Back roon the Mamores

This time last year I ran round the Mamores instead of over them. Back for another go this year. Set off from the Vale at 7 and dropped 5 Ultra Millies off at Tyndrum for a Forty odd mile run to Fort Bill.

The Big Buchle.

I then drove up to Glen Nevis, weather wild again so no trip round the Mamore tops and I thought I would try the same route as last year but in reverse.

From the Glen Nevis visitor centre join the WHW to Kinlochleven, keeping to the high level trail behind KLL and up the track past Lochs Eilde Mor and Beag to Luibelt. Hang a left through the watershed for a run down to the Visitor Centre near the bottom of Glen Nevis.

Ran in fell shoes last year which were good for Steall to Luibelt but hard the rest of the way. Road shoes this year, and with wine gums and a bag of rhubarb rock trundled up the WHW through Nevis Forest. Only a few people out this morning, a couple of runners, one pack of walkers and some motorcyclists.

Reached KLL in about 2 1/2 hours. Legs a bit dead from last Thursday's hill reps. Walked most of the next 40 minutes as the track passes the Mamore Lodge then climbs away from KLL. A final wee climb and running again as the track does a lochside meander. Reached Luibelt in just over 4 1/2 hours all in.

Meanach Bothy from Luibelt across the Abhainn Rath.

Hoped the run from Luibelt to Steall going mostly downhill would be a bit easier than last year, and knowing what to expect I had a close look at the map to try to avoid the worst of the swampy terrain.

The first two miles slightly uphill alongside the Abhainn Rath until you reach the watershed, stayed south of the river, good track to start, but caught up in a few squelchy swamps crossing the watershed, feet freezing, and soon it is impossible to move quickly enough to keep warm. The Water of Nevis starts here and a small intermittent track winds down Glen Nevis, a few bogs, swamps and streams to cross along the way.

After 2 1/2 hours and what seemed an eternity of boghopping I was thankful to reach the familiarity and relative calm of Steall Meadows and the gorge track to the Glen Nevis road.

Steall Waterfall.

Thought about hitching a lift down the Glen but managed to keep running, a final injection of pace to ensure I got back in under 8 hours, but only by 6 seconds, 35 minutes quicker than last year.

A good thirty something mile run, with the Luibelt to Steall section, only about 6 miles, hard work for 2 1/2 hours. A few more pictures in the Galleria.