Local run this week over the Stoneymollan muirs, Three Lochs Way, John Muir Trail and a couple of small hills, Ben Bowie and Killoeter. Steady run round the trails and paths, managed to catch a wee weather window in the morning, 15 miles and 3 hours.
An out and back route over Stoneymollan today, up behind the Carman reservoir, along the muirs to the Three Lochs Way quickly turning off past Shepherds pool and the Black Third, climbing up for a run along Killoeter's ridge, across the Three Lochs Way for the short up and down Ben Bowie to the John Muir Way back to the top of the Stoney, along the ridge past the Trig point to the Fort, descending home via the Radiomast to finish in just over three hours, light was good this morning, a lot of duck egg blue, the Ben hazy in the distance.
Monthly long long run this weekend, Mount Mallow to start via the track behind Carman Reservoir.
Along past the Trig Point to the top of the Stoneymollan track, along the John Muir Trail until it starts to descend towards Glen Fruin then a short steep climb up through trees to Ben Bowie.
Killoeter next then onto the Red Road up past the Black Third and Shepherds pool, down the Stoney trail to Balloch.
Into the bottom of the park along to the Fairy Glen trail up to the loop round Whinny Hill trail, back in to Balloch, up through the Haldane and followed track and trails that pass between the Golf Course and dump to Whinny Hill.
A lot of the paths were as hard as the roads, frozen solid with ruts and lumps, tough on my feet in fell shoes with their thin soles. Covered over 20 miles and nearly 4000 of ascent, walked the steeper up hills and stopped every 1 to 2 hours for some food, flapjacks were good except nearly frozen and brain freeze quickly followed each drink of juice.
Another Ben Bowie run, changed a few loops to keep it fresh, started straight up to the Fort.
From the Fort ran along the muirs past the Trig Point to the top of Stoneymollan.
Onto the Three Lochs Way to Ben Bowie then John Muir Trail and 3LW to Killoeters ridge dropping down at the top of the Red road running up past the Black Third farm to the top of the Stoney.
Back along the muirs dropping down to the quarry for an extra bit of vert up to the Fort, down past the Radiomast to finish just over 3 hours.
Another local run, up round the Carman reservoir, past the Trig point along to Stoneymollan, then a loop round Killoeter and Ben Bowie.
Most of the snow gone, some icy patches, the ground soft on top but still frozen underneath with a lot of surface puddles making for cold toes.
On to the Three Lochs Way for a short while then down past the Black Third farm, turning up through the trees onto Killoeters undualting summit ridge, dropping down and across the Three Lochs Way over to Ben Bowie. Over Ben Bowies two tops to the John Muir Trail back to the Stoneymollan. Thought about a short cut through the Vale to avoid more cold toes, turned out fine the frozen turf kept my feet above most of the freezing puddles, ran along the muirs to the Trig and the Fort, descending past the Radiomast to finish in about 3 1/2 hours.
Reverse of the route I ran at the end of November with an out an back to Ben Bowie added in, aim today was a brisk walk up the steeper hills, running the easier hills, the downs and the flats. Set off towards Carman Fort before dawn, clear skies, no wind, a little snow on the ground which was frozen, dry feet!
I could see a runner ahead on the traverse from the Fort to Bromley Muir Trig Point. The sun rose just as I reached the Trig Point, gradually caught the runner in front, Ian, who ran with our club a few years ago, good to catch up with him, he might even come back to the club now he works closer to home.
From the top of the Stoneymollan track ran the out and back to Ben Bowie, leaving a couple of other loops for my next longer long run if we're still in lockdown.
Ran down the Stoneymollan trail, into Balloch, ran through the Park along to Fairy Glen and up to the Whinny Hill loop. Round the Whinny Hill Woods trail, low clouds coming over so no views. On the way back I cut through fields to avoid some road miles. Up through the Haldane and the trail to Auchencarroch taking the road towards the Dump then onto farm tracks avoiding the swampy fields and golf course.
Onto a muddy Pappert Well trail up to the Trig Point, returning past the Well down through the Vale to finish just outside 5 hours..
Ben Bowie again this week with a couple of loops added for more hill, less trail. Through the woods beside Upper Stoneymollan Road and onto the Three Lochs Way and John Muir Trail, busy with walkers.
Up to the top of Ben Bowie using paths and woods on the west side, good views to Loch Lomond and Dumgoyne.
Ran off the west side of Ben Bowies twin tops, across the Three Lochs Way and up onto Killoeter, disturbing a few deer on the way along the ridge, all but one too fast for the camera and it didn't get too close either. Views to Clyde estuary, Ardmore and the Arran hills beyond. Returned via Stoneymollan Trig and Fort, hard work running off path to avoid the ice bubbling up through the grass.
Boxing day run over my local hills, made my way through fields to the track up behind Carman Reservoir, up beside the quarry through soggy ground to the trig point, running in constant wind and rain with low clouds, only a few of the islands on Loch Lomond visible.
Followed the 3 Lochs Way towards Helensburgh cutting off for the short climb up Ben Bowie. Even less of a view here.
Took the same route back to the fort on Mount Mallow.
Ran down to the radiomast and home in just over 2 1/2 hours.
Back to local hills and trails this week, Stoneymollan, Ben Bowie, Killoeter, joining them up using the Three Lochs Way and John Muir Trail. Mist and drizzle all the way round. Started up the trail behind the Carman reservoir, along the Muirs to the Stoney.
Trails to Ben Bowie then Killoeter, returning past the Black Third onto the trails.
Back over the Muirs to Carman Fort and down past the Radiomast, finishing inside 3 1/2 hours.
