Narnain & The Cobbler the quiet way

First time in Arrochar for a few months, morning run, low cloud, but warm and dry, straight up Narnain from Succoth, busier than usual and caught and passed a few groups of walkers. Summit plateau to myself for a few minutes then down to Bealach a'Mhaim and a trudge up to the top of The Cobbler, saw no-one but could hear a few voices in the mist. Ran down the An t'Sron ridge then across to the Buttermilk Burn and down the argo track to Succoth. Good to be back out on some bigger hillls.

The Spearhead

Narnain

The Cobbler

On the way to An t Sron

Pappert Cross Country

5 started this 3 lap cross country course behind the Pappert Housing Estate, 3rd time we've ran this race, an undulating course with plenty of mud and ditches to cross and a couple of fallen trees to negotiate, good Cross Country. First lap went well apart from going the wrong way round one of the fallen trees, slightly quicker in the second lap despite a stop for a lace re-tie, third lap slightly quicker again, finished 2nd and happy to improve on my previous times by about 90 seconds. 

Lismore

High winds forecast for the hills, chose a low route today, a 9 mile loop round the north end of the Isle of  Lismore. Found the route on walkinghighlands website. I had walked some of it a few years ago but downloaded the gpx file from their website as I was going a few extra miles over ground I hadn't been on, Worked well, only a couple of minor route issues and the app tells you when you go off course. Got the ferry over from Port Appin to Point, ran round the coast anti clockwise to Port Ramsay then on to Castle Coeffin, from there run across the island and back up to Point via Tirefour Broch. A mixture of coastal paths, fields, farm tracks and a couple of miles on the road back to Point. A couple of eagles soaring up prompted the camera to come out the bag, too late to catch them, the scenery was good. Weather showery to start and as I forgot my jacket fashioned a makeshift wind and waterproof layer from a large plastic shopping bag. Worked well enough to keep me comfortable. Finished in about 2 1/2 hours so had a half hour wait for the next ferry back to Port Appin.

 

Bromley Muir Snow run

Local hills and trails again this week, longer route planned, round Carman Reservoir then along Bromley Muir to Stoneymollan followed 3LW and then onto the John Muir Trail past Ben Bowie coming back to Ben Bowie through Banachra woods, from Ben Bowie down towards Helensburgh disturbed a Buzzard and a Heron before turning up the ridge to  Killoeter, back along the 3LW and down Stoneymollan to finish. Started in the snow, pleasant running, not much wind, snow faded after an hour or so then some blue skies and weak sunshine saw me home.

Auchengaich Circuit

Short long hill run, the hills around Auchengaich reservoir just off Glen Fruin. Trudge across tussocks and bog to a steep climb up Auchengaich hill, started after 3pm so likely to be dark before I finish. Cold wind on the ridge up to Beinn Tharsuin glad of my triple thermal layers and windproof jacket, ground partially frozen meant dryer and warmer feet than usual, Chaorachs top, cairn and trig point separated by a rime covered fence, not a place to hang around despite the good views, ran along the undulating ridge to the steep drop back into the glen crossing over for the fenceline path up to A Mhanaich, still light and I push on down towards Maol am Fheidh and then the Strone,my eyes adjust to the fading  light, headtorch only switched on for the last couple of hundred yards and the run along the road busy with evening traffic.

Beinn Dubh & Mid Hill

Longer hill run this week, planned route was out and back over Beinn Dubh, Mid Hill, run down to the Glen Luss road,  turn round & go back the same way. Passed a few walkers on the way up, a bit of snow from about 1500' , by the top a few inches deep made for hard work round the corries, not much visibility, everything white in the clouds and snow. Dropped down towards the Glen out the snow and cloud, stopped about half a mile early and turned back up Mid Hill. Running back round the corries was a bit easier as a few groups of walkers had flattened out the snow. Partially frozen ground and Sealskinz socks helped keep my feet a bit drier and warmer.  

