Luss

Plan was Eich, Doune, Mid, roadworks half way up the glen threatened to delay the drive home. Back to the bottom of the glen, route change, Dubh, Mid, Coille-eughain, a bit shorter and less climb, still about 10 miles and 3500' of ascent.

Not too cold to start, breeze picked up nearer the top into the cloud then snow, jacket and wooly hat on. Run along to Mid's snowy tops.

Drop back into the glen into sleety hail, the cloud level had dropped. Easy jog up the glen road before crossing the new bridge and slippery trudge up CE Hill. Steady run down the Paps across the fields back to the bottom of Glen Luss, just over three hours.

Ben Bowie

Set off late pm, along the bypass to Stoneymollan, followed the 3LW turning off to summit Ben Bowie.

Ran back the same way to the top of the Stoney then along the moor passed trig and fort descending past the radiomast, always seemed to be running into the wind with a bit of snow about and flesh eating hail squalls every15 minutes, finished in about 2 1/2 hours, more pictures here.

Trossachs Night Trail Race #2

Second of three races, this one at Calandar, smaller field, about 70, cold, mixture  of clear skies and sleet, going better than the last one until about 1 mile from the end, took a wee detour out an back to a Calandar Housing Estate, oops, trundled in about last, warm soup in the Wheels Cycling Centre, good fun.

Carman Muir, misty Luss

Saturday's PM run up behind Carman Resrvoir, through the quarry to the fort along and back to the trig then home via the radio mast, out for just under 90 mins. Sunday, PM again, Beinn Dubh, Mid Hill, Coille Eughain Hill finishing down the Paps. A warm 13 degrees in the valley, all the snow gone from the top, windy up there too, no views, into cloud above 1500'. Easy run up Dubh, only saw 5 people today. Ran along the trail to mid hill and down into Glen Luss, across the new bridge.

Trudge up Coille E's steep flank back into the clag, worked my way round the peat hags to the wee trod down to the paps and back out the cloud, 10 miles, 3500' inside 3 1/2 hours, finishing as it began to get dark.

Whinny Hill and Beinn Dubh

Took the times at Saturday mornings club cross country managed a run in the afternoon through a snowy Balloch Park.

Out n back along the Whinny Hill Trail.

Finished in just over an hour.

Sluggish start to Sunday, eventually managed a trot up and down Beinn Dubh, visibility nil at the top, white clouds and sky merged into one.

 Looking up or looking down?

Made an attempt at the ridge to Mid Hill, soon gave up the snow too soft and deep with the lack of walkers. Easy run back down, 4 miles, 2000' in just over 90 mins. More pictures here.

Beinn Eich n others

Run walk up Beinn Eich into cloud and snow, cold wind and little visibility at the top.

 Beinn Eich summit cairn

Ran down the back to the coll before Beinn an Lochain, nearly under the clouds, kept off the ridge out of the wind for the up and over BaL, difficult to find the path off the back to Doune Hill, short steep trudge and the trig point appeared through the mist. Stopped for a quick re-fuel hiding behind the trig to escape the wind.

 Doune Hill Trig

The run back a bit easier only walking the climb back up Eich, straight over the top eventually dropping out the clouds about 2/3 of the way down, 8 miles, 3000'+ in just under 3 hours.

Ben Bowie

Last run of the holiday's, through Chrstie Park to the Stoneymollan, followed the 3LW turning off to take in Ben Bowie's misty twin summits, no views today. Back to the top of the Stoney then along Bromley and Carman moors past the Trig point to the Fort, home past the radio mast and Cemetery. Just over two hours, about 20 minutes quicker than last time.

Glen Finlas

Finlas loop, probably about 10 miles, up the road towards the dam, taking the rough trail off to the right past the reservoir then straight up onto the peat hagged clagged in ridge. Undulating run round the ridge, cold when exposed to the wind from about the coll at the top of the glen and most of the way back.

Dropped down to the reservoir before the last top on the ridge and an easy run down to finish in about three hours. A few pictures here.

