Glen Ogle 33

Starting to feel it

GO33: This was the first running of this race and what a great turn out, with nearly 150 people. Early mist cleared to provide a still and sunny day with great views of the surrounding hills and glens. I knew it would be a fast and unrelenting from the course description and it was. Conditions under foot would have perhaps suited road shoes as my calves will now testify. A well organized and friendly event which I can see more folk doing next year as it offers a good work-out whether you’re roadie or a trailier. The winner came home in a cracking 3:21. I just managed to sneak under the 4hr mark.

500m to go!



Jedburgh Half Marathon

This was my first road race for a couple of years and as I wasn’t doing the OMM this year agreed to enter and run / pace Chris round with the hope of ducking under 1:30. The weather was pretty mild and very little wind again leaving me with the sensation of being over dressed in a t-shirt. It was quite a nice course; hedge lined country lanes with slight undulations to it. We had a good run and just missed out on the time rolling in at 1:30:31. Loosing the odd seconds on the small inclines and on a long straight on the way back in. But it was still Chris’s fastest run over this course and I’d had a good fast workout to help get me back into racing.

John Buchan Way Again

Having finished building the sheep shelter, todays plan was to meet the lads in Peebles for today’s derby match against Biggar. Not finishing till late meant I missed the match but I had another enjoyable run over the John Buchan Way. Seemed much drier today and just shows what 24hrs can do to the ground. Actually went better and was 5 minutes quicker.

John Buchan Way

Went for an aternoon run over the John Buchan Way. Quite muddy and wet underfoot. Took a variant line to the north side of Cademuir on the final route into Peebles. Felt quite tired to be honest on some of the climbs. Not sure if it was because it’s my first week back into running or being overly hot in thejacket I was wearing.
 
I've added a link to the route for those interested.
http://walking.visitscotland.com/walks/southscotland/213763

The Pennine Way

Spent 8 days fast packing the country's first and longest national trail. I'm in the process of putting a report together. But was a good doo managing to combine meetings friends and family as well as fulfiling a long held.ambition of mine. Oh, and I even got a bit of decent weather at last.

Two Breweries race

Not having raced at all this year I had no expectations other than to have a good run, enjoy it and see where I came. It would be nice to be first local but realistically I knew other guys should be quicker. At least the weather had held out and my friends & parents who had come up for the weekend would be able to enjoy the day too.

Coming into Stobo

Starting off at the back there was no point in me getting carried away thinking I could keep up, so settled into a pace I could keep going at. I knew my strength lay in the steep up & the down and the longer a race goes on my endurance. As the race went on I steadily moved up the field catching half a dozen on the last climb and the last of the Moorfoot’s realizing then that I had probably overtaken my local rivals pushed on from the top of Trahenna to the finish with my calf’s always on the verge of cramping and locking up.

I finished 13^th just slightly slower than last year but as the first local (people living within 6 miles of race route) which was great and meant a lot more and it gave us all something to celebrate at the ceilidh in the evening.

Glen Tress ride

Spent a wet and windy couple of hours riding round the green, blue & red routes in Glen Tress. Trying to keep out of the tail end weather of Hurricane Katia that’d been battering the UK this week.

Durisdeer Ride

I was out mountain biking again around the Buccleuch estate at Durisdeer. Set off up the track past a solitary cow which was baying. Memories of my run in lat year came back as it started to trot across towards me; this spurred me on to climb faster.

Further up I arrived at the gate to find it off it latch, the cow presumably had pushed it way through but been unable to get back with the way blocked and was now stressing and calling to its mates on the opposite hillside.

As has been usual this week wind and constant showers were the order of the day. Well at least the jackets I’m testing are getting realistic use, though I’d much prefer to be out in warm, dry, sunny weather.

Close call!

This whole area is a big shooting estate and the climb up to Kettleton Byre bothy is littered with grey and red partridge. The other side to this is they attract a lot of raptors, I’ve since looked up the silhouettes and I think they were hen harriers or goshawks as I didn’t recognise the outline.

Kettlon Byre bothy

Good tracks thread the glens around here providing short challenging climbs and fast descents on stony hard pack.

