Saturday 27 June 2026 –
The Arrochar Alps Hill Race, organised by Westerlands CCC, is a classic long distance hill race with a unique challenge for experienced hill runners. The race starts at sea level in Arrochar following the Glen Loin trail for around 4 miles where runners meet the foot of Ben Vorlich. From here, runners are required to summit all 4 munros (Ben Vorlich, Ben Vane, Beinn Ime, and Beinn Narnain) and meet the check points located on route. However, the course is unmarked and 90% of the route has no paths to follow. Therefore participants are required to use navigational skills to meet all checkpoints and get back to finish on time.
Having already completed this event once, Andy McCall convinced John Logan that it would be a good day out in the hills. Despite John’s incredible ultra racing experience, he had only recently completed his first munro with Andy a few weeks earlier. Both Harriers set off together through the Glen until the foot of Ben Vorlich. Andy pushed on up the first major ascent until the summit where they both met again. Coming off the tourist path and climbing Vorlich is brutal at the best of times and John learned quickly this was not going to be an easy hill race.
From around 1500ft the clag greeted the runners on all tops, making navigation tough, especially as the wind and rain picked up. Both runners were joined by a few other runners as they made their way down the first pathless and steep descent to the Loch Sloy checkpoint. Back under the clouds again briefly, they checked the route they would take up Ben Vane and set off.
John and Andy had met a few runners on the course but the beauty of this course meant everyone went their own way, it was reassuring to see other runners again at the checkpoints before heading in different directions again to take on the next climb.
The penultimate climb from the Lag Uaine checkpoint was relentless and by this stage both Harriers were feeling the effect of the first 2 munros and 3 hours on their feet. Bear in mind the first runner home made it on 3 hours! It was heads down and the chat started to fade. As agreed before the race, if anyone was feeling good they should push on the from Beinn Ime. The weather was getting worse at the summit of Ime and Andy made the most of finally joining the tourist path again and pushed on down the runnable descent. John also got a ‘second wind’ by this stage and made a concerted effort down the hill, passing some runners in the process.
On the final climb to Narnain Andy was feeling good and continued to press on to the finish line, completing the course inside his time from 2023. John was enjoying the spell of runnable terrain but it wouldn’t last long. The final descent is an absolute killer, where runners drop 3,000ft in 2 miles, on tired legs. Somehow John had made a navigation error and ended up running downhill parallel to the course. A fall half way day meant John’s Garmin set of the fall alarm and reset his watch. Thankfully John had managed to rejoin the path where he met Tom from Ochil Hill Runners and they completed the last section together.
Both runners were pleased with their run and day out on the hills. Its definitely the best tenner you can spend on a race and one of the most enjoyable, but challenging days out you can get.
Andy McCall, 16th, 4:47:21
John Logan, 23rd, 5:16:25