Beinn Dubh and Mid Hill

Up Beinn Dubh, along the trail to Mid Hill and back in a couple of hours, quite a few walkers out today, cloud level about 2000', the tops with a little snow, best day for a while, sunny, little wind, the white capped peaks of the bigger hills to the north and Ben Lomond to the east disappearing into cloud. More pictures here.

Luss

Set off for Luss this morning, missed the better weather, a bit wet n windy by the time I started up Beinn Dubh. Managed to run the bottom half, closer to the top more of a stagger and avoid getting blown over. Not many out today. Round the summit cairn without stopping and steady down, the wind easing with height, warm for the time of year but wind chill could catch you out, character building run, finished in about 90 mins.

Whinney Hill

 
After timekeeping at the club cross country, went for a run up and down the Whinny Hill trail, freezing conditions helped firm up the muddy bits, great views from the seat, Finlas and Luss hilltops sitting above the clouds, majestic white Ben under a pale blue sky, good day for a run.

Wreckless running

Thursday night Wreckless Eric in the Glasgow CCA, took the Friday off rather than risk the new dd laws.

Friday run up to the Fort then along to the trig, instead of turning back ran striaght for the Vale.

 Stopped for a photo of the valley from Balloch to Dumbarton.

Ben Bowie

Set off about half two, sealskinz socks, gloves, wooly hat and head torch, along to the stoneymollan, up through the trees for shelter, along the deforested forest trail, wet n windy. Back in to the forest for some more shelter before an exposed climb to Bowies tops, staggered about in the wind, turned back for the Stoney, detour on the way back via trig and fort, the last descent in the dark, finished just over two and a half hours.

Trossachs Night Trail Race

Good crowd for tonight's trail race, about 5.5 miles, the first in a series of three, website here, the other races are Jan 27th and March 9th. My Petzl Myo headtorch outshone by ones masquerading as car headlights. Good mixture of firm trails, rootsy muddy trails, a couple of wee uphills and mostly downhill towards the end. Soup in the Forth Inn to warm us up after, finished in about 50 mins.

Stoneymollan

First weekend run for a couple of weeks, planned for an easy run up to the fort. Breezy with a hint of moisture in the air, decided to run on to the Trig point and continued down to meet the Stoneymollan trail. Short rest then turned back for home, nice and soft underfoot, toes took a while to thaw out, time for Sealskinz, finished inside two hours.

Stoneymollan

Short run Saturday, round the reservoir, through the quarry and up to the fort, out for just over an hour finishing in the dark. Stopped for a few pictures otherwise might have reached the trig point.

Dumyat Dash

My first race for a while, the short sharp apt Dumyat Dash. 120 plus runners for the 3 miles and 1300' of climb. Different route again this year with a wee diversion to go through some scree and then Castle Law 's summit before Dumyat. Uphill's mostly walking, running the undulations in between, steady run off the back of Dumyat to finish just inside 58 minutes. Collected my SHR Mug for completing 4 of the 6 selected races, Birnam, Ben Lomond, Slioch and Durisdeer, in this year's championship.

Beinn Dubh

Shorter run this week, Beinn Dubh to Mid Hill, then either down and across the glen or back the way I came. Turned out the latter, set off, early confrontation with the residents of the first field, negotiated safe passage. Stop start on the climb for a few pictures, the trees and hills taking on their autumnal cloak.

Warm on the climb until near the top a cooling breeze, jacket, hat and gloves kept it comfortable for the run to Mid Hill. New fence round the peat hags and bog. Took the easier option and turned back for Beinn Dubh instead of crossing the Glen to Coille Eughain Hill.

Clouds began to clear, glimpses of blue skies and the sun on the way back, a few walkers out today. Finised in just over 2 hours. More pictures here.

BOO, Beinn an Dothaidh, Beinn Achaladair

Drove up to Bridge of Orchy, planned to run out and back over Beinn an Dothaidh, Beinn Achaladair and Beinn A'Chreachain, or as far as I could. Thick fog dissolved as I drove up Loch Lomondside.Clear, windless day as I started up the hill to the col between Dothaidh and Dorain, frosty in the shade.

