Arrochar Run

First run in the Arrochar Alps for a while. Narnain and the Cobbler was the plan. Dry and not much of a breeze made for a warm start up through the trees, onto the open hill to a slight cooling breeze, followed the path beside the buttermilk burn passed the Narnain boulder where the breeze picked up.

The Cobbler from the Buttermilk Burn path

Short break at the Bealach a Mhaim to put on my jacket. Startred up the new path and steps towards Narnains bouldery summit struggling against the wind until we got away from the bealach.

Ime from Bealach a Mhaim

Narnains Trig with a faint Ben Lomond in the background

At the top hid behind the dry stane shelter hat and gloves on.

The Cobbler from Narnain

An easy jog back to the bealach and onto the Cobbler back stairs. Steady plod, no running up here today.

The Cobblers Eastern top 

Jogged along the shoulder then another plod up to the Needle.

The Needle

Stopped for a couple of pictures then back down to the Bealach as the rain came on. Steady jog past the Boulders and down the zig zags to finish at Succoth, just over three hours today, good run.

Whinny Hill Cross Country

2nd race in this years Club GP, 5 of us. 2 had set off early leaving three to race, we had spread out by the first few hundred yards and stayed in that order to the end. Pretty good conditions cool but with a slight drizzle, started too fast which made the climb up harder than it needed to be, happy to reach the seat, from there its mostly down hill. Finished inside 47 mins.

Carnethy 5 Hill Race

Annual pilgramige to Beeslack High School for a school dinner with the Hill Race as an appetiser. Blue skies on the way over turned to rain as we left for the buses, thankfully blue skies returned by the time we were dropped off at race start.

Hiding from the wind with coffee and a biscuit. Race started about 2pm with the charge across the bog, walk jog up Scald Law, met the breeze head on at the top, hard to keep moving forward. Picked up the pace on the run towards South Black Hill my rucksack thought it was a parachute as the wind caught it. The Kips came and went, short lactic inducing bumps. Wind behind now, helping on the run down and across to the Howe. More lactic undulations on the climbs up Carnethy, nothing major just enough to make you walk while you think you should be running.

Running down Carnethy happy there's no more ups, first part grassy then heather and scree my new inov8's perform and I gain a few places. Across the bog I lose one place, happy to finish inside 85 mins with a school dinner to come.

Luss Hills

My last couple of runs in the Luss Hills were run in poor visibility in low cloud and snowing so an earlier start today to catch the sun. Parked at the top of the glen and set off up Beinn Eich, sky couldn't have been any bluer, the snow made for hard going and rather than break a trail I followed the few footprints I could find in the snow, even so I still walked most of the way up. Could see two walkers about half way up, just catching them as they got to the top!

Ben Lomond with Stob Binnien/Ben More/Cruach Ardrain back left

A couple of photos and set off towards Beinn Lochain, only one set of footprints to follow now.

Beinn Eich from ascent of Beinn Locahin

Over Beinn Locahin and up the short steep climb to Doune Hill for some more pics.

The Cobbler, Beinn Ime & Narnain from Doune Hill

Passed the other walker leaving Doune Hill. Passed a couple of runners on their way up. Towards the bottom the snow had been melted away by the sun, nice day. Slow climb up Mid Hill back into the snow, much busier here, lots of walkers out enjoying the clear skies and views.

Arrochar Alps from Mid Hill

Beinn Eich from Mid Hill

Visited the two wee cairns for some more pictures before turning back down Mid Hill, stunning day, finished in just over 4 1/2 hours.

Polaroid Cross Countrry

First club race of 2019, two laps round the Polaroid Industrial Estate. Starts in the field in front of the council buildings, through the trees to the path alongside the River Leven, follow this to the back of Strathleven estate, the path comes out near a small pond, round the pond and follow a narrow path up, down and along to the Ind Estate exit road, take the tussocky verge back to the start, repeat. Happy to finish inside 39 minutes.

Glen Fruin again

Better weather, not much wind but a lot colder than last week, hoped to get round a few more hills. Instead of running up to the reservoir I turned right straight up Auchengaich Hill once I crossed the gate.

Shorter climb than Chaorach, boggy at first then dried out as it got steeper. Tussocky on top, found an undulating trail along the ridge over Beinn Tharsuin to Beinn Chaorach.

Beinn Chaorach from Beinn Tharsuin

A bit icy in places but mostly runnable. Followed the fence posts from Choarach down grassy slopes to the Glen Fruin/Luss watershed, kept to the steeper ground as any flat bits tended to be covered in ice. Crossed the glen and picked up a quad bike track alongside a newly built fence beside a deep gulley up Beinn a Mahanachs southwest flank. Followed the fence to a high col just below the summit, a short push to the top for some pictures.

