Steven's Blog

Cairngorms and Geal Charn Mor, Feb'09

steven@stevenfallon.co.uk (Steven) — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 23:01:00 +0000

The weather forecast was for clear cold conditions, so we took the Friday off and headed up into the Cairngorms. We skied, hiked and ran. Busy on the ski runs. Incredibly cold - the lochs were completely frozen over, but the clear skies gave us some terrific views. Lots of mountain hares bounder over Geal Charn Mor's summit plateau, teasing our dog. Some photos on my Flickr page .

Iron Lodge Corbetts, Feb'09

steven@stevenfallon.co.uk (Steven) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 21:46:00 +0000

A very hard slog over the 3 Corbetts above Iron Lodge near Dornie - at one point it took me nearly half an hour to cover 600m along the crest of Sguman Coinntich cause of the deep snow and ice crust. Superb views, especially considering the weather back down in Edinburgh ! More photos on my Flickr page

Loch Tay Corbetts, Feb'09

steven@stevenfallon.co.uk (Steven) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 21:23:00 +0000

A crisp day spent running up the Corbetts south of Loch Tay from Ardeonaig. 1700m of climbing and 26km running on lots of ice. Cold but sunny ! Some more photos here

Carnethy, Pentlands, Jan'09

steven@stevenfallon.co.uk (Steven) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 21:01:00 +0000

Carnethy, 30 Jan 10

A wee walk with my cus, her partner Ang and Keith into the Pentlands today with our dogs. Superb icy conditions ! Photos from my iPhone (hence not great quality) on my Flickr page.

Stob Fear-tomhais - Balquhidder, Jan'09

steven@stevenfallon.co.uk (Steven) — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 20:50:00 +0000

Fine corbett, just me and the dog. Lots of snow and ice. Met up with mum and her two border collies for the walk out. Loch Voil still more or less completely frozen over.

Loch an Eilein, Jan'09

steven@stevenfallon.co.uk (Steven) — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 22:56:00 +0000

The weather didn't really encourage a hillwalk today, so a fine daunder was enjoyed on the slushy tracks around beautiful Loch an Eilein. Some lovely views taken in !

Skiing at Hillend, Jan'09

steven@stevenfallon.co.uk (Steven) — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 22:42:00 +0000

We live right next to a ski-slope, so getting up early, we aimed up for a morning's ski in perfect conditions. Just, the crowds came quicker than expected and it got so busy. Excellent fun - and Keith skied with our dog Jake. Video clip shows me trying out my new 'Action Cam'.

Above Bridge of Orchy, Jan'09

steven@stevenfallon.co.uk (Steven) — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 22:27:00 +0000

The Munros above Bridge of Orchy

The plan was to take a few of us (Sam, Andy, Bob and me) up the five munros above Bridge of Orchy. Sam (left on photo) had done Achallater, Dothaidh and Creachain, so we decided to do the route anti-clockwise incase we had to cut the route short. Well, mist clung to the summits for most of the day and we found the deep snow tiring to trudge thru, so the route was cut short. Still, we manged 3 munros and were rewarded with occasional excellent views. More photos on my Flickr page.

steven@stevenfallon.co.uk (Steven) — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 22:27:00 +0000

NEW YEAR HOLIDAY BASED AT ROSHVEN

As the snowy weather closed in, a group of us headed north-west for a week based in an environmentally friendly house at Roshven. We spent our time there skiing, hillwalking, sightseeing and quite a bit of eating, drinking and blethering. I ran the Aonach Mor Uphill Race on New Year's Day - really tough with the thick snow cover and a few new corbetts in the area were bagged. Some photos on the Flickr page, Aonach Mor results on SHR. Got back to work on Tuesday and remembered to sign up for the Carnethy 5 hillrace which takes place in February - online registration was available at midday and all 550 places were gone by 4:30 the same day !