After passing a bothy being done up I noticed I’d picked up a clicking sound. Thinking I’d broke a poke I stopped to inspect only to find a 4” nail protruding out the side of my tyre. Fortunately it had only gone through the knobble. Lucky me!

Heading back I had toyed with the idea of a hike a bike to Daer reservoir but I didn’t really have time and so retraced my original outward journey with a 2 mile climb back up the Roman road and back to the car. No sign of the cow either.

Cowgill ride

  

Given the weather was wet and wild I decided to go do some exploring on my bike rather than get blasted off the hills with the gale force winds.



Cow Gill Loch



There exists a series of valley tracks that thread through the hills linking hamlets and villages of south Clyde valley which presumably were the routes used before metalled roads came about.

In the end I did a figure of eight loop going as far as Lamington returning via Cowgill Loch to Coulter and then Kilbucho. Most of it was on good tracks with short sections of road to link them. Despite the wind making pedalling hard on the way out, it actually turned out to be not too wet.

Heading back Mitch Hill on the left

Mungrisdale run

On my way back from Wales I decided to break the journey up with a run. Ten minutes after pulling off at Penrith I was parked up at the quaint village of Mungrisdale, my plan being to head up Blencathra and back.

Looking back on the route from Mungrisdale

Going up from this side gave me the chance to use some paths and fells I’ve never visited before. So I took a nice track that headed up onto Bannerdale crags following it round the edge of the comb to its summit traversing across a couple of nice looking gullies that look like they would give winter sport.



The path above Bannerdale crags



Running down from here the wind got up and the heavens duly opened, forcing me to stop & pull on my over trousers before a climb up into the teeth of it and the path across to the summit of Blencathra where I turned straight away and came down the path to Scales fell. As soon I dropped this side I was sheltered from the worst of it and a nice run down passing below sharp edge on the way to the saddle at Mousthwaite comb.

Sharp  Edge scramble Blencathra

As it had picked up a bit I decided to return by the higher route of Souther fell following a nice grassy path which led me up, over and down to the car.

Kentmere Horseshoe

Decided to make most of the good weather on my way to Wales and wanted something not far form motorway. It’s a while since I last went round this and makes a change as its on the outskirts of the main Lakes area.Parking can be a bit of issue at Kentmere village but because it was late afternoon I dropped lucky on a spot by the hall.




Grassy running to the summit of Kentmere Pike

 

Opting for an anticlockwise route saw me setting off up the lanes and track toward Longsleddale, before breaking up onto the ridge and up to Kentmere Pike getting really good views of the Mosedale and the Howgills to the east.

 

Views out east towards Haweswater

 

Once up the initial shoulder of the ridge it gave good running and I was soon at Thornthwaite beacon at the head of the valley and my turn around point.

Turning to head south over the summits of Froswick,  Ill Bell & Yoke I came across a new surfaced (to me) path that ran all the way to the bridle way at Garburn pass. Easy running but not as cushioning underfoot.



 

Looking down Kentmere valley



This just left the descent of Garburn pass a bouldery and rocky track. Passed a couple of downhill bikers at the top and pushed on in the hope of keeping them at bay. Arriving at bottom gate about the same time, I think the lad could have beaten me if he’d tried though









More Treasure hunting

So after recovering during Saturday from Friday’s lost sleep I decided to have a trot out onto the SUW and try and find the kist on that leg. Figuring it would give me a good half days outing and a chance to explore somewhere new.

Really nice drive down to Sanqhuar (think I’ll return road biking here sometime) and I was off just after lunch, making my way out of town and onto the hill side. The path is very straightforward as it keeps an uninterrupted line all the way to Cloud Hill and on over to the isolated cottages of Dalgonar & Polskeoch. At the time of writing the first cottage was for sale, great place if you want to live out of it, but I’d imagine they get cut off in winter.



Polskeoch bothy





Impressive Memorial cairn
from the 1890's

Here the forestry starts and the route makes its way up onto the higher hills via a series of fire breaks and tracks passing the small but basic (i.e. no fire or stove) forestry commission bothy.

