Run Lochgoilhead to Ardentinny

First time back in Lochgoilhead for many years and a sense of exploration as not sure if our planned route to Ardentinny would actually be achievable. Information available online on the part of the route after Carrick Castle was rather vague about the path and quality. However, it all went well.

So we parked up at the car park in the centre of Lochgoilhead and were treated to a lovely misty morning. We started running back along the small road we came on, before corssing the bridge and taking the road on the left towards Carrick. We did find the alternative way on the way back going around the golf course but this makes a wee bit of a loop. To the west of Lochgoilhead it is mainly holiday home and lets but the views down the loch are lovely and you are soon away from it all. The road has the occaisional car on it but it is by no means a busy road.

It is worth taking some time to go onto some of the small beaches you pass to take in the setting. We have included some pictures to give you an idea of what is like. After about you see Carrick ahead and then Carrick Castle. As mentioned, we had a misty morning on the photo day so the pictures were lovely.

Just after the castle the tarred road ends and you end up on a dirt road which itself gives way to a trail path heading around Ardnahein Farm. The route now starts to get interesting and after a short period loch side you start the first main climb of the day. This part is good trail path but can be a little overgrown in places. Wet days in this section can be slippy especially on the way back coming downhill. This section is about and takes you up onto the forest road and from there a downhill section towards Loch Long. Lovely views along this part if you ignore the military presence on the other side of the loch.

At you have another big climb before heading downhill and to the loch beside Ardentinny. Although we decided to call it an end at Ardentinny forest car park the village is close by and reachable be the small country road. For this run we then headed back the way we came and tried not to think too much about the climbs. The mist had left Lochgoilhead when we arrived back though the sun had decided to stay hidden.

We took the wooden footbridge at the golf club for the way back into the village which was a nice way to finish. One of these great lochside car parks we have in Scotland that feel even better after completing a long run.