Reservoir with Auchengaich Hill behind from Beinn A Mahanach

Turned back to the col and a track that ran down towards the Strone with its firing range warnings. Much better route today, 7 or 8 miles, 3000' of ascent in just over 2 1/2 hours.

Glen Fruin

New route today, aim was to run up the road to Glen Fruin reservoir then ascend Beinn Chaorach dropping off the back into Glen Luss climb Cruach an t Sidhein, coming back over Beinn Mahanach and The Strone.

About 9 miles and 4500' of ascent. Set off about 1pm, with the lack of daylight hours a bit late and decided to miss Cruach an t Sidhein out. Slow climb up Chaorach, wind increasing with height, into crouch mode on the top.

Difficult to stay upright and scuttled off as quickly as possible, decided to give Mahanach a miss as well, dropped down to the watershed between Glens Luss and Fruin, crossing over for the short climb to The Strone, ignoring the temptation to climb Mahanach.

Steady run down the track past the firing range warnings signs to finish about 6 miles and 2500' of ascent inside 2 1/2 hours.

Luss Hills

Parked at the turning point near the top of Glen Luss, preferred space at the end of the road taken. Ran to the top of the road and on to Beinn Eich, slow trudge up, then along to Doune Hills trig point via Beinn Lochain, about turn and run back.

Doune Hill from Beinn Eich

 Doune Hills Trig Point

 Beinn Eich from descent off Beinn Lochain

 Cruach an t Sidhein from Beinn Eich

Loch Lomond from descent off Beinn Lochain

 Fairly misty and cool with a light breeze, ok if you kept moving. Finished the 8+ miles in just over 2 1/2 hours.

Mount Mallow

Last run of the year, short one just under 5 miles in about an hour. Ran along verges and fields to the path that pops up behind Carman reservoir, up through the quarry to the fort at the top of Mount Mallow, returning on path and fields past the radio mast and cemetery.

Balloch Park Cross Country

Last race in this years club GP, a three lap run round the grassy bit of Balloch Park. 10 of us took part this year including a couple of walkers who set off early. A bit of sleet and snow around, good for cross country and underfoot a bit easier than usual, not much mud. Pleased to finish 3rd inside 40 minutes.

Trossachs Trail Race

Missed the first of these three races as I couldn't find my old headtorch, new one in place, a rechargeable LED Lenser, big improvement on my old Petzl Myo. Race started and finished in Tulipan Crescent using the forest trail the Calendar Crags race finished on. Good field of 140 started along the trail and onto the road for a short stretch and back onto trails, head-torches ahead giving a clue to the gradient coming. We ended up on a loop beside the Bracklin falls returning forest roads, through the Golf Course and narrow trails before the Crags finish road/trail. Happy to finish in 76th place. Final race of the series is 6th Feb.

Buchaille Etive Mor and Stob Dubh

Set off from the Vale about 7:00 am for a run over the 2 Buchles or as far as we could get in the daylight. Parked at the end of the Lairig Gartain, started running about 9, along the road to Altnafeadh and the track for Coire na Tulaich. Picked our way up the bouldery corrie trail, easy going until the last 100 feet onto steeper ice and snow covered ground, needed some encouragement to "follow the footprints" and made it safely to the ridge! On the ridge it's a short jog up to the multiple tops of Stob Dearg and a break to take in the airy views to Glencoe below.

Buchaille Etive More has 4 tops, the two at either end are Munro's. Off we went along the stunning snowy ridge, our luck was in, the cloud was off the tops, only a slight breeze with snow cover just about perfect for running.

Stob na Doire left, Stob Coire Altruim behind right

Stob na Doire first, a wee bit icy towards the top, the zig zag path taking the sting out the climb, dropped off the other side and past the path that would take us back in to the glen. 

Stob Corie Altruim right and Stob na Broige back left from Stob Na Doire

Glen Etive Cloud Machine

Stob Coire Altruim next, a minor top, only a few minutes climb through some patches of drifting snow on the way up. 

On the way to Stob Na Broige

Stob na Broige soon comes into view. Good fun running along the ridge, the last wee climb not as steep as it looked and we were soon on the last top of the Big Buchle where we stopped for a refuel and to take in the superb 360 degree views.

Looking back along the ridge to Stob Dearg

Loch Etive

The Bidean nam Bian massif from Stob  na Broige

Wee Buchle Ridge - next

Cooling down quickly with the lack of effort we set off back along the ridge over Stob Coire Altruim to the exit col for the Lairig Gartain below, took the lowest exit point which turned out to be a bit slow and scrambly as we picked our way through some rocks. The higher snowy path would likely have been easier. Slabby rocks about half way down again slowing our descent. Climbed up to the Wee Buchles ridge following a path that disappeared into mud towards the top. 

Stob Coire Altruim from the Wee Buchle ridge

Stob Dubh's top at the end of the ridge

Along the ridge first an unnamed  top with about 200m of ascent, then a run along an undulating ridge to a steeper than expected looking climb to Stob Dubh .Great running again and the climb not as steep as it looked!

