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'.

Trossachs run

Chose three separate hills rather than commit to a bigger single run, Ben A'an, Ben Venue and Ben Ledi about 16 miles and 6500' of ascent, meant I could pull out without a long escape. Ben Venue car park to start the alternative Ben A'an as the usual route was closed due to forest ops. 3 miles with 1500' mostly runnable apart from the crowds of walkers. A bit rough with kindly placed ropes to help with the muddy bits.

 Scotlands answer to via ferrata.

Great views for a little hill. Up and down in an hour, change of shoes and shirt for Ben Venue, 8 miles and 2500'. First and last 2 miles on trail, middle bit on the hill. More forest ops made for better views with trees either side of the trail cleared. Onto the hill, avoided the walkers by taking the south west ridge from the edge of the forest. views open up with height.

Loch Achray and Loch Venacher from Ben Venue, Ben Ledi to the left

Short break beside the summit cairn starting back the same way but turning south east, meant a trudge through brashing but cut off some of the trail, up and down in 2 1/2 hours, probably a mile shorter with the direct line taken off the hill. Into the car for Calendar, some fruit and flapjacks from Tesco express then off to Ben Ledi, 5 miles and 2500'. Tracksters and Helly on, a bit cooler here on the east side of Ben Ledi in the shade. Ran the first few hundred yards up the steep trail then settle into a steady walk with more than a few rest stops. Traversing below the crags moving too slow and jacket on to combat the cool breeze. Onto the ridge, into the sun, a last 30 minutes of up. Ledi a cruel hill, up and down two wee steep false summits before a final up, its a double summit, one with a large cross on it the other the trig point and summit cairn.

Sat for a few minutes sheltering behind the cairn taking in the evening views. Arrochar Alps, Ben Lui, the Stuc all beckoning in the hazy sunshine. Gloves on as I was cooling down quickly. Set off for an easy run down, legs complaining at first, gradually loosen off and enjoy the technical trail run, finished in 2 hours 10. All in 5 hours 40 of movement, 15 or 16 miles and 6500' of ascent. More pictures here.

Cobble

Went to Arrochar to check out the conditions, still plenty snow. Set off for the Cobbler running up the glen past the Narnain boulders, path ok some snow around. trudge up the back steps,nearly at the top and a bank of snow across the steps, a lot of walkers using it. Stopped for a few pics then turned back to avoid the grief trying to go round it on the way back.Back to the car park, 8 miles, 2500' feet in a couple of hours. A few pictures here. Sunday Reservoir, quarry, fort and home run.

Stoneymollan

Club race, inside 5 miles with about 1000' of ascent. First mile and a half road and trail followed by two miles of undulating moorland with a short descent towards the radiomast at the bottom of Overton Muir, last two and a bit miles back onto trail and road, nothing very steep, runnable all the way, finished 5th out of 9, second over the line and 6 seconds outside my handicap time.

Luss again

Saturday short Fort run, Sunday, longer run, Luss horseshoe, this time Beinn Dubh, Mid Hill, Doune Hill, Beinn an Lochain, Beinn Eich, reverse of 4 weeks ago. Set off under low cloud, cool, no breeze. After a mile and 1000' popped up through the clouds to skylarks and blue skies above a sea of cotton wool. Views got better with every step.

View back down Loch Lomond from near the top of Beinn Dubh

Along the ridge then down into Sith Mor, cloud flowing up the Glen like a high tide from the Loch. Steady trudge up to the trig point on Doune Hill.

View to Arrochar Alps past Doune Hill's Trig point.

Running again up and over Beinn an Lochain and Beinn Eich and a last look to the snowy peaks. Steady run to the Glen road pausing to watch two Eagles spiral slowly up and round to their eyrie in a neighbouring glen.

Today's route, Beinn Dubh, Mid Hill, Doune Hill from Beinn Eich.

About 13 miles and 5000' of ascent, just under 4 1/2 hours, somehow always takes longer in this direction. quiet today only one person on Beinn Dubh side and one small group starting up Beinn Eich as I came down. More pictures here.

