Ben Nevis Hill Race

Weekend in Fort William, Glen Nevis campsite, for the Ben race, a damp weekend, luckily the best day was Saturday, dry and sunny in the morning, overcast afternoon, race started at 1pm, fairly humid until we got to windy corner, thankfully a breeze, reached the Red Burn seconds inside 1 hour, straight up from there, into the clouds at about 3000', breezy and wet, getting my gloves and wooly hat on as I cooled down certainly helped, reached the top in about 1 hr 54, good climb, turned for the descent, took it steady I'm not as quick as I used to be on the way down, 2 or 3 local runners went past, they picked good lines so I followed until they disappear into the mist, let another couple past before the Red Burn, easy running by half way lochan then the cramp inducing steps round windy corner to my preferred short cut, very muddy by the time I got there, easier running again down to the Ben Nevis Inn and the last mile or so on the road and a run round the football pitch to finish, 1 second slower than last year. Carried more electrolytes to offset cramp this year didn't help that the small packets were difficult to open probably cost me a couple of minutes but they do work.

The Ben from Glen Nevis

Sgurr a'Mhaim and Stob Bhan from Glen Nevis

Melantee from Glen Nevis

Passing the BN Inn, nearly finished

Double Dumgoyne and The Earls Seat

Looking for an easier run this week, picked Dumgoyne, a steep start then runnable for the rest. A few walkers about on the way up Dumgoyne. Off the other side and took it easy along the undulating ridge to The Earls Seat, nice day but hazy so views limited.

 

Beinn Ime and Beinn Narnain

Looking for a run with plenty of ascent and a steep rough descent, decided on Arrochar, Beinn Ime then Narnain. Arrived before 9 to a full car park and set off up the two sets of zig zags to clear the trees. Surprisingly few people going up compared to the number of cars, a few coming down must have had an early start to beat the car park charges which start at 9. Cool breeze on the path up to Bealach a'Mhaim, eased as I gained height and I settled into a fast walk for most of the rest of the climb to the top. Short refuel and straight back down to the Bealach and the short steep climb to Narnians' plateau summit. Down through the spearhead to finish, slowly at first through the crags then a bit quicker as the terrain eased, quite a few walkers coming up now, finished in warm midday sunshine. Good views, the more distant hills a bit hazy.

Luss Loop

Luss hill run, Beinn Dubh, Mid Hill, across the glen and back via Coille Eughain Hill. Bright and breezy, the Beinn Dubh bogs fairly dry. A slow and steady run up Beinn Dubh, easy running round to Mid Hill and down into the glen. Trudged up Coillie Eughain Hill, always a tough wee climb ran down to the Paps and into the ferns and tussocks reminding me why I don't do this route in the summer.

The Cobbler Hill Race

Another go at this short n steep race, in aid of funds for Arrochar Mountain rescue, there was 50 entered but only 32 turned up on the day. Shame as its a good wee race. Steep climb to start on to the An t Sron ridge, once you get there you can run, a bit, to the bottom of the crags up to the summit, they divert you on a loop up a grassy bank to the top then down a rocky track rejoining the outward route about half way down the crags. Once clear of the crags push on down An t Sron on mostly grassy paths, the steep drop at the end of the ridge takes you down a tussocky/grassy trod then mussier through the forest, happy to finish about a minute slower than 2 years ago.

 

Glen Striddle

One of those runs just to get some miles and climbing in, out and back over Beinn Dubh and Mid Hill dropping down towards the road, turning at the stile and back over these two steep wee hills. Not a lot to see as the tops were in the clouds. Photos in reverse.

Glen Fruin

Loop round a few Fruin hills, The Stone up to a'Mhanaich, then Chaorach and Tharsuin, a wee add on running round to Balcnock, then a tussocky drop to cross the Ballevoulin burn and up over Auchengaich hill. Runnable to a'Mhainaich and down to the start of the climb up Chaorach, walk up here then an undulating run round to Balcnock, dropped off the ridge too early and had a tussocky traverse to get along to where I wanted to descend, slow run down to cross the burn then another walk up to the quad bike track that runs up to the top of Auchengaich. Picked my way down more tussocky ground to finish at the bottom of the reservoir access road.

 

Cort Ma Law

First run in this race since 2019, renowned for its bogs, 70 plus runners set off, warm evening thankfully with a breeze when the sun came out, run and walk up the steep starting slope, into a steady run as the gradient eases, keep running all the way to CML summit, the bogs reasonably dry so far, that didn't last, there's usually a few bogs from CML to The Leckett this year they seemed to have joined together for long stretches of strength sapping tussock hopping , hoping, to avoid the mushy bogs, hard work all the way to The Leckett, short downhill into the gulley then a short climb and trudge towards the final pit of doom bog, managed to cling to the fence at the side and avoid a swim, try to pick up the pace as the route undulates down then a mad dash steeply down to the finish in 51st place.

Vorlich and Vane

A few years since I had a run over Ben Vorlich, picked a route from Inveruglas, Vorlich and Vane, a bit shorter than running from Arrochar. Forecast was cloudy and breezy with wind picking up later. Easy run up the access road for Sloy dam, taking the tourist path from the wee cairn, only a few walkers out to use as targets on the climb, quite windy on top so only went to the Trig point, not the real summit, round the Trig and back down the path to the drop off point for the dam, straight down, steep at first then eases into runnable, towards the bottom cross the stream early, its a bit easier, still slow going down to the dam, cross over and go right of the buttress that sits behind the dam, not as steep on this side, pathless with plenty of tussocks. By this time the cloud has dropped to cover the ridge to the top of Vane, arrived on the ridge and found the path, it fades in and out a bit, tricky navigation, as I climb the wind is picking up and I have to crouch low to keep my balance, only a few hundred feet from the top but decided that was enough and turned back, managed to pick out the route I climbed and an easy run down to the dam and back round to Inveruglas.

Sloy dam on the way up Vorlich

Vane from Vorlich

Vorlichs Trig Point

Descent to the dam

Ascent route to Vane

Interesting rock

  

Cnoc Coinnich and The Brack

New hill for me today, Cnoc Choinnich, also took in The Brack, both Corbetts, CC only promoted to one in 2016. Started at the Ardgarten car park, 3 miles on road and forest rack to start, climbing up through Coilessan glen, from the high point hang a left, faint paths over moorland then a steepish climb through a wet gulley onto the ridge with a short run to the top, good views down the Clyde estuary and across to the rest of the Arrochar Alps, a bit of cloud blew in as we reached the top. Back down and across Coilessan glen and a path up The Brack, there's a few different paths, picked a better one than usual, took us all the way to the top. Took the race route down, taking our time on the steep, twisty, rocky descent. Finished with a mile or so on forest tracks back to Ardgarten.

The Brack from Cnoc Coinnich

Arrochar from Cnoc Coinnich

The Cobbler and Narnain from The Brack

Bromley Muir

Long run over some local hills this week, out and back over Bromley Muir with a loop round Ben Bowie and Killoeter in the middle, same route as back in April with the loop reversed and a few extra yards climbing Ben Bowie from the Loch Lomond side. Warm, overcast and only a few walkers out. Very dry over Bromley Muir, easier running than usual as the bogs were mostly solidified.