On getting to the tops the wind picked up and showers arrived forcing me to put more clothes on and curse the trial jacket I was wearing. I’d still not come across the kist and was thinking about how far I’d go before turning back. Approaching the summit of Benbrack I’d spotted this arch construction wondering what it was, surveying round I could then see two more on distant hills. On returning I’ve since found out they were commissioned by the sculpture Andy Goldsworthy who lives locally and wanted to do something to help encourage visitors to the area.

Benbrack Summit Arch

Here’s the link:           http://www.stridingarches.com/

From the summit I decided to go out as far as Manquhill hill passing a couple of back packers as I descended to it, but I’d still not seen the post markers to alert me to its presence. So finally turned round after 3hrs for the return leg covering the same ground as I’d come out on and on food rations as I’d not expected to be out quite this long. Still it good practice occasionally as it teaches you to function on a little.



Manquhill Hill my turn around point



Views to the Galloway hills

I caught this guy back up at Cold Hill and had a chat with him, explaining the kists and that I was looking for them, telling him to keep an eye out as there should be one on this leg. Before pushing on to get back.

As I went along I kept a keen eye on the posts looking for the mark, eventually finding it around Cloud Hill. All that was left was to grab a handful and run the remaining six miles back to the car, fortunately most of it was downhill and with a tail wind for once so didn’t need too much effort. 

Booty!!!



A night out with Bob

Rolled up in Keswick for an attempt at a solo Bob Graham (74 miles  /42 Lakes peaks). Weather forecast wasn’t great but I figured whatever happened it would be good training regardless. Dropped a couple of stashes to keep weight down for the first two legs and then wandered to Moot Hall for a 00:30AM start where I met Jim Thurlow of Open Adventures sat updating the Day1 Terrex race details. I’d brought a camera but though I checked the batteries before setting off, I turned it on only to find the red battery light, so decided to ditch this on the way out as I could divert back near the car and lose only a handful of minutes.

Skiddaw summit 01:54AM , believe it or not!

I set off in near perfect conditions and little wind and warm enough for shorts and t-shirt, making steady progress to get out of the town and onto the track to Latrigg. These climbs go on for 4 miles to top of Skiddaw so I paced myself making sure to run all but the steeper inclines and take advantage of the easy underfoot conditions.

Once it steepened I got my poles out to help keep momentum up as I marched to the top. On reaching Lower Man I entered the cloud and visibility reduced to a couple of metre’s, despite being on a motorway of a path it slowed progress as I had to remove my head torch and hold it low to the ground to get any penetration through the fog. I was hoping that it would just be claggy around the 3000ft mark otherwise it would impede my scheduled pace. It helps to know the terrain, but still it takes longer as you have to keep to a bearing along the ridge, knowing you’ll arrive at the trig point eventually. I got here 15mins up on plan which was pleasing, then donning a jacket, checking map before setting off into nothingness on a bearing. A couple more bearings and I’d picked up the trod down wondering how far I had to descend before I came out of the cloud. A long way was the answer.

The increase in popularity of the BG route and inevitable reccy’s has had the effect of creating paths where once there was nothing. It probably is worth at least 1-2hrs over the full length of the round as it makes things easier navigationally and effort underfoot. Point of case is the path up Great Calva, weaving up through the bracken. Again I just followed it up back into the clag and to the summit fence where a left turn brings the cairned top, losing 5mins over the leg with conditions. The route off here was easier using the fence as a “handrail” to navigate down to the river and across to climb to Blencathra passing a snoring wild camper oblivious to my passing.

The next section was spent walking over rough ground on bearings with zero visibility; eventually I picked up an indistinct path which made walking a bit easier and arrived at a small cairn top. From my map I couldn’t work out the exact spot (so many cairns being built on hills now and only a few are actually mapped as the original navigational ones) and so spent a bit of time working out where I was. Then the rain and wind arrived to make things even more pleasant! Finally I concluded I was at the top of Sharp Edge ridge and followed the small path round which sure enough turned into a motorway to the summit. I’d wasted some time but was still on schedule. By now I was getting a bit cold and damp and not relishing spending the rest of the day like this as I figure if I’m going to spend this long out on the hill I at least want some decent views and reasonable weather so decided to call it a day and head back to the car. The rain kept on till just outside Keswick as I made my way in on the old railway line which is now a cycle track. As dawn broke I could see that all the high fells were shrouded and was glad I’d called it off. Whilst it might have been a challenge it wouldn’t haven’t necessarily been enjoyable.