West of Lochearnhead, Dec'09

steven@stevenfallon.co.uk (Steven) — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 13:13:00 +0000

Creag MacRanaich and Meall an t-Seallaidh

2 Corbetts west of Loch Earn. First time I've been up here in over 10 years - with my parents living just outside Lochearnhead, you'd think I would have been up more frequently ! Really cold, fairly deep snow and fine views east and south (north and west buried in cloud). Just me and the dog -who'd had a great time, even considering the balls of ice that formed between his pads on his paws.

Photos to follow on Flickr later....

Glencoe and Glenachuilish, Dec'09

steven@stevenfallon.co.uk (Steven) — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 17:50:00 +0000

A weekend based at Invercoe Campsite in the village of Glencoe. Stunning weather, crisp and very cold. Saturday saw Keith and I head up The Pap of Glencoe, where we were rewarded with expansive views. On Sunday the Glenachuilish Hill Race took place with around 60 runners sprinting around the forestry tracks in a figure of 8 circuit below Beinn a'Bheithir. A few of us bagged the munro peaks after the race, taking in some fabulous views towards Mull and getting down as the sun set. Photos here, race results here, race route here.

Glen Orchy Corbetts, Dec'09

steven@stevenfallon.co.uk (Steven) — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 22:24:00 +0000

Myself and Andy Fallas went for a fast training run up the corbetts either side of Glen Orchy. Chosen first was the circuit of Beinn Bhreac-liath and Beinn Udlaidh from the north - a fabulous run ending with a superb grassy descent following a weird quartzite dyke back down to the forest. We then drove a few miles down the single track road to the Eas Urchaidh waterfall and ran along an excellent (an cycleable) track north-west through forest to bag Beinn Mhic Mhonaidh - a trudge heading uphill, but such great fun on the fast running back returning to the car – just in time before the wet and windy came in. More photos on my Flickr page.

Cowal, Beinn Lora, Arrochar, Loch Lomond, Nov'09

steven@stevenfallon.co.uk (Steven) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 21:19:00 +0000

A long relaxed weekend spent based at Kilfinan in the Cowal pinninsula. Never been there before and found the area quite beautiful, especially in the frosty conditions. Some walking, cycling and quite a bit of socialising and drinking. Did the Beinn Lora Hill race on Sunday (came 4th and under 30mins). Returned on Monday, running up Stob Coire Creagach, just north of the Rest and Be Thankful - fine little hill with great views. Some photos on my Flickr page .

On the Radio !

steven@stevenfallon.co.uk (Steven) — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 13:01:00 +0000

On the Radio this weekend ! Being interviewed by Helen Needham for BBC Radio Scotland Outdoors program on Munro bagging, hill running, motivation and of course the newPocket Mountains 'Classic Hill Runs and Races in Scotland' book. To be aired early Saturday am, or slightly later on Sunday morning. I'll probably not hear it as I'll be lost in the Argyll Hills on Saturday and racing up Ben Lora on the Sunday. Hope I don't babble on too much ! Details of the program here : BBC Scotland Outdoors, details of the race here : Beinn Lora Race

Monamenach and Ben Tirran, Nov'09

steven@stevenfallon.co.uk (Steven) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 22:34:00 +0000

The best weather in the country was up in the north-east today, so having a quick look at the maps, Monamenach near Glenshee and Ben Tirran above Glen Clova were chosen - both fairly close, accessible and not been done by me before. Monamenach runs Meall nan Subh (above Glen Lochay) close as the easiest munro to ascend - the route starts at the 360m contour and only takes half an hour up and down on an obvious track. Ben Tirran on the other hand took twice as long - not such an obvious route, more ascent and the weather closed in horribly. Just look at how flooded Glen Clova was !

Druim Fhada chase and Garbh Bheinn, Nov'09

steven@stevenfallon.co.uk (Steven) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:29:00 +0000

Last year I tried my hand at the Druim Fhada chase, hated it and ended up in the Belford Memorial Hospital getting stitches. Thought I'd never come back, but decided to put to bed the demons of last year by having a go again. I knew what to expect this time, and didn't put a huge amount of effort in and ended up really enjoyed the race. Great views to Ben Nevis while running along the track. There were 5 of us jostling positions - Bruce Poll, John Coyle, Peter Ward Gary Barnett and myself for most of the way around the course. I had a sprint with Peter Ward for the last 100m to the finish - we pushed hard, but Peter beat me, then promptly fell on his knees and threw up - nice ! Youngster Robbie Simpson set a new record by taking over 2 minutes ouot of the previous one - well done to him.

