Ben Lawers

Another new route, there are 7 munros here, tried one, Ben Lawers, while working out how to come back and get them all.

Starting from the Nature reserve car park it's a 3 or 4 mile gradual climb to Lawers small summit.

Easily runnable except a couple of steeper section at the end with man made steps.

Windy at the top, low cloud and snowing meant not somewhere I wanted to hang about, not many photos either.

Finished in just over 2 hours.

Beinn Dubh hill race

A tough wee race, my first in this years midweek big n burn race series  4 miles and 2000' of up and down. 100 plus started, immediate thought is too fast! Jog wheezed up the steep start. Managed to get to the plateau without losing any more places. Ran up the plateau and up again, working better now catching one or two as the leaders come flying past on their way back down. Doesn't take long before I'm struggling again until the slope eases a bit and i can run the last couple of hundred yards to the top. Round the cairn and brakes off working hard trying to catch my three clubmates ahead. Past the first one in the first steep descent, ran out of gas a bit across the plateau then managed to pick up the pace on the final drop passing another clubmate on the run back to the start, happy to finish in about 53 minutes.

Clach Leathad traverse

Had my eye on this run for a while, Victoria bridge to Glencoe ski centre then back to Victoria bridge by the West Highland way. Set off about 2pm.

10 minutes along a trail then a path towards Stob a Choire Odhair rising gently at first then steep zig zags before easing to a bouldery summit.

Rewarded with a fly by from a massive eagle.

Off the west ridge towards Stob Ghabhar with a couple of steep scree scrambles onto the airy Aonach Eagach ridge, thankfully not as exposed as the Glencoe version.

Undulating down to bealach Fuar-chathaidh before a steep 1000' climb to Clach Leathad.

Easier running to the Double summit of Creise, the spur to Meall a'Bhuiridh about half way along.

Turned back along the ridge to the spur towards the last hill of the day, Meall a'Bhuiridh, a couple of false summits on the rocky climb test my humour.

Steady run down through the chairlifts to Glencoe ski centre, about 5 hours 40. All that's left is a 7 mile run along the West Highland way back to Victoria bridge as darkness approached, finished inside 7 1/2 hours, tired but happy. More pictures here.

Stoneymollan

Next race in club race series, just under 5 miles with 1000' of ascent. Run handicap style. 9 started, i was 3rd last, finished 2nd, overtaken by one, and third fastest in just over 44 minutes. Good fun.

Ben Lomond

Set off mid afternoon for the Ben, cool sunny spring day. The lower paths have finished their makeover, most of the gnarly bits have been taken out. Kept a slow jog going except for a couple of photo stops and some rocky sections further up.

Looking across to Inverbeg

Easy run up the plateau saving some energy for the steep climb up to the ridge. Quite busy at the top, cool breeze, extra top on while I took a few photos.

Ben Vorlich with Loch Sloy behind and the Hydro Station Pipes running down to Inveruglas

Beinn Dhubchraig from Ben Lomond with Ben Nevis in the background

No rush today legs still tired from Saturday careful to maintain concentration and avoid a tumble. Soon heat up once off the summit ridge, back to a tee shirt. Finished about 2 hours 15, washed shoes and legs in the Loch, a bit too chilly for any more. A few more pictures here.

The Cobbler and Narnain

Windy today, wasn't sure where to go, forecast was for the wind to drop and after a couple of Luss runs this week went to Arrochar, for the Cobbler and Narnain, finishing by running down through the Spearhead, one of my favourite descents, steep, rocky and muddy. Busy busy car parks everyone out for Easter. Jacket on as the rain came down on the way up the zig zag track through the forest. Ran up the trail past the Narnain boulders, thought about going up the front for a change as it might be more sheltered than through the glen and up the back stairs, decided against it, more running the usual way. Short break at the bottom of the stairs then ran up, a few rest breaks on the way.

A few pictures at the top but didn't hang about in the cold wind. Back to the bealach and up Narnain, managed to run most of it with a few breaks to catch my breath.

A few more pictures but didn't hang about and set off for a slither through the Spearhead.

Easy run down passing a few walkers on their way up. Finished just over 3 hours 15, more pictures here.

Glen Douglas

Shorter run this week, the three Glen Dougls hills, about 6 miles round with 3200' of ascent. Beinn Bhreac, Ben Reoch and Tullich Hill. Steep climb up from Invergroin to top out at the trig point across Loch Lomond from the Ben.

