I had intended on heading North on the Friday but thankfully left proceedings until the Saturday, when a high pressure had moved in. Last minute, I decided to stay relatively local and opted for Uamh Bheag, a Graham and a Donald. I had never driven down Glen Artney before but I was pleasantly surprised by how pretty it was. I parked just past the church and noted a walker going towards the other Donald first. My mind was made up, I'd head up Am Beannan, a lovely looking subsidiary hill of the Graham. I was running today as I had signed up to another ultramarathon at the end of June in aid of The Throat Cancer Foundation. It was a cold start and I had my hat on. I headed along the road and then meandered round Auchnashelloch Hill to a bridge over the burn. The view from here up to Am Beannan was very pretty.
The going up the 1st hill of the day was steady and my prior fitness and stair-climbing seemed to be putting me in good stead. Before long, I was looking over to Stuc a Chroin and Ben Vorlich, still snow-capped. I made good progress over the peat hags to the eventual Graham summit trig point and the wind was very nippy. I took some snaps and sent a wee message to my wife to say all was fine. I then began the return journey but dropped straight down off the Graham summit and down toward the origin of the Allt Ollach, before running back to the Water of Ruchill and the car. A quick 2.5 hour trip and I'll be back to Glen Artney again. A real treat.