As the race started at 11am and took me less that 50 minutes, we had time to bag a wee hill somewhere. I really enjoyed Meall na Gualainn last week, so opted for the Corbett Garbh Bheinn on the other side of Kinlochleven. Keith and I started out, the ground underfoot was soaking, slippy with hidden holes in the grass. Keith decided to chuck it in fairly quickly, as it was really unpleasant. We had a quick chat with a guy coming downhill, who assured us it got drier and easier further. He was right and I enjoyed a fine walk to the summit with it's interesting perspective on the Aonach Eagach ridge. Details of the route here .

Meall na Gualainn, Nov'09

steven@stevenfallon.co.uk (Steven) — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 22:07:00 +0000

A fine corbett above Loch Leven and Kinlochleven, with amazing views for very little effort.

We'd been staying up at Roshven on the west coast, and on the way home I had enough time to run up this hill. It's an easy, straightforward, if wet route, to the summit. Having a fairly solitary position, the views east to Schiehallion, west to Ardgour and Beinn a'Bheithir and north to the Mamores are outstanding. Saw some guys on their scrambling motor-bikes as I was running fast downhill over the grass and through the dying ferns, returning to the road.

Tinto Hill Race, Nov'09

steven@stevenfallon.co.uk (Steven) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:03:00 +0000

This is a tough little race up and down the main drag on Tinto - a fine hill standing on its own above Biggar and the Clyde. This is one of those hill races you either love or loath and it's becoming one of the most popular races in the country. I arrived early so as to help with something - was given the task to help Nick put out the flags and markers for the junior course. Spent an hour or so wandering along a path and thru heather, rapidly running out of markers as we tried to find the correct route. Onto the main event - it was getting busy, turns out there was a record field of 298 runners. I was determined not to blast off from the start only to blow up after a few hundred metres. So I let quite a few folk pass me, then as the ascent steepened, gradually started to pull back a few places and settle in with a few well kent faces, including Des Crowe, Adam Ward and Andy Birnie. A couple of new Carnethy guys were putting in a good performance. Nearing the summit in mist, Prasad Prasad blasted downhill past, with Al Anthony not far behind. I counted the following runners going down and worked out I was around 20th. Downhill, great and into fast mode - overtook a few then got a stitch ! Argh, Des overtook me and Stuart Saunderson got me back after I had just overtaken him. My wee legs got me to the finish in 17th place, a minute up on last year, but still 2 minutes slower than my fastest time. Results, photos and more here. Race home page on Carnethy.

Meall a'Bhuachaille Hill Race, Oct'09

steven@stevenfallon.co.uk (Steven) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 20:21:00 +0000

New route for 2009

I thought I'd got the revised route correct for the new book, but just as well we headed up to Glenmore and gave the route the once over - it had changed again. From Badaguish, it now heads up a track to some of the thickest heather on a hill race. We aimed up to the summit and hung around to take some photos of the runners. When they approached, they looked tired - the heather had done its work ! After all my team-mates had passed, we headed down the tourist path to Ryovan Bothy, reaching it just in time before an awful rain shower hit. Photos on my Flickr page

Beinn Chruin, Oct'09

steven@stevenfallon.co.uk (Steven) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 19:42:00 +0000

An Teallach and Fisherfield was the intention for the weekend, but for various reasons, including the awful forecast, saw me heading to Tyndrum instead. Instead of parking at popular car-park Dalrigh a couple of km east of Tyndrum, I tried the Lower Railway Station. Much quieter with a sheltered run through forest to gain the track leading to Cononish. Through a couple of gates and up into mist, nothing to see. With the rain pulling in and the wind getting up, I gave up on the possibility of continuing to the Ben Lui Munro group. Details of the route are here : Lui Munros page

