The run was conceived as a winter training run for some of those planning to do the High Peak mountain marathon. In the event, that entry didn’t happen (to the relief of some) but the training run still seemed a good idea so off we went. Five of us met at the car park near Brig O’Turk – Helen, Heather, Cathy, Digby and me, and Florence the dog.
We climbed up the wooded hillside on a good path to the road by the dam of Glen Finglas reservoir. It was a beautifully sunny day but there was still quite a lot of snow on the hills. A good track took us northwards, by the reservoir then up into Gleann nam Meann and miles on up the glen. We could see the track climbing up the hillside at the head of the glen. Once we had climbed out onto the open moorland there was a lot more snow on the track; this slowed us down a lot but it was not too bad as the snow was firm and not too deep. At one point a deer came flying down the hillside and across the track (figuratively speaking) hotly pursued by Florence. She was soon called off so no harm was done.
We stopped for lunch by the summit cairn of the track; it was a sheltered sunny spot with magnificent views back across the glen to Ben Vane and Ben Ledi. After lunch there were several miles of gentle downhill running to the valley of the Finglas Water. Halfway down we met a small herd of cattle on both sides of the track. We held on to the dog and talked reassuringly to the cows so the meeting passed without incident. Part way down the reservoir we joined up with our original route and then went the same way back down to the cars. The day was well rounded off with refreshments in Mhor Café in Callander.
Nigel Rose