Glen Douglas

First run round these hills since my LDFF run last June. Beinn Bhreac, Ben Reoch and Tullich hill with a visit to the spotty Trig at Monadh Tigh na Laraich. Managed to run the first half of Bhreac, followed the quad bike track until it veers towards Reoch then straight up. Great views from the top. The trail to Reoch runs beside a fence, handy on misty days, mostly runnable until a short steep pathless climb to the top. Tulloch hill next with a detour to the spotty Trig overlooking Arrochar and the Alps. Pick some good lines, sheep and deer tracks ease the terrain. Last wee climb to Tulloch hill, undulates up then a steep bank to the top. Visit the multiple tops and wee lochan before the run off the hill, a dog gate saves climbing the steps over the deer fence, take my time through trees and ditches of the new plantation and a short road run to finish.

Photos in reverse order.

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

Glen Douglas Hill Run

3 years since I ran here, a tough wee circuit, there's a parking space for 3 or 4 cars in the middle of the glen, start a slow jog up a quad bike track that heads up alongside a fence and conifer forest, through a gate and slow to a walk as the gradient increases, stayed with the quad bike track as it swung north then turned straight uphill at the end of a steep rise, climbed another fence as the gradient eases on the approach to the top and trig point of Beinn Bhreac with great views of Loch Lomond and the hills beyond. Turned North West along the ridge on a faint path towards Ben Reoch, the path converges with a fence and quad bike track and goes through the boggy col between the 2 hills followed by a short climb avoiding a couple of minor tops on the way, leave the track and fenceline as it starts to lose height towards Loch Lomond for a short climb to Reoch's top. A steep pathless descent SW alongside old fenceposts towards Tullich Hill, across the col take a rising traverse West and then North onto the ridge to reach the trig on Tullich's Northern spur at Monadh Tighe Na Laraich, a great wee viewpoint overlooking Arrochar and the Alps. Turn S/SE on a faint path that soon fades for a short run walk up to Tullich's flat top, take in the views then leave on another faint path down Tullich's SE ridge towards Tullich Farm, high steps help cross a couple of deer fences protecting the plantation at the bottom leaving a short run along the road to finish.

Tullich Hill from ascent of Bhreac

Arrochar Alps from ascent of Bhreac

Loch Lomond from Bhreac

Google Pano from Ben Reoch

Arrochar Alps from Monadh Tighe Na Laraich

Tullich hill from Monadh Tighe Na Laraich

Ben Lomond from Tullich hill's top

Mid Hill (L) & Doune Hill (R) from descent off Tullich