20th August: Glencoe Marathon Recce

Kind of recovered from the exertions of the big 'Ben' a couple if days ago I took the opportunity to recce the route of the Glencoe marathon on my MTB… This is the first time I have every done something this sensible in performing a recce of a route in advance of running it. I plugged one of last year’s runner's data in to my Garmin and just followed the arrow!

LSS kindly dropped me off at the campsite start site just outside Glencoe Village and demanded that I return in 1 piece this time!

Whilst on the road or this first stretch I could view the trail and from the Red Squirrel campsite it's a gently undulating path that takes you down in to the glen itself where the trees fade away to be replaced by the vista of the mountains & munros that line either side.

The path and road to the glen.

The waterfall.

As you make your way in to the glen proper you pass a stunning waterfall before continuing over the undulating trail (although more uphill than down) as you weave your way through the glen taking in the beautiful scenery.

Through the glen.

Eventually you pick-up the West Highland Way - which forms the rest of the route - and you turn northwards to face the first of the 2 big challenges of the day: The Devil's Staircase.

This is a long slow trudge up to the top following the switch-backs of the path over the loose rocky path until you eventually hit the top and the rewards of the view back down across to the other side of the glen.

Looking up the second half of the Staircase

Looking down from the top of the Staircase.

Continuing along the path it's a mostly downhill stretch as you work your way through the wonderful mountain scenery before Kinlochleven comes in to view before you. The path is pretty much a loose rocky stream along here - so not something to do if you hate having soggy feet!

The trail between the Staircase and Kinlochleven

As you near the hydro plant on the hill-top you hit a really steep descent following the path of the water pipes down to the turbine hall and the half way aid-station.

The 20% gradient descent to the aid station at halfway.

The hydro plant looking back up to where you came from!

Out the aid station and you cross the town of Kinlochleven then head up what seems to be another mountain; its a mix of single track woods and as you get above the trees a stony path, fording several streams in the process.

The trail out of the village up the mountain side.

The first view back of Kinlochleven.

Once up on here its a long undulating section along the mountain top valley from here to the Ben Nevis visitor's centre - past plenty of sheep, a couple of abandoned derelict crofts and again underfoot whilst hard and rocky its pretty much a stream!

On top of the hills, the trail runs along the mountain valley.

Quiet and beautiful up here!

The undulating path to Fort William along the West Highland Way

At the end of this section it gives way to forest and some punishing short sharp up and downs before you descend into the tree line and follow the woodland trail - and down some slippery steep steps to cross a stream!

And then the trees returned!

Into the woodland trails.

Eventually after a couple of evil sharp hills you hit the forestry road at about mile 24 and follow the sharp descent of the final couple of miles back down to the Ben Nevis visitor centre and the finish line.

Descending on the forestry road towards the finish.

In brief, the scenery is gob-smackingly good, the terrain is TOUGH!.. There's plenty of runnable sections but the Devil's Staircase and the climb out of Kinlochleven are beasts! You can summarise the run as 2 big ups and 2 big downs and you’re done. The weather will be a big factor as there will probably be 4 seasons in one run getting from A to B.