FRA Relays, Ennerdale, Oct'09

steven@stevenfallon.co.uk (Steven) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 22:09:00 +0000

Running for Carnethy, Bruce Smith and I took over from Mark James and Paul Ritchie, who’d had an incredible run making up lots of places. We were put on leg 3 - the navigation leg, and just to ensure we’d be challenged, the weather threw a thick veil of wet mist onto the West Cumbrian hills. Fortunately, navigation ain't too bad as the fairly featureless terrain is crossed by lines of fences. Bruce and I were overtaking quite a few folk, but local runners found faster lines and we’d meet them up time and time again. Half an hour into the race, two other Carnethy vests pulled up beside us – Jon Ascoft and Andy Fallas were pulling out all the stops. In a large group lost in the mist, many of us stopped, heads down to the maps with hands stretched out, compasses pointing hopefully the way ahead into the grey ether. We’d all overshot and had to return, losing a good few minutes. Bruce noticed runners on a path above, so we climbed onto it and we managed to pull back on our Carnethy mates. Bruce’s downhill running is quite something, but his flat running is also pretty good and I had trouble keeping with him on the last sprint back to the event. Hopefully we managed to pull even more places back before we handed over to Adam for the last leg. We were 23th in our leg - made up 65 places - more results on Sportident (pdf). Some video clips on YouTube and more on the Carnethy site .

Helvellyn, Oct'09

steven@stevenfallon.co.uk (Steven) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 21:41:00 +0000

Superb weather taking a quiet path up to a busy summit
We were heading down to the west Cumbrian Hills near Ennerdale for the FRA team relay event. So on the way, a fine opportunity to head up Helvellyn - the third highest hill in England. Not up Striding or Swirral Edge this time, but from the quieter path to the south-west. Fine views from the busy summit. Hill walkers, fell-runners, paragliders and mountain-bikers all taking advantage of the fine weather - much hotter than you'd expect in mid October ! Some photos on the Flickr page.

Pentland Skyline, Oct'09

steven@stevenfallon.co.uk (Steven) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 20:21:00 +0000

Very windy !
I'd not been training thoroughly enough, so different tactic this year - walk on the uphills, so there's enough energy left for running the latter part of the route. It seemed to work, cause although the strong wind slowed us all down on the way south, I finished up one place higher than last year. I did find the last few hills very tiring, but managed to keep going. Race was won by Oleg Cheplin in an incredible 2hr and 25mins. More info and results here and more photos on SHR Flickr .

Hodgson Relay, The Lakes, Oct'09

steven@stevenfallon.co.uk (Steven) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 21:55:00 +0000

The Lake District is much closer to home than the north of Scotland, less than 2 hours away by Bob our driver. Carnethy put a team of 8 runners together to race in this famed event. I was running with a very hyper Andy Spenceley - we're well matched and we made up 2 places on our leg by passing 3 teams and being passed by one team. Andy later worked it our we were only a couple of minutes out of the Vets record for our leg ! One part of the route was a real trudge along 'High Street' - a flat grass covered plateau that seemed to go on for ages. But the descent was quite enjoyable and the weather stayed clear for most of the day. A fine sociable way to spend a Sunday.

Ben Venue Hill Race, Oct'09

steven@stevenfallon.co.uk (Steven) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 22:46:00 +0000

Wind gets the better of us !
Bellahouston Road Runners organised and put on this race. It was the first time run, but the weather decided to play a part. As we were waiting for the start, organiser Andy Birnie was called by the Mountain Rescue guys on the summit, who warn him that the wind on the summit was so powerful, that they couldn't stand up. So, change of plans, we would run through the forest and up to the col and back. The hill race became more of a trail race. Still ended up being quite enjoyable and I won a big bar of fruit-and-nut - now scoffed ! The photo is of Fiona Maxwell coming in first lady. Photos to follow.