Narnain, Ime, and The Cobbler

Straight up Narnain to start, its 3000' in just over 2 miles, mostly a steady trudge with a few jogs where the trail flattens out. Didn't hang about in the mist on top, straight over to Bealach a'Mhaim then another trudge up Ime, still in the cloud! On the way back to the Bealach the cloud started to lift and, good views, short walk and jog up The Cobbler, descent via An t Sron, sky clearing and the sun makes an appearance, joined the trail high above Ardgarten running back along to Succoth.

Narnains misty summit trig

Narnain from the Bealach

Ime from the Bealach

Ben Lomond with its head in the clouds from An t Sron

Ben Bowie

Local running, out and back to the two small hills , Kiloeter and Ben Bowie between The Vale and The Clyde, using trails/Stoneymollan, Three Lochs Way and John Muir but keeping off trail as much as possible, with low cloud not many views, good to be out.

Ben Chonzie

Uo at Strathallan for the evening and a chance for a new Munro, Ben Chonzie, No 54 for me and one of the easiest ones. 8 miles all in, the first and last 2 1/2 miles runnable on farm tracks with only the middle 3 miles on the hill. Walked the steep first couple of hundred yards of the hill then back running up a gentle gradient to the top surprising a small flock of owls in a dip just before the summit cairn and shelter, took in the good views from the top to the Lawers range a few miles north before an easy run back to glen Lednock.

Club 10k Race

Latest Club Race, 10k road race round the Vale, 6 started 5 finished, route based on one of the previous Polaroid 10k routes taking in a couple of minor hills, one up through Balloch Park the other up past what was Davey Grahams car Sales. A minute slower this year missing my target by 20 seconds!

Fruin horseshoe

Hadn't been to Glen Fruin for a while, started on the access road for Fruin reservoir, through the gate and turn right for a trudge straight up Auchengaich hill, from the top run up Tharsuin picking up a fence line over Chaorach and down steep grassy slopes into the glen. Another trudge by a fence takes me to the top of a Mhanaich, down hill now to the Strone with a wee detour to the minor top of Maol am Fheidh.

 

Blooming local trails and hills

Out and back route over Bromley Muir with a loop round Killoeter and Ben Bowie. Ran off paths and trails as much as possible, straight up to the Fort over Bromley Muir to the Stoneymollan, trail to Killoeter, short trail section then cut off through a fire break to Ben Bowie, another short trail section back to the Stoney, back over Bromley Muir to finish.

 

Dun na Cuaiche

Weeken away to Loch Fyne, took a short run through Inverary to the hill behind Inverary Castle, a flat mile to the castle then an uphill mile on forest tracks winding round the hill as it climbs, great views from the top before an easy run back to the town.

Ben Bowie Trail Race

6 of us set off on the Ben Bowie Trail Race, just under 6 miles with about 1000' of ascent. Warm evening until the skies opened and a refreshing downpour hit us. Starts on Upper Stonemollan Road at the end of the tarmac undulating up via the Three Lochs Way with a stunning rainbow on show on the short deviation up to Ben Bowies double summit, should have stopped for picture. Undulates down on the way back. Managed to get everyone to stand still just long enough to get a picture in the swarm of flies at the finish.

 

Thundery Beinn Ime

Long run on a Friday for a change, fine day for a run if a bit hot, planned route was Glen Loin, Lag Uaine, Beinn Ime, Narnain. Turned out slightly different. Steady run round Glen Loin from Succoth, the trail goes up in a series of ramps round the base of A'Chrois into Coiregrogain, left the trail at the top of the loop into the glen between Vane and Ime, briskish walk to start, narrow paths and sheep tracks fade in and out on the way to Lag Uaine, at the end of this flat plain turn up Ime's steep slopes on pathless ground, climbing a series of small grassy ridges beside rocky crags before the main corrie opens up, one last climb to the summit ridge, as I topped out views to Narnain and the Cobbler opened up, in the back ground the Luss hills were invisible in black cloud and rain, thunder rumbling, thought I might be ok as there was little wind and its a few miles away, as I left the summit I could see a need to get off the hill a bit quicker, initially running towards Bealach a'Mhaim and the storm then turning left down into Coiregrogain, hopefully away from the storm, and somewhat safer among fir trees, heavy rain, quite refreshing, and loud extended rumblings as I reached the valley floor, the first lightning flash followed by more thunder a few seconds later, pushed on down the glen, the next flash and bang thankfully further apart. Running back round A'Chrois the rain went off and sun came out again, the only moan was sore feet running on the stoney forest trail.

A Chrois from Lag Uaine

Lag Uaine

Lochs Lomond, Arklet & Katrine from Ime

Narnain front right, Ben Lomond in the distance from Narnain

Narnain & The Cobbler from Ime

The Cobbler

Fairy Glen

The latest race in the club grand prix, a short trail race, 3 laps round Fairy Glen at the end of Balloch Park, just under a mile a lap, 8 of us set off in early evening sunshine. Not an evening to push the pace, took it steady, time a bit slow, good fun.