Ben Reoch (right) and Tullich Hill (left) from Bhreac

Cold wind, quick photo and off own gentle slopes before the gentle climb up Reoch, followed what looks like quad bike tracks, not the direct route but avoiding the worst of the bogs.

Beinn Bhreac from Reoch

Steep drop from Reoch towards the bealach before Tullich hill, took the first gulley onto the top rather than the last, not so muddy.

Good views to the Luss hills.

Ran down to Invergroin through a new plantation, not sure what kind of trees but didn't look like conifer, so might be ok. Finished in 2 1//2 hours, more pictures here.

Beinn Dubh

Sneaked a wee mid week hill run in, home sharp and drove to Luss, just about enough time before it got dark. There's a race up here in 3 weeks, good practice in peace and quiet. Its about two miles and 2000' to run up, nice an steady taking in the views.

Up in about 50 mins, down in 25, hope to be a bit quicker in the race, more pictures here.

Luss hills

Parked at the top of Glen Luss for a run round Beinn Eich, Beinn an Lochain, Doune hill and Mid Hill. The forecast low cloud broke up on the way up Eich made for interesting views to Ben and Loch Lomond and the Arrochar Alps.

Managed to run all the way, short break at the top, ran off along the ridge to Doune Hill.

Another rest sitting in the sun just off the top. Easy run down into tussocky Sith Mor before the final climb to the two unnamed tops beside Mid Hill.

Ran down to finish just over 3 hours, more pictures here.

Ben Vane, Beinn Ime

High pressure and fine weather forecast, busy Succoth car parks, set off up glen Loin, lots of walkers out today, reached the wee bridge past coiregrogain and set off for the trudge through Vanes knobbly bits, had bought the ice axe, didn't really need it, helped on the snow bank up to Vanes flat summit. Pleasing cool breeze on top, drink photos and off towards Lag Uaine, avoided most of the crags made for easy running, crossed two streams and onto the ascent ridge towards the bealach between Ime ans lubhein, I'll go up there sometime. Slow n steady from the bealach to Ime's summit, busy with walkers, wee break to take in the views. Ran down to bealach a Mhaim avoiding bogs as much as possible, trundled over to the back of the Cobbler. Steady run back to Succoth, finished in 4 hours 40, pictures here, super day.

Criffel hill race

First of the 2017 SHR championship races, only 10k with 500m plus ascent, 200 set off, half a mile of road then some forest trail before the fun starts, mud mud tussocks mud, swamp, varying from 6 inches to a couple of feet deep, roots rocks and old fences doubling as trip wires add to the fun, knockendock hill first then a slight drop and heathery swamp to Criffel. Round Criffels small cairn and run down as fast as you dare, fallers everywhere caught out by hidden mud filled holes. Back over knockendock and down the mudslide, took it too carefully until overtaken by a couple of other runners, raised the intensity, caught them up and eased past gradually, the mud dried out , trail running now overtaking a couple then one final kick over the last 50m gained me another place, finished 136th in about 1 hour 25. Not a race I would have gone to if it wasn't a championship one, hard work going up and required full concentration on the way down. Great fun, well organised by Dumfries running club.

The Cobbler and his Wife

Misty morning, didn't see any sun until the finish. From Succoth up the zig zag trails past the Narnain Boulders to the bealach between the Cobbler, Narnain and Ime.

Narnain first, up into the mist, snow patches grew towards the top. Stopped at the snowy boulder field and turned back. A bit boggy at the bottom.

The Cobbler, same routine as Narnain, snow increasing with height. Didn't hang about at the top, cooling down quickly.

Noisy waterfalls tumble along beside the path back towards Succoth.


Took a detour along to the old ascent track to avoid the zig zags, the sun filtering down to Arrochar below.

Hard work today, please to finish in about 3 hours 20.

Killoeter

Easier run today, ran up the stoneymollan trail, past the Black Third farm, down the road to where it meets Darleith, right turn up steep grassy slopes into the heathery ridge. Found a great weekend path along the ridge and down to meet the 3LW. Followed the 3LW back to the stoneymollan and down to Balloch, finished inside 2 hours, nice run in the sun, a few pictures here.

Arrochar Trails

Bad weather forecast stayed low and ran the trails from Ardgarten to Succoth then round the Glen Loin loop and back to Ardgarten, thought it was 14 miles, turned out to be about 17, finished in about 3 hours 40, good test with a fun river crossing. Some pictures here.

