100th Narnain

Noticed from my run log spreadsheet my next Narnain would be #100, Hadn't had a hill run for a couple of weeks and set off towards the top via Cruach nam Miseag, not many out today, early on a cloudy Sunday, couple of showers on the way up, made good time without any view distractions, brief stop on top for a couple of pictures, wet and windy so didn't stop for long. Easy run back to Bealach a Mhaim and down past the Narnain Boulders, couple of stops to share some route advice then along the argo track back down to Succoth, good to be back out on the hills.

Luss Lollipop

Not too much time today to squeeze in a run, went for the Luss Lollipop race route, plenty of bang for your buck, 7 miles with 3300'+ of ascent. Slow jog up Beinn Dubh, quicker round the corries to Mid Hill and about a third of the way down towards Glen Luss, tuning off the path dropping down steep tussocky slopes to the bottom of Glen Striddle, across the stream for the short sharp climb back up to the top of Beinn Dubh, about 1000' in half a mile, fondly known as the wee beastie. Probably stopped more than I wanted to on this climb, taking in the views was my excuse. From the top its an easy 2 miles down grassy slopes.

Beinn Dubh from Mid Hill

Doune Hills twin tops from Mid Hill

Beinn Eich and Beinn an Lochain from Mid Hill

 

Fairy Glen

Short trail race in the club chamionship, 3 laps, just under a mile per lap with a steep climb at the end of each lap. Midgies in feast mode as 6 of us set off, settled into second place and stayed there without too much trouble, gradually moving ahead of 3rd while slipping behind 1st, too dry underfoot for the downhill at the start of each lap, about a minute quicker than last year.

Vane Ime

Back to Arrochar for a harder run, ran up Glen Loin to start turning off at the Ben Vane path, steady trudge to the top, short break to take in the views. Easy run down to Lag Uaine and another steep trudge to the top of Ime. Ran down the Buttermilk Burn path past the Narnain Boulders, cut off for a nice run down the argo track to finish.

Narnain & The Cobbler

Afternoon run in Arrochar, straight up Narnain, over to the Cobbler, descending the ridge to An t Sron, from their down to the Buttermilk Burn at the top of the zig zags, crossed the path onto the argo track for a nice easy run down this grassy trail. 

Whinny Hill Trail Race

5 of us for tonight's trail race, a lap of Balloch Park to start then up Fairy Glen and out round the Whinny Hill lollipop route, on the way back follow a path through trees behind the park coming out at the castle. A couple of minutes slower than last year on this trail race that used to be a cross country before the hardcore paths were built. Started in third place, made it into second at the seat and kept that until the end.

Auchengaich Horseshoe run

Sunday afternoon run over the hills that surround Auchengaich reservoir off Glen Fruin. There's a few car spaces at the bottom of the access road to the dam. It's warm with a threat of thunder, these hills provide easy escape routes should it turn nasty, set off through the gate and straight up Auchengaich hills steep flanks, tussocky run then trudge as the gradient increases. From the top its an enjoyable run with a cooling breeze, there's a quad bike track, paths and fence lines to follow in poor weather, over Tharsuin and Chaorach and back down into a warm and windless glen. The climb to A Mahanaich follows another fence shielding a deep gully, mostly walking up here. From the top gentle grassy slopes lead down over Maol am Fheidh and The Strone.

Tharsuin to Chaorach

Chaorachs cairn and trig

A Mhainachs cairn looking over the reservoir to Ardmore point 

 