Arriving at the top as the sun was setting

A wee break to take in the views then back along the ridge before the light failed, it felt wrong to leave this place but we wouldn't be able to take in the last munro, Stob Coire Raineach, that's saved for another day! Descending back into the Lairig Gartain the sky fades with pale blues and pinks as darkness fell while we jogged back to the car.

A few more pictures here from our grand day out, 13 miles, 5500' of ascent in 7 1/2 hours, with Lindsay Cunningham.  

Beinn Dubh

Easy run up Beinn Dubh and out and back to the first of the unnamed tops. Some snow on the top, cold toes despite sealskinz as the ground was not frozen.

A bit misty so no views on top, didn't hang about finishing inside 2 hours.

Ted Baker Pappert Well Race

Club race, just over 5 miles and about 800' of climb from Bonhill out and back with a loop past Pappert Well. Road , hardcore path then muddy trail round the loop. Good run to finish inside 50 minutes.

Arrochar Alps

First run in the Arrochar Alps for a few weeks. Late morning start, blue skies and a few clouds. Not as many as usual in the car park for a day as good as this.

Ran up the zig zags and along the path beside the Buttermilk burn past the Narnain Boulders. Up the back stairs of the Cobbler, jacket, hat and gloves on in the cool breeze.

Couple of pictures at the top then off towards Narnain, clouds swirling around both peaks. Found a man made wall and sat behind sheltering out of the wind to see if the clouds would clear, no luck!

Back via the Buttermilk burn path and the zig zags to finish in just over 3 hours.

Tinto Hill Race

Just over an hours drive to get to Symington to register for this short Autumn race. A quick sandwich and coffee refuel in Tinto Hill Cafe before a short warm up. 200 plus set off at 2pm , started near the back, gradual climb to start then steeper with a few flat bits and rough patches. Kept a steady jog all the way up,  reached the top a couple of mins slower than last year. Round the huge cairn and off down, probably took it a bit too easy passing a few but just tracking a couple of other runners. Worked a bit harder down the last steep bit before the gradual muddy descent to the finish in 50 minutes. Good fun but need to push a bit harder up and down.

Fort William Weekend

Arrived in Glen Nevis Friday afternoon, tent up, dinner on. Freezing outside, lucky I had an electric heater for the tent, more than most of the few campers who had braved the conditions.

Saturday, early rise before driving to Glenfinan to try the Corryhully Horseshoe. Two munros Sgurr nan Coireachan and Sgurr Thuilm separated by an undulating ridge.

The first three miles are up an estate road that passes underneath the viaduct and onto a rough track. The munro paths are signposted.

Sgurr nan Coireachan from Sgurr Thuilm

Sgurr Thuilm from Sgurr nan Coireachan

Set off towards Sgurr nan Coireachan, the initial climb up an outlier called Sgurr a'Choire Riabhaich, The path gradually dissapeared with increase in snow depth/height. A walker had already been up and his footprints were a guide to where he thought the path was. He lost it a few times but always came back! Towards the top of Riabhaich the path dissappeared completely. The walker in front had taken a steep direct route for the top.

Sgurr nan Coireachan's summit, I turned back at the top of the "white" bit below the rocky summit, about 50' from the top. There were three walkers behind, they continued on and made it over the top ok. Dropped back down to the glen on the path I had come up. On the way down I decided to go up Sgurr Thuilm rather than cut my run short. An easy path over boggy ground at first then steeper and drier with height and back into the snow. Met the walker I had followed up the first hill on his way down after completing the circuit. Continued up the snow ridge Druim Coire a'Beithe to a small knoll before Sguir Thuilms summit.

Sgurr Thuilm's summit cone.

Wind was rather strong and chilling. Decided that was far enough and turned back towards the glen. One side of me too hot in the sun the other frozen in the wind. There was about 10 people out on the route today, 5 going each way.

View down Glenfinnan from ridge Druim Coire a'Beithe.

About 15 miles and 4500' of ascent,  mile or two further than the planned route, with a wee bit more ascent.

Sunday, plan was for another new route the Loch Lochy munros, decided to try Ben Nevis via tourist route instead, no steep bits! Slow Jog and walk to the Red Burn where the ground was icy as any snow had  melted and refrozen. perfect conditions, blue skies, sun and no wind.

Meall an t-Suidhe loch from the Red Burn.

Brisk walk to the top, for stunning views to the Mamores and over the Aonachs to the Grey Corries.

One of those days you could stay a the top forever! Great run down the shallow snowy path, micro spikes on for the last couple of icy zig zags to the Red Burn.

Monday, time for home, decided to have a short run on the way. Stopped behind Glencoe village for a run up the Pap of Glencoe, walked most of the up, stunning views all round, fun run back down over boulders and loose scree.