Isle of Arran Running

Well despite having Norovirus diarrhea and cramps the entire stay on the Isle of Arran and having to deal with the worst snow fall in 50 years this place has seen I managed to get out and enjoy the beauty Scotland in miniature has to offer. 

We stayed in Kildonan at my mother-in-law's house which was snow free. We had beautiful weather except for a stiff wind most days. A constant intake of Immodium kept the shits at bay but I still had my fair share of squats in the woods! Despite running far less than planned I wasn't going to let this mess ruin my week! The island only had just had power returned the day we arrived. A storm that blew through a week or so before had left the residents without power for over a week I believe! Some parts the snow drifted so bad as to cover the roads with 10 plus feet and also trap people in their homes! It was a full on emergency. We had a couple power outages until they finally hooked it all up to the mains and we had no issues. I was hoping we'd not have power just for a little more of a rustic stay; no internet, no lights, wood stove, candles, and headlamps would've been nice! Anyway, outside of visiting with family and introducing the little one to the ocean a whole lot of relaxing went down. I absolutely love it up there. 

A few notable runs (I guess that pun IS intended!):

Eas Mor waterfall

A fairly easy run up from Kildonan to Eas Mor Waterfall, then to Loch Garbad with some bushwacking to get to the high point of Cnoc na Garbad. About 1000 vertical feet of gain over a couple miles keeps you in check. I did this a few times as it's right out the door.  

view from Cnoc na Garbad looking South to Pladda and Ailsa Craig 

The funny thing was that the first day running up here I ended up having bad bad diarrhea. So with the elevation change from the ocean tools changed and I wiped my ass with: grass, smooth sticks, smooth rotten log pieces, smooth stones, and snow. As always snow trumps all methods of ass-wipery.

Loch Garbad

Eas Mor waterfall and canyon

I initially intended to run the Glen Rosa Horseshoe but was forced to retreat due to the high peaks being covered in rime and ice. I was pretty bummed about this but there was NO WAY I was going to be able to pull it off considering the conditions! Hopping on the uber-convenient bus service got a lift from Kildonan to Brodick. I started running in Brodick at the ferry terminal and headed to the Goatfell trailhead. Goatfell being the high point of the island.

beginning of the trail up Goatfell

patchy snow down low hides the trail

snow scared most people away but not all

 Ended up seeing about 10 people all together on the way up. Most, as usual, had some stupid comment such as "go for it", "run Forrest run", "looking good", "you're doing great", "wow you're doing better than me". I hate comments like that, especially when I can't breath. I still wonder what people carry with them in their full size backpacks. One dude had full on mountaineering crampons on in the dirt at the bottom, that was a little overkill but up top they could have been employed depending on what your goals were as there was water ice and sheets of ice in small patches. My trail running shoes and a keen eye for safety worked just fine though.

final ridge line to the summit of Goatfell

view down to Brodick Bay

snow and rime covered summit

Overall the run up Goatfell was easy. Made it from the ferry terminal in about an hour and a half. The snow wasn't an issue and I didn't need my crampons or poles to help me with the conditions. It would be really fun to do the Goatfell Race which is a run up then back down to Brodick!

looking towards my intended ridge run, ice and rime altered my plans

Seeing all the ice and rime everywhere I opted to skip the loop. It just wasn't safe in running shoes! Looking down the above ridge you see North Goatfell which I summited and then the drop down to The Saddle to the left which splits Glen Sannox to the north and Glen Rosa to the south. I made it to that point and headed down Glen Rosa.

view down Glen Sannox from The Saddle of Ceum na Caillaich with the summit of Caisteal Abhail to the left

cold me with a view down Glen Rosa

 Running down Glen Rosa was a huge pain. I was cold from not being able to run on the snowy, windy, post holey ridgeline. Then when I thought I could pick up the pace to get warm the snow was just deep enough to post hole and the vegetation was all soft, wet, and muddy. All added up to very inefficient travel. There is a trail but it is so over used it has become a deep trench which was full of snow. They sure don't maintain the trails like the USFS or the NPS do in the United States. Makes me laugh thinking of how much people from the US would bitch if the trail there looked like this!

view up Glen Rosa to The Saddle with Cir Mohr dominating the skyline to it's left

thankful to be on a trail and out of the snow

the opening of Glen Rosa to the left with Goatfell on the right

 Well it wasn't the loop I wanted but super fun none the less and now I've got an idea of the logistics of it all. I'll definitely be back for a run in better conditions. I think I ended up with over 3000 vertical and 15 miles which was a pretty solid run even if part of it was a hike.

lower gorge in Auchenhew Wood

Keeping it close to home I did quite a bit of beach running and exploring. One run I ended up digging around the lower part if the drainage that Eas Mor waterfall comes from. Officially Auchenhew Wood this cool gorge is about 200m from where we were staying, hidden from view by trees, brambles, and ferns. Some guy is attempting to make a "trail" following the creek but has been stopped by a land dispute. Probably for the better as his "trail" looks more like a damn road! Anyway I followed his "trail" as far as I could and found this pretty cool canyon. Then followed it down stream and bushwhacked my way up and out.

After we left Arran we stayed in Ayr for a couple nights in order to visit some more family before heading back home. So a short run early morning ensued and I found the River Ayr Way, a footpath that follows the River Ayr (duh!?). Then I wandered my way back to the hotel through some council housing (government provided) which looked to be a pretty rough neighborhood but luckily everyone was asleep!
  

River Ayr Way

stepping stones crossing the River Ayr (icy!!!!)

River Ayr Way confirmed!

single track along the river

council housing, glad it was early morning, talk about the ghetto! 

Always have liked haggis, but needed to try it deep fried! Luckily most fish and chip shops have it up here! It looked like a piece of crap but was excellent! Should've skipped the fish as it wasn't that great and had two haggis turds!

nope, not deep fried shit, it's haggis!