Stuc a Chroin 5000

This was my 17th go at the Stuc, and my first long hill race for a couple of years. 200+ started with a few drop outs along the way. The first couple of miles undulate up on forest roads and grassy tracks to reach open hillside, across the moor beside Meall Mor before a steep drop into Glen Ample, not so easy on the way back, steep climb up Beinn Each, 1500' in under a mile, heather and a rusty old fence helping on the steeper parts. from Each to the Stuc its about 2 miles along a rough undulating ridge, dropping 500' and climbing 1000' a mixture of running, walking and scrambling gets you there, from the cross over at Bealach nan Cabar you have to avoid the runners in front on their way back as you grind up to the Stucs summit. No time to take in the views running back along the rocky ridge, there's a few ups and downs  but most of the climbing is done for the day, apart from Glen Ample. From the cross over drop down steep pathless grassy slopes to a stream crossing where a faint ankle trashing path takes you back along the glen to the start of the climb out, a slow jog at first then everyone slows to a painful trudge as the 600' in half a mile climb sucks the energy from your legs. From the exit from Glen Ample its a 3 1/2 mile run to the finish, across the moor then grass track and forest road, mostly down hill with just enough rough ground to keep you working hard all the way to the finish, 167th out of 196 finishers.

 

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

Beinn Dubh Hill Race

Fine evening for this short race, about 100 runners set off, run the flatter parts but mostly walking, hands on knees helping push up hill, settled in near the back, picked off a few on the way up, round the cairn and back down, reeled in a few on the top half then tried to close the gap on the next group across the plateau, passed a few more on the last steep drop into the start field, claiming one more victim with a sprint to the line.

Narnain and The Cobbler

Late night meant an afternoon start on a sunny Saturday, lots of route choices finally went for Narnain and The Cobbler, the quiet way, although not as quiet as usual. Straight up Narnain from the car park, through forest then the path that's a burn, clear of the trees a series of man made step ramps make for steady progress, great views open up as I climb, plenty of people coming down and only a couple going up at this time of day. Some small patches of snow, easily avoided, didn't stop at the busy trig point continuing down to Bealach A' Mhaim then up the back stairs to The Cobbler, met a pushy Collie who's idea of friendship was to lean into your legs and push, not the best thing on a staircase. Easy jog across the plateau then a last trudge to the top beside the needle. Stopped to take in the views and some juice before departing down the rocky path to the grassy ridge to An t Sron, boggy path down to the Buttermilk burn, avoided the zig zags using the argo track then a short section of the block path/burn although managed to spot where the argo track comes out for future runs. Beautiful afternoon, views to Paddy Milestone, Jura and a snowy Ben Nevis.

Ridge to A'Chrois from Narnain ascent, almost went that way!

Ben Nevis from Narnain

Ben Vane , foreground, Lui Munros background from Narnain

Cobbler from Narnain

Ben Lomond from back stairs to The Cobbler

Narnain from back stairs to The Cobbler

The Cobbler from An t Sron

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.

The Cobbler Hill Race

Third go at this hill race, turned out to be my slowest. a Championship race this year, about 200 runners, ladies off first , 15 minutes later the men. Dry and calm until about 15 mins before the ladies set off , wind and rain set in, forecast just about spot on. Through a fire break to start, walking up steep muddy ground, exit the trees, walking up steep tussocky hillside to the An t Sron checkpoint, ran and walked form here to the rocks and last steep climb to the top, the strong winds justifying more walking than usual, some hail, weak sunshine and cheery Arrochar MRT Marshals at the top, set off down the rocky trail passed two or three, couldn't see anyone else in front, finally caught a couple nearer the bottom then back into the trees, slid and slipped down the firebreak now a muddy swamp, finish with a short run on the forest road.

Ladies Start

Glen Striddle, Glen Luss

Set off early to beat the high winds forecast for the afternoon, plan was Beinn Dubh, Mid Hill, Coillie Eughain Hill, Started up Beinn Dubh to the rattle of woodpeckers and further up skylarks above. Wind ok as it was a helping from behind, steady no gusts. Hard work on ground soggy from snowmelt. Thoughts of turning back disappeared on the run round to Mid Hill, ran into the glen and onto the tarmac for a few hundred yards crossing a swollen raging Luss water before the slow trudge up CE Hills steep pathless sides to it's peat hagged top, clouds scudding by as the wind strengthened. Ran down over the paps, a faint path helping to avoid the worst of the tussocks and bogs towards the bottom, through the trees the woodpeckers rattling my return.