Bromley Muir again

Another local hill run, decided to stay local as I started a bit late, same route as last week except in the opposite direction, Stoneymollen to Ben Bowie, round to Killoeter and back via Bromley Muir, a few minutes quicker this week!

Sunny Bromley Muir

Another run over my local hills, Mount Malow, Killoeter and Ben Bowie, weather kinder, blue skies, a gentle breeze, perfect for a run. Carman Fort to start, along Bromley Muir to the Stoneymollan and joined the 3 Lochs Way for a mile or so, up onto Killoeter, along the ridge past the summit cairn and down to the forest road, back up the 3LW then ridge path to Ben Bowie, 3LW back to the Vale and home.

Bromley Muir

Afternoon run , same route as a couple of weeks ago except in reverse, slightly slower possibly due to a late night! Another cloudy run, no views, a wee shower as well, dried up for the run over Bromley Muir.

 

Bromley Muir, Killoeter and Ben Bowie

Back to local hills this week and misty conditions. Easier run with a lot less ascent but that means running all the way. Ground still very dry, the usual bogs slightly spongy at worst, Mount Malow first then along to the Bromley Muir Trig, continue along the moor to the Stoneymollan/Three Lochs Way taking the diversion onto the Killoeter ridge. Followed the ridge to the forest trail towards Helensburgh turning off/up the trail to Ben Bowie. Return via Three Lochs Way and Stoneymollan, no views but good to be out.

Cairn at Mount Malow/Carman Fort

Bromley Trig

Kiloeter

Ben Bowie

      

Stoneymollan Hill Race

Club Hill Race, just under 5 miles with 1200' of ascent, 9 of us this year, started in reverse order, lack of patience meant the later starters went early and gave the handicapper (me) some maths to work out who won, not me. Pleased to get round a bit quicker this year, about 3 mins off last years time but another couple required to get to pre covid times. Great night, ground reasonable dry with a bit of give.

Bromley Muir Winter Run

First snowy run of the winter, had to wait a couple of hours for the wind to subside, by that time the snow had started, ran up to the fort on Carman hill, snow 6" with drifts to 12"+, ground frozen below, difficult to guess footstrike on the rough ground under smooth snow made for slow running. Onto the John Muir Trail for a mile or so to where the path is blocked, decided against the steep bypass option, turned back for home the same way as I came out. Hat and glove changes along the way as they got soaked, goretex trousers on for the return over Bromley Muir in a freezing wind.

  

Stoneymollan Hill Race

First club hill race of the year, just under 5 miles and 1200' of ascent, 6 of us set off roughly in reverse order, finished a few seconds quicker than last year, ok as it felt pretty heavy going out there tonight, the run up to the trig and down from the fort suffering from bike ruts, the boggy bits boggier than usual made for a good run.

Roon the Vale

Local run today, over the hills round the Vale of Leven, mixture of hill, moorland, trail and roads. Straight up to carman Fort, along Bromley Muir, down Stoneymollan to Balloch, A loop starting through Balloch Park round Whinny Hill, out the back of the Haldane past the local dump and through sodden fields to Pappert Well, legs tired now losing the chance to get round under 4 hours, longest run for a while hopefully spur me on.

Bromley Muir Trig

Snow capped Luss hills from Whinny Hill

River Leven and Loch Lomond from Pappert

Pappert Well Trig

Kiloeter and Ben Bowie

Wintery today, maybe an inch of snow with low cloud and fog meant I went for the safety of local trails and hills. Through Christie park and the Vale Hospital to the bottom of the Stoney onto the John Muir Trail/Three Lochs Way for about 3 miles. Turned off for a 4 mile loop over Kiloeter and Ben Bowie, then 4 miles back home. Apart from the odd bit of ice off road was fine with frozen turf helping to keep the feet dry. Good to be out.

 

Roon the Vale

Decided to run local as the forecast was for gales on the hills. A 17 mile anti clockwise route round the Vale of Leven, taking in Pappert Well, Whinny Hill and Bromley Muir. Pappert Well first, across Bonhill Bridge over the river Leven, a gradual climb beside houses to start then grassy and muddy paths to the Pappert Well Trig. Sunny with a cool breeze, kept moving and just warm enough without gloves or jacket, great day to be out. Looped past the Well down a muddy fire break before turning through fields towards Whinny Hill  More houses and tarmac to the back of Balloch Park, straight up more fields to the Whinny Hill trail loop and back to Balloch Park. Another mile or so of tarmac to get to Upper Stoneymollan road. Last 5 miles off road, legs starting to suffer but felt better buoyed by the lack of tarmac to come. Three Lochs Way to start then the walkers paths over Bromley Muir to the Carman Fort. Last mile and a half mostly down hill on paths and though fields.

Pappert Well Trig

Upper Stoneymollan

The Ben and Loch Lomond

Mount Malow cairn, Carman Reservoir & Dumbarton Castle

Autumn

 

Is it a path or is it a stream?

Took to my local hills today, the access roads were like rivers. Up towards the fort and the path flowing like a stream which would be the the same for most of the morning, no avoiding it as it is surrounded by ferns and heather. Incessant rain but not much of a breeze so it was fine for a run. Along Bromley Muir to the top of the Stoneymollan then the three lochs way to Ben Bowie, stopped for a bit of path maintenance through the forest to divert a stream that was ripping up the hardocre path. Ben Bowie to Killoeter via the ridge and the Hel n Back route, not much in the way of views but still good to be out. Down though the forest on my way back and my path repair had worked but probably too late as there is a 4 inch deep groove where water had been running down the path.

Bromley Muir Trig

Ben Bowie Cairn

Killoeter Cairn/Stick!

Killoeter and Ben Bowie

Friday for my long run this week, went over a couple of local hills, something a bit easier after the last few weeks. Along to Upper Stoneymollan road and the three Lochs Way, turning off for a traverse over Killoeter, turned back up the 3LW for a few minutes before taking a softer walkers path to the top of Ben Bowie. Back via the 3LW and Upper Stoneym road.

Glen Finlas and Luss hills from Stoney

Clyde Estuary from Kiloeter

Ben and Loch Lomond from Ben Bowie

Ben Bowie

Local running, out and back to the two small hills , Kiloeter and Ben Bowie between The Vale and The Clyde, using trails/Stoneymollan, Three Lochs Way and John Muir but keeping off trail as much as possible, with low cloud not many views, good to be out.

Blooming local trails and hills

Out and back route over Bromley Muir with a loop round Killoeter and Ben Bowie. Ran off paths and trails as much as possible, straight up to the Fort over Bromley Muir to the Stoneymollan, trail to Killoeter, short trail section then cut off through a fire break to Ben Bowie, another short trail section back to the Stoney, back over Bromley Muir to finish.

 

Ben Bowie Trail Race

6 of us set off on the Ben Bowie Trail Race, just under 6 miles with about 1000' of ascent. Warm evening until the skies opened and a refreshing downpour hit us. Starts on Upper Stonemollan Road at the end of the tarmac undulating up via the Three Lochs Way with a stunning rainbow on show on the short deviation up to Ben Bowies double summit, should have stopped for picture. Undulates down on the way back. Managed to get everyone to stand still just long enough to get a picture in the swarm of flies at the finish.

 

Bromley Muir

Kept it local this week, up to Bromley Muir via Carman Reservoir, along to the top of Stoneymollan and the Hell n Back route in reverse cutting off for Killoeter and Ben Bowie, returning via John Muir and Three Lochs Way. No views, tops misty and drizzly and trails quiet, everybody must have been watching the telly.