  

Bromley Muir, Kiloeter and Ben Bowie

Set off early to beat the heat, up to the Fort and along Bromley Muir to the Three Lochs Way/John Muir Trail, turned down past the Black Third Farm onto the trail the Hel n Back race uses, at the top turned up the ridge to Kiloeter's cairn and stick following it to the top then over to Ben Bowie, returned to Stoneymollan and the short way back home. 

Dumbarton Castle over Carman Reservoir from The Fort

Arrans ridgeline from Kiloeter

The Ben from Stoneymollan

Glen Finlas

Set off on the bike for a run in the Luss Hills, change of plan along the way, Glen Finlas is nearer, aimed to chain the bike at the bottom of the glen, run up and do a horseshoe round the tops, then a cycle home. The bottom of the glen was too busy, filled with vans and scrambling motorbikes, cycled up to the dam and chained the bike there. Ran along a track that runs beside the reservoir, at the end turn uphill beside an old fence, faint path through grass and ferns. Come to a clear path on the top of the ridge and set off for Beinn Ruisg, the path was marked with orange flags, soon the sound of motorbikes disturbed the peace and blotted out the skylarks singing overhead, I could see bikes going up the ridge towards Balcnoc on the other side of the glen, ran on over Creag an Leinbh to the top of the glen, the bikes were coming up in small  groups then turning off towards Tharsuin, I ran down towards Balcnoc jumping off the path every few minutes to let the bikes pass. Dropped down at the end of the reservoir, the sound of the bikes fading. No phone or camera so no pictures , found out later it was the Loch Lomond Motorcycle club out for a two day trial.

Beinn Dubh and Mid Hill Doubler

 Glen Luss for a run this morning, simple route starting at the foot of the glen up Beinn Dubh, along to Mid Hill and down to the top of the glen, turn round and run back over Mid Hill and Beinn Dubh. Busy hills this morning, lots of walkers out and a few runners as well. High cloud meant the surround tops were in view just a bit dull under the high cloud. Managed a slow run up Beinn Dubh, round to Mid Hill and down to the glen road. Turned and started up Mid Hill, another slow run to the top. The run back to Beinn Dubh a bit easier knowing that most of the climbing is done, easy run down Dubh's grassy slopes to the foot of the glen.

Arrochar Alps from Mid Hill

Crianlarich Hills from Mid Hill

Whinny Hill Trail Race

Club race, used to be a Cross Country run in January, changed to a Spring Trail race as most of the paths have been upgraded with hardcore for easier public access to the trail behind Balloch Park. 7 runners tonight, to start a loop round Balloch Park to the bottom of Fairy Glen, straight up the path beside the stream onto the Whinny Hill Trail, undulating up through the trees, clockwise loop at the top, on the way back take a left through the trees popping out at the back of the car park for a short run to the finish at the back of Balloch Castle.

 

Crianlarich Hill run

Travelled up past the top of Loch Lomond to the large layby outside Crianlarich. There are 7 munros in this group, my planned route was round 2 pairs, An Caisteal and Beinn A Chroin them Beinn Tullaichean and Cruach Ardrain, Low cloud and mist all the way up the Lochside. Started up the forest track for 10 or 15 minutes then a worn path leads off to the right that takes you onto Sron Garbh then to An Caisteal, after about 20 minutes the grey above changes to blue and I pop up into sunshine and mountains above a sea of clouds. Expected to be out for about 6 hours and a brisk walk is good enough on the uphills, run the flatter parts and the downs. Pass a few walkers on the way up, stop for a couple of pictures and take on some fuel on the top, I would repeat this routine on at the top of the other 3 munros. Good running down to Bealach Buidhe. It's only a short climb to the top of Beinn a Chroin with 1 wee scramble just below the summit plain, 3 tops here, takes twice as long to cross them all as it did to get to the top. From the third top a path leads down a grassy ridge towards Crianlarich, a short way down leave the path for a grassy gulley heading north on pathless ground towards Beinn Tulaichean, to minimise descent and reascent contour round Stob Glas as close as possible to the large cliffs and crags. Steady climb up grassy slopes to the ridge betwen Tulaichean and Ardrain. Tulaichean first then back along the ridge to Ardrian's twin tops, the higher one furthest away of course. Back towards the ridge then drop steeply down grassy slopes on one of two exit paths, they join together further down on the way to Meall Damh and Grey Heights on the undulating ridge towards Crianlarich, the path turns sharp left at a deer fence, down towards the glen, as dry as it gets today soon back at the forest track for a short run to the car after a seat in the River Falloch to cool off.

An Caisteal right, Beinn a Chroin back left

Ben Lomond from An Caisteal

Cruach Ardrain, left, Beinn Tullaichean from Beinn a Chroin,

Ben More and Stob Binnien behind

Ben More and Stob Binnien from Beinn Tulaichean

Cruach Ardrain from Beinn Tulaichean

Beinn Tulaichean from Cruach Ardrain