly shapes appear as I reach the summit, lots of walkers from here. Drop off Ime to Bealach a'Mhaim then down the path that runs past the Narnain Boulders, the Buttermilk burn providing pleasant company to the top of the zig zags back to Succoth.
Longer run this week, Glen Loin, Ben Vane, Beinn Ime, Narnain and the Cobbler. Struggled through Glen Loin and up Vane from Coiregrogain, took my time and pleased to see I was only a few minutes slower than usual. Steady climb to Vanes flat top, over the back avoiding most of the crags down grassy slopes towards Lag Uaine. Up a faint path towards Glas Bealach gradually turning up the racing line, steep, to Imes small summit. Set off for Narnain via Bealach a'Mhaim, some walkers about now but fewer than usual. Soon on Narnains flat rocky top, round the Trig and off towards The Cobbler, steep steps then a short runnable climb before another steepish climb to the top. Descended via the Cobbler race route avoiding the zig zag walkers path to finish at Succoth.
Much colder this weekend, double thermal top and thermal leggings compared to short sleeved top and shorts last week. Planned route was Ben Vane, Ime and The Cobbler, having a go at the race descent route. Ran slowly up through Glen Loin to Coiregrogain and the upgraded path at the bottom of Vane, Steady walk up through Vanes rocky outcrops, no one else going up, a couple of lone walkers coming down, the scramble thankfully clear of snow. Cool on top, didn't hang about, set off along the ridge past the turning stone before dropping into Lag Uaine, easy running on dryish ground. Crossed the bottom of the glen and trudged up the small ridge between the burns, through the crag towards Glas Bealach, Ime a bit higher, covered in cloud and colder, jacket on, grass misted with a thin layer of snow nearer the top, short stop at the top then off towards Bealach a Mhaim and the back stairs of the Cobbler, busier now, more walkers about. Top of the Cobbler busy as usual. Set off behind the Needle, tried a couple of potential short cuts avoiding steeper bits of the path, probably slower overall. Dropped down the descent route from the end of An t Sron, there's a few wooden posts to mark the route, easy run down steep grassy slopes, through the forest a couple of short boggy patches, steady run along forest roads to the lower zig zags back to Succoth.
Fine weather forecast for Saturday decided on an Arrochar hill run for the first time in 3 months, last one was the week before Christmas. After two years of cancellations a new race up and down the Cobbler is hopefully going ahead at the end of April, decided to try and find the route. After a couple of miles on forest tracks from Ardgarten found a white marker on a narrow path heading through fir trees towards the SE end of the An t Sron ridge, steep, out the trees a faint path and still steep until the An t Sron top then run walk the undulating path up to the Cobblers summit. Continued over the Cobbler down to Lag Uaine and maintained a slow jog to Ime's summit, back to Lag Uaine then the short trudge up Narnain. Dropped back down to Lag Uaine onto the Buttermilk burn path past the Narnain Boulders to the top of the zig zags, from there traversed across around the lower slopes of An t Sron hoping to pick up the Cobbler race descent. Pathless tussocks at first then an old quad bike track, followed that as it dipped towards the forest, made for an easy route through the trees and soon reached one of the many forest tracks, a few switchbacks later and I was on familiar ground, a short easy run back to Ardgarten.
Early start ran up the Glen Loin trail to Coiregrogain then trudge up the Ben Vane access path, visibility poor in mist on the lower slopes, opened up a bit about half way up, a couple of showers but warm enough to run without a jacket. A short break on the top then dropped off the back down grassy slopes into Lag Uaine, across the valley floor and up towards Glas Bealach turned south up steep slopes to Ime's rocky top, a few people here, the first I had seen since leaving Succoth, sheltering behind the cairn. Another short break then down to Bealach a'Mhaim and the path beside the Buttermilk burn back to Succoth inside 4 1/2 hours.