View looking east from col between Beinn an Dothaidh and Dorain

 Found a good route through the bogs under Dothaidh's triple summit, ran over the NE one and down a steep grassy ridge onto the long undulating ridge to Achaladair's summit, three ups later I was there.

Ridge to Achaladair, Chreachain centre back.

Stunning views to the hills beyond Rannoch moor. Decided that was enough, Beinn a'Chreachain, next along the ridge too far for today. Easier run back along the ridge.

The climb back up to an Dothaidh's summit would be slow.

Ran round the summit plateau taking in the views from each of the summits. Bypassed most of the bog to the col, from there a rocky boggy run, tough on tired legs, shoes visited one bog too many, sole coming apart added to the fun.

 View looking west from col between Beinn an Dothaidh and Dorain

Finished in 5 hours, stunning day and views, plenty of pictures here.

Stoneymollan

Slightly longer variation on last weeks run, ascent on trail behind reservoir.

Wedge of Geese coming in to roost. Ran up through the quarry to the Fort.

Another good sunset. Out and back to the trig, descent via radiomast trail to finish just over 90 mins. More pictures here.

Stoneymollan

Running again, nice n easy, up past the radiomast to the Fort and along to the Trig point, plenty of rest breaks, returned the same way, about 80 minutes. Pictures here.

Nevis Weekend

Couldn't run, went up for the weekend anyway, walked up Heart Attack hill for a few photos of the returning runners. On the way home, lunch on the bank of the River Orchy then visiting the new structures at the Falls of Falloch and Inveruglas

More pictures here.

The Cobbler and his wife

Plan was to run up the trail to the Cobbler, then Narnain, returning via a new hill for me, A'Chrois. We climbed through the south eastern corrie to the Cobblers central summit, didn't thread the needle, again.

Ran down the back stairs to Bealach a Mhaim and up the short pull to Narnains broad flat top. Cloud too low for the untried ridge to A'Chrois and we ran back to the Bealach then past the Narnain Boulders, trotting down the path took a fall and tried to smash a rock with my knee, limped back to Succoth. Some more pictures here.

Pappert Well Race

Club GP Hill race, 12 of us set off in reverse order, took it nice n easy, finished 7th in 52 minutes.

Beinn an Lochain and Ben Bowie

First long run in a while, ran from the RandB Thankful car park past Loch Restil crossing tussocky ground to join the path that follows the NE Ridge to the double summit.

Cloud well above the tops, views to Jura.

Returned the same way, a lot of walking today, finishing a bit over two hours, only a couple of people out today. More photos here. Sunday, more runnable, Stoneymollan to Ben Bowie and back, late afternoon run with plenty of photo/rest stops.

Finishing in just under three hours. More photos here.

Luss Highland Games

A bit wet on Saturday morning, began to clear and set off for the Games, two hill races, local and open, a couple of hours apart. Local, only 5 of us, 4 Helensburgh runners and me, started out 5th then moved to fourth as the path turned up. Its a short manic race just keep going as fast as you can to the flag about half way up the hill, turn and thrash your way back, all over in 20 minutes, fourth place for a fiver. It's a couple of hours to the open race, wandered round the Games field, winning a bottle of Malt in the Tombola! The open race, 21 of us set off, about 14th at the top, took a tumble down the swampy stream coming away with a badly twisted knee, kept going and made up half a dozen places on the descent, as usual those unfamiliar get lost. Finished in 34 1/2 mins.

Beinn Eich, again!

After Sunday's aborted run a chance to complete. Warm humid evening, none of the forecast thunder and rainstorms, jog walk up Beinn Eich, about 10 mins quicker than Sunday, hills for miles in the haze, nice breeze on top, ran down and over Beinn an Lochain to Doune Hills top, dropped my bumbag at the trig and ran a 20 minute out and back to 701 top then back along the ridge to Beinn Eich.