Ae Up

Having spotted this off road route from Beattock to Ae when I was running on the SUW, I had it in my mind to come back and use it as a basis for a ride. So this Sunday I went down to give it a bash.

I saved the one mile ascent of tarmac by driving up to Easter Earshaig justifying it, that I’d be doing enough miles anyway later on. The route starts off obvious enough with a blue Sustrans directing you into the woods, and the occasional marker. I thought it'd be just follow the track to Ae, straightforward enough.

This way...

Except that there has been recent works to build a new forest highway (maybe for forest extraction to come). Seeing sprayed “WALK” signs on rocks pointing me down it I assumed this to be my route as there was no obvious signage or evidence to suggest otherwise (here comes the ass out of u part). It was 30 minutes later and several more “WALK” signs before I realised that I was being brought back to Beattock village. Retracing my steps (well good hill training anyway) I speculated this must be left from the Moffat Walking festival. So arriving back at the said new junction I followed the not so obvious other way and sure enough in 5mins came across a maker post. Once back on track, it is straight forward with regular markers to give assurance as you make your way through what is a very quiet area, Queensbury hill providing some of the backdrop.



Southside of Queensbury and
the middle of nowwhere

 
So I eventually arrived at Ae which is one of the 7 Stanes biking centres in southern Scotland, heading off to do the red route before coming back. Although this is a “trail centre” it has a more XC feel than the others and you have to work all the way round. About half way I came across a father & son who had punctured and got the wrong fit inner tube with them. I wasn’t able to help as I had only one spare tube as I’d gone and lost one when my seat pouch had opened accidentally, fortunately for me my bike tool hadn't fallen out as well.

Ae "North Shore" riding



Bike posing at Water of Ae



Towards the end of the loop I spent a bit of time trying to find a link back to my forest route without having to go to Ae itself but with no map I eventually accepted my fate after arriving at the top of the downhill route (now I know what the orange route is!) and rode back to the beginning where I then picked up the cycle track and reversed my route to Beattock without further adventure.

Two Breweries run

I decided to get some hill work in and at the same time have a recce of the route to look at some alternative lines. It also gave me a chance to break my new fell shoes in. Setting off it felt warm enough, but as soon as I stuck my head high up the showers and wind kicked in.

Glen Sax

A different route off Birkscairn Hill had me floundering in bracken and steep slopes and by the bottom of Glen Sax I was toying with turning round once I reached Hundleshope. But when I got there I figured I was nearly halfway so might as well tough it out. Which I’m glad I did as the weather improved a bit and it was pleasant in Manor & Stobo valleys.

Stobo Loch

The final assault of Trahenna is always hard and there’s no escaping the stiff climb however you try it (and I’ve tried most lines now). That just left a head down descent eyes watering with the wind.

So what did I learn? Nothing much really, apart from the route is a little over grown compared to last year (less grazed I guess) and the route I use is pretty much the best line. Just have to learn to go faster over it now.

Lakes run

Was down the Lakes and decided to go for a run out to Great Gable to remind myself of the BG route off and get some up & down practice in. Setting off from Gatesgarth in Buttermere in shorts & t-shirt sun shining I climbed up the Fleetwith mines calling in at Warnscale head bothy, perched on the hill looking out to Buttermere. I’ll be back for a night here sometime when its not holiday season.

Warnscale Head

Running over to Gable the weather turned and I spent the next hour in cloud, rain & Gore-Tex. I took note of the key to hitting the right way off, as its easy missed on this summit and dropped back to the track I’d come up.

Not always blue skies,
on Great Gable's summit

 

Honister Mines

Running from memory again (who needs a map) I started descending off Green Gable but something didn’t feel right so this time I stopped and sure enough a quick break in the cloud confirmed I’d drifted off the spur to Base Brown. A quick correction and I was away over Brandreth & Grey Knotts before dropping steeply to join the summer tourists at Honister mines. No coffee shop stops for me.



