In my Sunday Mail outdoors column, Susie Allison, the author of the newly updated Scottish Trail Running Guide, reveals her top five favourite trail runs in winter. She has chosen routes that are accessible and runnable in most inter conditions. However, the chances are there will be ice and snow – and lots of it – covering many of the trails just now. You could wait for the snow to melt or choose to run them in the right footwear.
Read the pdf of my column or see the story below.
5 great winter trail running routes in Scotland
The Glasgow author of an updated edition of the popular Scottish Trail Running guide has revealed some of her favourite winter off-road routes.
Susie Allison, who is a keen runner, has picked five great trail circuits from the 70 that are detailed in the newly published book.
The guide is for beginner runners though to experienced ultra running addicts.
It aims to take people on a journey of discovery that starts in suburbia and crosses every kind of runnable terrain to reach remote glens and far-flung islands.
All routes have been checked and updated for the revised Second Edition, while 86 new photos have been added.
Here are Susie’s top five winter trail running routes.
1) Braid Hills, Edinburgh
Start/finish: Braid Hills Dive car park
Distance: 3 miles (4.5km)
Terrain: Gravel track and paths
Edinburgh runners are fortunate to have a few off-road running options within the city limits. One of these, a short circuit, starts at the Braid Hills Golf Course Clubhouse.
The route follows a bridleway around the perimeter of the golf course. This generally provides good footing, although it can be muddy in places.
A gradual climb leads to a trig point with a panoramic view over the city and surrounding countryside.
Edinburgh Castle and Arthur’s Seat, the Bass Rock and North Berwick Law, the Pentlands and the Southern Highland hills can all be seen on a clear winter’s day.
Mugdock Castle.
2) Mugdock Country Park, Stirlingshire
Start/finish: Mugdock Country Park Visitor Centre
Distance: 2.5 miles (4km)
Terrain: Gravel, grass paths and tracks
On the north side of Glasgow, Mugdock Country Park offers a large network of easily accessible trails.
A straightforward circuit goes around Mugdock Loch and past the ruin of Mugdock Castle, ransacked twice in the 17th century and more recently destroyed by fire in the 1960s.
The main tracks in Mugdock Country Park are surfaced and provide sure footing even in wet winter weather.
Start either at the Visitor Centre or run in along the West Highland Way from Milngavie, which has train and bus links.
Eildon Hills.
3) Eildon Hills, Scottish Borders
Start/finish: Pant Well, Bowden
Distance: 6 miles (10km)
Terrain: Trails and earth paths, which can be slippery when wet.
When the higher hills are snow covered, the isolated peaks of the Eildon Hills offer an alternative opportunity for that “on top of the world” summit satisfaction feeling.
The triple peaks occupy a commanding position in the middle of the Tweed Valley in the Scottish Borders.
A range of runs can be constructed over and around these small summits, starting either in Melrose or Bowden.
While some trails are surfaced, the smaller earth paths can be muddy and slippery in wet weather. This run takes in all three tops and on a clear day the view from each is superb.
Culbin Forest.
4) Culbin Forest, Morayshire
Start/finish: Wellhill.
Distance: 8 miles (12km)
Terrain: Forest tracks, sandy beach
Culbin Forest provides colour and cover at any time of year and especially good for winter runners.
Track junctions are helpfully numbered and waymarked trails lead to a treetop viewing tower.
Culbin is one of Europe’s largest sand dunes. The conifers were planted in the 19th century in a successful attempt to stabilise the inhospitable, shifting and un-navigable sands.
Today, Culbin’s forest tracks are peaceful places to run, walk or cycle.
It’s worth running out of the trees to the shore of Findhorn Bay, where brightly painted houses shine in the low rays of the winter sun.
Loch Ossian from Sgor Choinnich.
5) Loch Ossian, Highlands
Start/finish: Corrour Station
Distance: 9 miles (14km)
Terrain: Gravel and stony track
Although remote, this running route is on a flat, straightforward trail.
Corrour Station can only be reached on foot or by train bit once there the Landrover track is easy to find.
Staying at the SYHA hostel overnight would offer the chance for a dawn run, when the loch’s still waters reflect the sky and low sun rays bring out the pink-orange of the Scots pines on its small wooded islands.
The Scottish Trail Running 2nd Edition is priced £15.99 from www.pesdapress.com
- Many thanks to Susie for supplying the photos.