 Ben Lomond from Beinn Eich

Pink sky beyond Cruach an t-Sidhein from Beinn Eich

Running down the glen sinking into the warm still air at the bottom, refreshing wash in the stream avoiding the eels, about 8 miles, 3800' of ascent in 2 1/2 hours.

Beinn Eich

Short run today, up and over Beinn Eich, nice and sunny to start, the wind and rain blew in on the run up to Beinn Lochain, turned back, 5 miles, 2500' in about 2 hours, sun came out again as I finished. Hopefully leaves some energy for a few hills next week.

Midweek hills

Beautiful sunny morning with a free night ahead decided to go for an evening run up Narnain and the Cobbler. Only a few walkers coming down and a couple of tents just above the forrest made for a quiet run in the evening sun. Gentle breeze to keep me cool. Steady trot up the zig zags past the boulders to Bealach a'Mhaim, fast walk to Narnain's rocky summit, a few minutes to catch my breath and take in the views.

Across Loch Long to Glen Douglas and Luss Hills

Back down to the Bealach for the short jog walk to the Cobblers middle peak. A bit cooler here as the sun dropped towards the horizon, Lui and More touching the clouds in the distance.

Beinn Ime

Back to the Bealach, cut along to the old blocky path to avoid the zig zags on the way back. Finished 11 miles and 4500' in just over 3 hours, more pictures here.

Fort and an Arrochar run

Lost Saturday, managed to get up to the fort in the early evening sunshine. More pictures here.

Sunday, early rise for Arrochar, Glen Loin to start, through Lag Uaine, drizzly rain, jacket, hat and gloves on for the climb up the NE slopes of Ime beside the gnarly ridge, some snow still in the corrie rim. Chilly breeze, a quick re-fuel in the rain.

No views from Beinn Ime's misty top today.

Easy run to Bealach a'Mhaim, thermal top on for the plod to Narnain's bouldery summit.

Quick drink then down through the Spearhead.

Soon warm up down the rocky trail, a fun 3000' descent in two miles to finish in about 4 hours 20 for 13 miles and 5000' feet. A few more pictures here.

Fairy Glen

Short club trail race in Balloch Park, three 1 mile loops round Fairy Glen and Heart Attack Hill, my first lap just under 8 minutes, the next two just over, still managed to sneak under 24 minutes by a few seconds, 3rd of 8 runners, good night for a run and good fun, fresh cut fruit and homemade cakes at the finish.

Durisdeer

Nearly 300 lined up next to Durisdeer church for the Scottish and British championship race, I ran it in 2012 when it was a Scottish Championship race, 150 ran that day. Overcast today, not much of a breeze made for a warm run. About 11 miles and 3800' of ascent. There are 5 climbs, Black Hill to start and finish, a couple of colls and Well Hill, the initial climb and Well Hill not too runnable the rest are if you've got the energy. Set off steady keeping to the lower path. Relaxed descent off Pettylung towards Dalveen, running most of the way round Staygail apart from the trudge to the second coll. Soon running again, this route has a lot of ankle and knee trashing traversing! The climb alongside the Lavern Burn tussocky and slow, not a slow as the climb up Well Hill, kept the effort up from here on.

Tussocky undulations on the way up Well Hill

Run mostly down until the second climb up Black Hill, ran the last section catching and closing those in front, pushed the first part of the descent catching another couple, steady round another traverse before last gasping descent, across the bridge, a short up and sprint back to the church for coffee, sandwiches and cakes, finished just over 2:20 204th out of 269 finishers. Sunday cool down run up to the fort, a fresher sunny June day.

Arrochar run

Looking for a short run today with a bit of climb, Narnain and the Cobbler sounded right, 11 miles and 4500' of ascent. Mostly man made paths, makes it easier, no route choices, most of  it runnable. Zig zag tracks to start from Succoth, gradient eases alongside a foaming allt A'Bhalachain, shelter beside the Narnain Boulders, jacket on from here, hard work against the wind funneling through the glen. round Bealach a'Mhaim, climb up Narnain wind assisted, nobody on top, a couple of pictures then off before the next shower blew through. Jog walk the Cobbler steps, muddy trail, steep grassy bank.

