Welcome to the Arrochar Alps Hill Race!

The race is held every year on the last Saturday in June. Registration is in the Three Villages Hall in Arrochar. The start is approximately a mile down the road in Succoth.

As you run towards Succoth turn into the forest road on the right, just before crossing Loin Water.

Jog down the forest track for some 200-300m until you see a signpost for a footpath on the right. That is where the start/ finish line is.

Follow the footpath and turn left at the end. You are now basically on the Three Lochs Way, follow the trail through Glen Loin towards Sloy.

Ensure you run through the glen fast enough to get all sweaty and your hair frazzles.

If you are a pure-at-heart hill runner you will leave the nasty tarmac aside and head up Ben Vorlich as soon as you can. If you are racing competitively and are bothered about placing, or you are bothered about the cut offs, you’ll stay on the road to the dam and take the hiker’s path up (99% of all runners do the latter).

Since you are following the hiker’s path and minimal navigation is needed here, stare at the side of Ben Vane and consider which route to take up.

Keep staring! There are lots of choices. Most of them are pretty horrible.

Head to the true summit of Ben Vorlich, which is the cairn a bit further along from the trig point and feel happy like a little Ring Ouzel (you might hear one of them while you are climbing up).

Retrace your streps along the summit area to find the line down to the dam. It’s very steep all the way, and often wet. You see a burn below you. Head towards it and make sure you keep it on your left as you get closer to it.

This is the descent off Vorlich when looking at it from the dam/ Ben Vane. I tried the route that takes you away from the burn and it was not any better. I recommend just sticking with the burn. Cut off 1 is down by the dam.

Sprint across the dam as fast as you can to impress your competition. If you can pull it off everyone will think you have legs of steel after that downhill!

Now start climbing Ben Vane. There is no single official route up. If you head a bit more north-westerly (right side when looking up from the dam) and aim to keep the massive boulders ahead of you on your left the climb is a little less soul crushing. You reach a lovely plateau area with small lochans that breaks the climb for a second. Have a quick look around, it’s a really lovely place. However, most likely you will be too busy hating on Ben Vane at that point to really appreciate it.

Ben Vane feels like it never ends, but there is a summit. Promise! When you get there you have done the hardest part of the race!

Pay attention on the downhill coming off Ben Vane. If you head too far west/ south-west (your left hand side) you could get crag fast. If in doubt always turn north-west (your right hand side) on the descent. This photo shows the descent looking back at Vane from Ime. The second cut off is right at the bottom in the glen.

If there is poor visibility you need to pay close attention to find the right point for the ascent to Beinn Ime. If you head too far north you start climbing Beinn Chorranach. If you don’t find another hill to climb you might be on your way to Glen Kinglas. If you can see the side of Beinn Ime, head towards the two burns between the summits. There is a little trod that takes you most of the way up and around a craggy section. When the gradient is getting easier and you are tempted to head towards the saddle, resist! Turn more south (your left) and head straight up to the summit. It’s a brutal stretch, but any other option is equally as brutal. Believe me, I tried!

In case of a sudden hail/ snow shower, layer up!

You can follow the hiker’s path down from Beinn Ime or – especially if you are pressed for time – just beeline it as best as possible. It’s pretty straightforward either way. The third cut off point is at the bealach between Beinn Ime and Beinn Narnain at the fence line.

…”Product image for illustration purposes only. Actual product may vary”…Photos from this section will follow!

From the bealach head straight up to Beinn Narnain and merge with the hiker’s path. From the summit the path down is in easterly/ south-eastern direction. Take your time to find it as there are a few drops around you. Once you have found the path, you can follow it all the way down to the forest track. There is a bit of scrambling, but you do not really lose the path. Not long after starting the descent from the summit you come to a tricky area that is quite eroded. Everything just looks like small rocks strewn about. You are coaxed to head down a pebble shoot straight ahead of you. THAT IS NOT THE PATH! If you come to something that looks like that, stop and look around and see if there is something that looks more like a smooth trail to your right.

The path off Narnain can be wet, slippery and muddy, especially on the lower section. Take care and take your time! Once you get to the forest road you turn left.

You follow the forest road way longer than seems appropriate. At the first junction stay right (downhill), keep running!

Once you are all the way down, at the next junction, head straight on into the fields. You see the houses of Succoth on your right. The track turns right and you run towards the houses. Keep running! Don’t walk!