Birnam

SHR championship time again, first one Birnam, short and steep, 4 miles, 1750' of ascent, big field well over 200. Started at the back not feeling particularly strong, a short road section gradually climbs before we start onto the hill, kept jogging similar pace to those around me walking, picked off a few then dropped into walk mode and lost a few. The path twists its way up through trees then levels out onto a scraggy path over a series of minor tops. The run off starts down steep soft muddy ground for a few minutes before joining a forest trail. The trail drops down quickly twisting and turning its way back towards Birnam. Save some energy for the last miles wee undulations. The last few hundred yards gently downhill, finished under 47 mins, a few slower than last time.

Finlas, Fruin, Luss

Longer route today taking in the tops overlooking Glens Finlas, Fruin and Luss. The plan was Coille-eughain Hill, Beinn Tharsuin, Beinn Chaorach, Beinn Mhanaich, Cruach an t Sidhein, Beinn Eich, 12 miles and 6000', in the end we ran round Mhanaich instead of going over the top for a similar distance with 1000' less ascent. Parked at the top of Glen Luss crossed the river straight onto the steep Coille-eughain Hill, easier today as it was the first rather than last one.

View from Coille-eughain Hill towards top 657.

Onto the broad ridge the day promised much, clear blue skies, gentle cooling breeze, another short climb onto an undulating ridge, four tops, 2 numbered, 657 and 693, 2 named, Tharsuin and Chaorach.

View from Chaorach towards Clyde Estuary.

From Chaorach we decided to miss out Mhanaich, instead contouring round on what looked like deer tracks far below. Turned out well the tracks taking us relatively painlessly through the tussock filed glen to the bottom of Cruach an t Sidhein, a tough wee climb 1200' in under 3/4 of a mile.

Outward route on the right, homeward route over Beinn Eich on the left, taken from Cruach an t Sidhein's rounded top.

One more climb to go, Beinn Eich, ran and walked fueled by a couple of jelly babies. Superb wee day out, finished just under 5 hours, only met one other person, a walker on t Sidhein's top. More pictures here.

Deer Beinn Dubh

Back in the groove this week, longer Saturday, easier than last week, planned for 3 hours, Beinn Dubh, Mid Hill and Coille-eughain and the Paps to finish.9 miles and 3700'. A bit quicker up Beinn Dubh and met a 30 plus herd of camera shy deer sitting just off the ridge to the south.

As we ran along the ridge half the herd ran in front of us the rest crossing behind. Cool breeze round the corries, Arrochar Alps looked frozen, a few weeks before we venture up there.

Coille-eughain the usual trudge, a Stag and Hind teasing us keeping just out of camera range. The only wildlife close enough a bit more static.

Good run off down the grassy Paps to finish just under three hours. Sunday's effort just over the hour, round the Stoneymollan race route.

Luss Horseshoe

Reverse running this weekend, short local run on Saturday, up to the Fort, due to high winds, glad I didn't go any higher. Sunday bright an breezy, back to Luss to see if I could finish another recent abandoned run, a clockwise loop round the glen, Beinn Eich, Beinn Lochain, Doune Hill, Mid Hill and Beinn Dubh to finish, about 12 miles and close to 5000' of ascent. Ran up the glen road, a large group of hill walkers were in front of me on Beinn Eich, good some people to pick off, caught the first couple before the 2nd style, the rest waiting at the second style.

Outward route, Beinn Eich on the left, Doune Hill the middle of three tops at the back.

Oh well, steady walk up, a bit quicker than last time. Approaching the last wee down and up before the top the wind kicked up a notch, fleece hat on and pushed on over the top, no hanging about for pics, very exposed run along to Beinn Lochain where an icy squall blew in, took refuge behind a large rock just off the ridge, could be another bailout. After about 5 minutes the sky began to clear, set off again but stopped after a few minutes, 2nd jacket and 2nd pair of gloves on, staggered off along the ridge into a fresh breeze gradually warming up. Straight over Doune Hill and down into Glen Mollochan thankful to be out the wind at last.

Mid Hill left, Beinn Eich right

 Across a tussocky Sith Mor, on the climb up Mid Hill, the wind picks up again, helping from behind now. Along the top then round the corries the wind helps keep tired legs moving. Jogged down Beinn Dubh gradually removing layers as the wind dropped and sun kicked in, finish in just over 4 hours. More pictures here.