Ime from the Cobbler

Nobody on top, steady run back through the glen, 2 hours 50, some more pictures here.

Cort Ma Law

Boggiest of the Bog n Burn series, 6 miles with 1500' or so of ascent. Clear cool evening, bigger field this year. Didn't try to run all of the initial climb, jogged and walked, keep the jog going  towards the top and along a series of up undulations with a few boggy bits to get you in the mood. From the top of CML to Lecket hill is where the fun starts, band after band of emerald green bog to negotiate, initially ok, tussock to tussock, gradually going into oxygen debt, the last couple, a launch and hope, knee deep. From Lecket a short gallop down muddy tussocks and tracks, slow walk out the gulley, gradually start to jog, one last bog, caught, thigh deep, face down, crawl, running again over the style and a few undulations trying to gain and not lose places. A final fast run down to finish just over 71 minutes.

Jura week

A week of running around Scotland's Hills. The plan was Jura, Glen Shiel, a wee rest then the Slioch Hill race. First up was the Jura Fells race, even getting there is fun, drive to Kennacraig, ferries to Islay and the short hop to Jura and with a bit of luck a bus to Craighouse. New showers and toilets at the hotel has brought a small charge for camping. Race day cool, little wind, a bit boggy underfoot, clearish tops, only slight navigational challenge CP 1 to 2. Wheels stayed intact this year, a few creaks going up each pap and a bit of a struggle to push down Corra Bheinn to Three Arch Bridge, the last km a trifle boggier than usual, the road to Craighouse is the road to Craighouse, finished in about 6 hours 25.

View of the Paps on the way home.

Got on the early bus on Sunday to take advantage of the earlier than usual boat back to Kennacraig before the drive up to Shiel Bridge Campsite. Planned to use Monday as a rest day and to recce a route for Tuesday. As Monday's weather improved decided to take advantage and set off from the campsite for the Saddle, handrailling a series of tracks, walls and fences to circumnavigate the tricky Forcan ridge. Soon just below the summit, unsure of the last wee climb turned back as I hoped to climb the Whelk as well, a steep rocky climb took me to the bealach between the Whelk and Sgurr Na Signe, left turn for the Whelk and great views up and down Glen Shiel.

Sgurr Na Signe from the Whelk

Tuesday, ready for some RnR, I drove to Applecross via the 2000' plus Bealach Na Ba, eerie in the mist. A nice day wandering this isolated village. Wednesday set off for Gairloch for a rest stopping in Glen Torridon for a run up Beinn Eighe via Coire Mhic Fearchair, the Triple Buttress Coire. Beinn Eighe means Fire Mountain, not today, wet n windy with sleety hail greeting my approach to the top of Ruadh-stac Mor one of Eighe's two Munro's.

Sail Mor

Didn't hang about dropping back into the coire and the bouldery track back to the car. Spent the rest of the week based in Sands Campsite near Gairloch with a visit to the Redpoint beaches. Saturday's journey home was broken up with a run in the Slioch Hill Race, dreich day, clag down, a slight route change required as a burn crossing at the penultimate checkpoint was a raging torrent, about a mile shorter, still a testing run. Starts and finishes with 2 or 3 miles of riverside trail, all the hilly stuff in between, Sgurr Dubh to start, hands, knees, teeth, heather, rock, mud, its a stiff wee climb. Misty ridge run to Slioch's twin summit checkpoints, runners passing like ghosts on their way back, feel our way along, easy pace to avoid any expensive navigational errors. The route change sent us down the hill walkers path, a muddy, rocky eroded mess, good fun. Finished in 3 hours 40.

Beinn Eighe from Slioch Finish

 Totals for the week, 19 hours running, 50 something miles and 21,000' of ascent. Lots of picture here.

Whangie Whizz

A few years since I last ran this, different gentler start, and a run through the Whangie. Tried to run all the way, managed it apart from a jump out the rocky end of the Whangie. Finished 67th out of 96 just inside 42 minutes.

