Mid Argyll

This page is all about listing your favourite run routes in the area so members and visitors can share your enjoyment of the simple pleasure of running (course some of us use these routes as a proxy for pain and suffering as we strive to get fitter and faster - or pretend that age cannot slow us down!).

39 Steps - Kilduskland track - crinan canal  - Ardrishaig trail  run (7.65 mile)

Ardcastle Circuit - 4.80 mile trail run

Cracking circuit around Ardcastle. From the Car park follow the red and yellow route markers, takes you down to the edge of the loch (steep descent so care needed when wet or icy) - follow track along loch and then then track climbs up, before heading back to the coast. From here see Lochgair and run past old burial ground.

Take right turn and follw grass track through 2 deer gates, rejoining main forest track then follw red marker right, short steep ascent back to start point at car park.

 Myraid of other tracks to shorten run if you wish.

 http://www.mapmyrun.com/route/gb/argyll%20and%20bute/813394325228

Loch Coille Bharr + - 6.1 mile trail run

This is my favourite trail run in the area as it has everything, technical trail running, twists and turns, stunning woodland, a beautiful Loch which you dance along the edge of and a challenging workout. The Loch circuit itself is 3 miles and is an absolute joy.

My favoured apporach is starting from Barnlusuguan car park, proceeding along the Achnamara road then folowing the trail around the Loch. After 2 mile point you reach the old water mill and the tough climb uo tp Kilmory Oig, before descending and turning into the woods through the trail back to the edge of the Loch and back to you start point.

The "+"  is an additon to the route by continuing along the Barnlusugan Loch Trail and taking the right hand spur off onto the forest track that leads to the Wood Truning workshop, past here the track ends with truly spectacular views over the Add estuary with the Crnian Canal and Moine moor dominating the scenery. Truly a great place to get your breath back and be inspired.

 Returning back to the spur, you continue along the track before takling the last detour up the oak tree walk trail, which means continually climbing up countless steps before summiting at the bench, whith views of Loch Coille Bharr and Jura in the far distance. The descent from here takes you through twistying trails, sweeping up and down, fantastic fun, before the final descent back to the Loch Barnlusugan trail via another series of steps to get those knees lifted!

All in all a fantastic route, which gives you more then an endorphin high!

See the link below for the exact route...ENJOY!

http://www.mapmyrun.com/route/gb/barnlusugan%20loch/615034279420

Tin Farm 5 Race route - Ormsary, Argyll - Hill/Trail  run (5.2 mi.)

This is the route of what is fast becoming an annual classic local race. 2008 event was met with perfect autumn sunshine and visibility, with the autumn leaf colours in blazing golds, russets etc , views across the sound of Jura to the mountains of Jura were just stunning, with the Paps gullies and summits etched out in the sunshine....... Well enough of waxing lyrically.. the route is great - 2 miles of flat along the coast road to warm you up and then a kicker of a short hill on the road -7%, before the unrelenting climb for just over a mile to the top. The descent is at times equally steep , with a few fun detours through impromtu tracks in the forests to get the breath back, before the water hazard at the "Tin Farm" and return back to start at Ormsary Village Hall

http://www.mapmyrun.com/route/gb/argyll%20and%20bute/598937482067

39 Steps - Kilduskland track - crinan canal  - Ardrishaig trail  run (5.98 mi.)

Rather then labouriously write the route in here I have cheated and downloaded my GPS to MapMyRun and so you can see it by following the link below.

 http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-kingdom/ardrishaig/371302606985

This is my key hill training route, with a shortish (but brutal) up hill section and a long downhill section- finishing with a flat run along the Canal. This is aimed at strengthening quads, whacking up the heart rate and enjoying the change in pace from crawl to flying downhill.

 Steve