Glen Luss

Parked at the top of the glen running down the glen to the bottom of Mid Hill, stop start trudge up, too warm at the bottom but cold wind and rain at the top. Faffed about in thick mist finding the correct route off. Clouds cleared for a few seconds making it a bit easier, dropped down into Sith Mor. Boggy crossing the tussocks. Slow trudge up Doune Hill, blasted by wind and rain at the top. Ran over Beinn an Lochain to the last week climb up Beinn Eich. Steady run down to finish inside 3 1/2 hours. A few pictures here.

Carnethy 5 hill race

Freezing freezing, nearly 500 runners set off for Scad Law, first of 5 hills in this classic race. Crocodile soon formed across Charlie's loop and up the first climb, snow increasing towards the top with high winds n icy sleet blasting exposed flesh, a pattern repeated on each top. Traverse to South Black Hill fun, stiff crosss wind blowing us off course, over the first of the kips and pleasant couple of minutes sheltered from the wind. Run off the second kip more fun in the snow, managed to stay upright and gain a few places. Along to the bumslide down to the Howe, again managed to stay on my feet, and relatively dry. Jogged most of the first part of the climb up Carnethy with a flash of my number to the marshalls. Payed for my exuberance and had to walk most of the way to the gully. Running again out of the gulley towards the final wee climb to Carnethies summit. Steep run down towards the finish, a wee tumble losing grip on the heathery roots. Steady run back across the bog to finish in just over 84 minutes. A few pictures here.

Whinny hill Cross Country

Final club cross country, starts in front of Balloch castle, finishes behind it. A lap of the park to start then onto the path to the whinny hill trail. Trail sanitised this year, a new hardcore surface up through the woods, only the top loop section wet n muddy. Return by same route until just before the park and off left through trees n mud popping out behind the car park, short dash to the finish. Started in third, dropped to fourth at the bottom of the park, stayed there to finish, 13 runners this year.

Narnain and the Cobbler

Arrochar run, set off in the rain, quickly turned to snow, on the way towards the Narnain boulders, past the boulders windy. Up Narnain's north shoulder no one had been, made my way up managed to stay around the path although under snow and clagged in. Turned back near the top, steep n rocky. Followed my footprints back to the bealach, jog walk up the Cobbler, stayed on the grass to the central top, vision tricky, judging where the ground was, snow blind? Chat with a couple on top, gave them my thoughts on safe descent route. Fun run down the back steps in my microspikes, ran down the trail gradually coming out cloud n snow to finish just over 3 hours, photos here. A few pictures here. Sunday ran along to the stoneymollan, up and over coming down behind the reservoir, about turn n back over, a double stoneymollan, most I've ran for a while. A few pictures here.

Polaroid Cross Country

2 lap club race, round the Polaroid estate. Tussocky field to start, first minor detour round overgrown old paths. Steady run along the smooth Riverside path settled into third place, lost a place on the steps, didn't get it back to the second lap. Nice n muddy through the trees. Kept it steady through the field. Careful not to slip into the pond, slow up the hill. Short downhill recovery, worked our way across to the ditch and short run back along the verge to finish the lap. Second lap took back 3rd place, realised effort had dropped, kept a steady effort pushing on when required to keep my place, finished about 36 1/2 mins, good day for a run.

Luss horseshoe

Couldn't get to the top of the glen for ice, plan b, Bein Dubh, Mid Hill and Coille Eughain hill to finish. Snow and ice crunching underoot all the way, blue skies and a cool breeze made the effort worth while, a bit slower than usual to the top. Run-round the Corrie's plenty of photo stops, Mid Hill break taking in the views up to the top of Loch Lomond and surrounding snowy peaks. Descent off Mid Hill back to the glen fun in the snow. Ran up the road then acrosss to Coille Eughain Hill steep as usual. Steady walk up its steep sides, views opening up to a stormbound Cobbler framed by Glens  Luss and Mollochan. From the top views opened up over Loch Lomond. Descending over the paps a small herd of deer provided a welcome distraction from tussocks and bogs. Finished n 3 1/2 hours, stunning day. Pictures here. Sunday recovery run, a couple of hours over Stoneymollan, a bit stop start through brashing from felled trees, visit to the Trig Point and Fort eventually dropping down behind the reservoir and back through fields, a few photos here.