Ben Lomond

2nd counter in this years SHR Championship, forecast wasn't great, turned out just about perfect. Sunny with a cool breeze. Shuttle bus from Balmaha arriving in plenty of time at Rowardennan, relaxed in front of the hotel in the sun. Short warm up and we were off along the road onto the tourist path.The first part undulates up through trees, some deforesting going on. Lose a few places on each steep up, onto the plateau and reel in a couple, the leaders streaming past a bit earlier than hoped for. Slight route change climbing the summit ridge. On top stop for a drink and to take in the stunning views. Off down the path, cutting the corner down the steep grassy bank For a change we stayed off the path right along the plateau and down past the first gate, rejoining just before the bad step, good descent fizzled out a bit here, steady down through the trees and rocks and the final jog along to the finish in 1:52 for a soup and seat in the sun by the hotel. Pictures here. Sunday total change in the weather, low cloud and lashings of rain, recovery run up Beinn Dubh and an out and back along to mid hill, struggle to follow the path in the swirling mist and rain, just over two hours, 8 miles and 2700' of ascent. A few pictures here.

Dumyat

Runnable bog n burn race, 7pm start outside the Gannochy sports centre at Striling Uni, calf recovering and tested with a wee run over Stoneymollan last night. Pre-entry this year and a chipped finish, nearly 300 runners, a lot for a short, 5 mile with 1250' of ascent, race. Charge up the road first rest as we funnel through the narrow gap in the wall, doesn't last long enough, running again along the track, a short road climb then into the woods, didn't notice any blue bells this year! Keep running where I can and gradually yoyo past a few run walkers, a final wheeze up round the summit cairn then freewheeling down, gasping for breath, arms windmilling for balance, dodging those still plodding up. Push past others on every steep down, struggling on flats and any short ups. Back in the forest, route change, slightly longer, to avoid the bad step, tree pinball on the mudslide only a couple of minutes left now, relax and run, gradually increase the effort but don't get much faster, finish in 52 1/2 minutes, 166th out of nearly 300, the winner 35 minutes, last 1 hour 51!

Stuc a'Chroin 5000

Route change, gone the two miles of forest road at the start and finish, the Strathyre residents had cut a path through the forest picking up old paths and tracks, a few bogs and a lot of tussocks. After half an hour and a couple of miles we popped out joining the old route across Meall Mor and into Glen Ample, I was near the back and stayed there for the rest of the race. Into the snow on Ben Each's tough climb and trashed my calf, decided to carry on, along the undulating ridge to the Stuc reaching the cross over 10 minutes inside the cut off, on up the freezing misty trail the rest of the field flying past on their way back. Slid up a snow chute rubbed smooth by those in front, hip gives up in sympathy with calf accompanied by agonising cramp in my quads (Vastus medialis :)) encouraged the cramp to leave with some dried mango, luckily this seemed to work, another wee climb up to the cairn. Proof of achievement a marshall's tick on my number, round the cairn and its downhill, at least for a few minutes. Stumbling along the ridge to the crossover at Bealach nan Cabar dropping into Glen Ample away from the snow and wind. Relief short lived, the cramp inducing climb out the glen tried its best, more dried mango and some High 5 electrolyte's keep it bearable. Working jog across Meall Mor gradually catch and pass the runner who whizzed past me muttering never again on the climb out Glen Ample. Now I have to work to keep ahead, head down and concentrate on the new mushy track through the forest, the gap grows towards a minute, good enough. The last half mile a good trail only a couple of hundred yards of up to grimmace through, finished in 4 hours 42, the finish area practically deserted, 129th out of 133 finishers with another 10 or so having pulled out. Limped slowly and painfully back to the car convinced my running and racing was over for a few weeks, a few pictures here, race website here. Marshall's heroes, many standing around for hours in freezing conditions, handing out gallons of water, buckets of sweets, encouragement and a watchful eye on the lightly clad runners skittering past. The route is about 14 miles, the 5000 in the race title was the amount of ascent in feet, turns out this is a wee bit shy of the real climb nearer 5700'.