Newlands valley from Dale Head

 Across the road and up I went to climb Dale Head where the weather had improved, then across to Hindscarth & Robinson before ploughing a direct line back through the ferns to the valley floor.

Change of plans

The plan was to meet some friends in Dent Friday night, one of whom I hadn’t seen for the best part of 10 years. A good craic was had in the Sun Inn tasting the local ales with me hooking up with a possible skipper / yacht for next years Scottish Island’s race (I just need another runner now). Before heading back to crash at Rich’s catering barn where more beer and curry was consumed.

Loonking down a wet Dentdale.
With more showers on their way.

I was up early (ish) the next day and heading out into the rain and wind by 9am, as I planned to run down the Dalesway to Lisa mums, leaving everyone else in bed. As I progressed down Dentdale I was “swithering” about what to do as it was pretty poor weather and my back / hip was giving me some jip. So by Ribblehead I decided to change course and head to Settle, this would allow me to catch a train to Skipton if my back got worse. Fortunately I know most of the paths around here so not having a map wasn’t an issue.

For the first part I used the three peaks route to head to Pen Y Ghent. I'd already passed nearly 100 walkers around Blea Moor and as I progressed along passed many more doing one of the charity organised 3PKS that was on that day. It was while I headed across Birkwith that the thunder and lighting started and thoughts of going over the tops changed as it was breaking directly above me. So I diverted down to Horton to pick up the Ribble way which tries its best to follow the river to Settle.


The end. A welcome sight.

By the time I’d reached town it had finally eased off. I called out the recovery truck for collection and headed off for a café for tea and chip butty. Not much time to linger though as the next stop was a quick bath and change and then onto Halifax for Smithy’s BBQ / Birthday / Extension warming, where a pleasant and tame by our standards evening was had by all.

Trip to the seaside

I decided to give my running legs a workout not having done anything of length since I’d been on holiday, get them used to it again. The route of choice was the easterly section of the Southern Upland Way. I’ve slowly been doing the route in chunks getting to know it and at the same time collecting the hidden treasure from the hoard.

One of the hoard.
A wooden sculpture,
but some aren't a
so obvious.

Weather was good; dry, slightly overcast, but very close and as a result it felt like I spent the whole day sweating out as much as I was putting in. The trial jacket I had with me, again never got a look in. Like most of the time I’ve been on the way I come across very few people. The only other people I saw the whole day were a father and son who were perhaps just embarking on the route north to south and a few fishermen at Watch reservoir.

The Treasure

The route at the moment is iron hard and as such I wished I’d worn road shoes with a bit more cushioning, as the hard surface seems to have a debilitating effect on my legs. For the majority of the time the path follows defined tracks paths, but there was a fair chunk of tarmac which I hadn’t particularly anticipated. But it’s difficult to know this just from looking at the map.

Just in case you weren't taking it all in

Looking back this section carries that feeling of remoteness (despite its relative proximity to Edinburgh) as you travel through the Lammermuirs an area that other than a few scattered farms and cottages has very little in the way of major roads or developments. It made me think that for walkers this must be quite tricky as you would have to be self sufficient for a couple of days to cover the ground & there isn’t much in way of accommodation without diverting away.

What you would see from the above

Twin Law cairns

What shouldn’t be possible is to loose the path unless of course you switch off and have a senior moment like me. Which I managed to do in fine style adding at least another 4.5m to my tally and severely denting my moral at the time. But at least it reminds me to pay attention in future and listen to my instincts.

  

At last the sea after 30+ miles!!!

Cove Harbour

A good day out, though the legs got a bit tight towards the end, but that was to be expected after nearly 40 miles. My only disappointment being I didn’t find the most easterly hoard, so that will involve another trip back to root it out.

And here's the random odd thing I saw on this trip in the middle of knowwhere up some track?

Tinto Loop





Took advantage of the near perfect conditions today and headed off for a loop round Tinto hill on the road bike. I don’t think I’ve been on some of these lanes since we were house hunting in the area and looking for potential locations so it was quite refreshing to reacquaint myself with them. Coming up from Douglas water I saw signs for Tinto Moto X, riding up the hill a little bemused. I was more than surprised to find the “ski resortesque” Moto X park has been developed on the west end. Out of site out of mind I think…