 

Polaroid Cross Country

First race in this years club championship,  4 1/2 mile , 2 lap Cross Country race round the edge of the Polaroid Industrial Estate. A few detours required because of fallen trees, 6 set off, a slow first lap still feeling the effects of New Year lurgy , did try to up the pace on the flat riverside path on the second lap, didn't work just meant I went slower on the two short uphill sections and ended up with even splits for the 2 laps. Got the race dry, hailstones putting the markers out, sleet taking them in, good start to the clubs race series.

Bromley Muir

First long run this year, had taken some time off for holidays and lurgy, stayed local, Bromley Muir then Killoeter and Ben Bowie. The Three Lochs Way still blocked and took a steep bypass route onto Killoeters ridge. Intended to return just above the fields and A82 but the firing range was in use and came back the same way I went out, over Bromley Muir, a bit longer / more ascent but more runnable as the lower path has a few ditches to traverse.

Killoeters summit cairn

Ardmore from Killoeter

Helensburgh from Ben Bowie

Loch Lomond from Ben Bowie

Bromley Muir trig

Mount Malow (Carman Fort) overlooking Carman reservoir and Dumbarton Rock

Glen Striddle/Glen Luss

Abandoned the planned bike/run/bike due to a puncture, drove to Luss for a wee horseshoe run instead. 

Outward loop over Beinn Dubh, Mid Hill, return via the Glen road, Coillie Eughain Hill and The Paps. Gloomy afternoon, low cloud and drizzle, a bit windier on top, only saw 2 walkers coming off the hill as I went up. Not much of a view and wet underfoot, temp ok, not too cold, toes ok in their Sealskinz socks. Windy enough on the run along the ridge to Mid Hill to convince me to do the horseshoe rather than an out and back, Coillie Eughain Hill is a bit lower and would be sheltered by the higher tops overlooking Glen Finlas. Coillie Eughain is a good wee climb, shorter but steeper than Beinn Dubh, on top zig zagged along until I picked up the fence and path down to The Paps. Below The Paps thankfully the ferns were flattened revealing what there is of a path, from there it is a short run along tracks to the Bridge over Luss Water.

Mid Hills 2nd cairn

Top of Glen Luss

Coillie Eughain Hill

Bottom of Glen Luss

 

Run, Bike, Run

Poor forecast with high winds on the hills, stayed local with a difference, cycled past cross keys to Banachra Wooods, then ran up the trail through the forest to Ben Bowie, a loop down on the Three Lochs Way trail then up and over Killoeter and back down the trail to Banachra Woods and a cycle home.

Balloch Park Cross Country

Last race in this tears club series, 3 laps round Balloch Park, 8 of us set off, took the 1st 2 laps steady and if I had maintained the pace would have been under 40 mins, not fast but ok, slowed a bit on the third until the climb back up to to the castle, ran better after the climb but still lost 30 or 40 seconds, finished 3rd.    

Beinn Dubh and Mid Hill

 Tail end of a storm on Saturday morning so left my run until the afternoon, Luss hills, Beinn Dubh to start, ground back to its boggy best, only a few people on the hill today, into the snow towards the top and a cold North wind along the ridge, thought about turning back a couple of times then a wee bit of shelter out of the wind made all the difference, made it to the 2 small cairns at Mid Hill, turned back here, made good time with the wind at my back, along the ridge the sun began to set lighting up the snowy hills. 

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.

  

Duathlon

Club Duathlon, a 4 mile run round the Vale followed by a 12 mile cycle round the Horseshoe with a loop through Gartocharn. Only 4 of us this year, a bit chilly but a dry road, no ice and not much wind. Last on the run section, managed to pass a couple on the bike, new recycled Carrera Srixus 2 encouraged a more aggressive ride, Good fun!

Bromley Muir

Short run today, out and back, Radiomast hill, Carman Fort, Bromley Muir Trig point and a wee bit further towards Stoneymollan, about turn and back home, good to be out.