Run Ardgoil peninsula
Length
23.1 Kms
Elevation gain
1022.1 m
Max elevation
512 m
Difficulty
****
Rating
****
Type
Loop
Route id
488
Main road
0 Kms
Country road
0 Kms
Dirt road
15.6 Kms
Dirt path
0 Kms
Trail
7.5 Kms
0
Route summary
The Run Ardgoil peninsula route is a hill trail run within Loch Lomond and the Trossachs. The loop covers a distance of 23.1 Kms ( 14.35 miles )
and has an elevation gain of 1022 m ( 3353 feet )
.
Description
Well if the second half of this run is nice then the first half can only be described as WOW.
The worst part of this run is the drive of the last few kilometres to the car park, but once you are running you are in for a treat. It's tough but very rewarding.
From the car park the route heads up hill on the Dukes Pass and the Cowal way on standard forest landrover roads for about
2.4 Kms
. You are mainly in the trees and are climbing steady and although not too steep it feels like a hard start to the run. Views back down the hill towards Loch Long can be stunning and you soon get to see a lot of the Arrochar alps around you. The road comes to a sudden end from where you cross the small bridge and start on a trail through the trees.
The trail through the trees is only about
400 m
and ends with a gate and clear markings for the Cowal Way. This road heads across the open grasslands and can be very boggy in parts. Our last run here was in the middle of a hot dry spell and we still sunk our feet several times. This part goes on for about 1.5 Kms
and takes you over the highest point before you get your first view of the route to Lochgoilhead. Still following the Cowal way makers the grass path can be very slippy on the way down.
A gate marks the end of the open section and you are back into the trees on an initially steep and tricky descent. This lasts for about
2.5 Kms
before arriving at the loch which by this time the path has become a dirt road again.
The route now heads down the side of the loch and turns back to trail as you start to gain height. The open views are blocked by entering trees again but the path opens up fully before arriving at Corran Lochan and the turning point. This section being about
5 Kms
. There is potential to take the path to the right to the peninsula, but so far we have not explored that.
After the lochan a left turn takes you into the forest with only the occasional view of Loch Long for about another
5 Kms
. This does feel rather dull after the beauty of some of the earlier parts.
With need of getting out of the trees, the route takes the path down to the loch side rather than continue on the straightest path back to the car park. This gives you a few kilometres of views up and down Loch Long and a small climb back to the car park.
We hope you enjoy this route and the weather holds for you.
Route directions
Kms
1
From the car park head on the dirt road past the gate.
0
2
After about 200m follow the dirt road on the right uphill.
0.2
3
The dirt road ends and you join the trail that heads up through the trees
2.5
4
A gate marks the start of the open section. Follow the white Cowal way makers.
2.8
5
After a while you start to descend towards Lochgoilhead
3.6
6
Another gate to go through and back into trees. This bit is a little technical.
4.1
7
Follow the signs to the left for Lochgoilhead.
4.6
8
And over the bridge - take a look at the rock pool on the right as you pass.
5.3
9
Follow the path to the left heading down the side of the loch.
6.8
10
Start of another slow climb and heading back into trees
7.7
11
Take left path on fork in the road. This is easy to miss.
8.4
12
Route bends round to the right
11.2
13
Out in the open with Corran Lochan ahead.
13.1
14
At the tee junction turn left.
13.7
15
Take the path on the right to get to the shoreline
18.8
16
Across the small bridge
20.4
17
And start to climb again
21.5
18
Last bit before back at the car park
23
19
And end. Now to drive back down that wee road.
23.1
The car park
Large free car park
The car park
Running route out of the car park
The start of the climb
A long tough climb on good dirt road
The start of the climb
Image from Ardgoil peninsula
The climb continues
Onto trail path
The dirt road ends suddenly and the small trail path takes over
Onto trail path
View back down the glen
Onto trail path
Image from Ardgoil peninsula
Onto trail path
Image from Ardgoil peninsula
Trail path going up
Looking down the trail path
Looking down the trail path
This is where it could get wet
White post markers
Follow the white markers as trail is difficult to make oute
Top of the hill
Towards Loch Long
Top of the hill
The path forward, still the white markers
Top of the hill
Image from Ardgoil peninsula
Back towards The Cobbler
Great views when the weather is nice
Back towards The Cobbler
Way in the distance
Downhill towards the tree line
The grass on this section can get slippy - even in hot weather
Trail through the forest
A tricky path
Follow the signs to Lochgoilhead
Path starts to widen
Waterfall
Last time we were there - stunning rock pool. One of the makes the run worth while spots
Waterfall
Small bridge just before the waterfall
Lochgoilhead
Pretty in the sun
Back towards Lochgoilhead
Back on a trail path
Down Loch Goil
Getting higher and into the tree line
Corran Lochan
First sight of the Lochan
Old quarry
This is to the side of the path, you do not run over this.
Gareloch
Loch Long and the Gareloch
Gareloch
The oil terminal
Coulport
Down Loch Long towards the submarine base
Towards Arrochar
Looking up Loch Long
Towards Arrochar
Away from Arrochar, down Loch Long
Loch Long
Starting final climb back to the car park