Two days in Glen Esk

It has largely been a week of recovery following the 56-mile epic last weekend. I felt I could have run again after three or four days but there is no point in over-doing it or tempting fate with so much ahead to look forward to and to train towards. However, in advance of the Andorra trip, there is time for one more excursion to the hills and to enjoy what remains of the summer.

I identified Sunday and Monday as the best days, despite Monday being a bank holiday. My intention was to maintain my recent focus on the Angus glens and to conclude August with a two-day training trip to Glen Esk.

Glen Esk is the most easterly and northerly of the Angus Glens and it is a bit of a trek, first to Edzell near Brechin, then a 10-15 mile drive up the glen itself. Thus, it is a good idea to make it a two-day trip to make the effort worthwhile and get a couple of nice back-to-back runs done.

Additionally, I haven’t done a lot of camping this year due to the earlier injury so that would be a great way to enjoy the trip. Dalhousie Estates, who manage much of the land in the glen, maintain a large field adjacent to the road in Tarfside and in which they permit camping at no cost. There are no formal facilities other than the public toilets in the carpark at the entrance to the field. However, it is a fantastic facility for a single overnight.

In terms of the running, I would drive up during the day on Sunday and head straight for the end of the road at Auchronie. I would then do the out and back up Mount Keen. This is about eleven miles in total but a good way to wake up my legs again without going crazy.

Mount Keen is the most easterly of all the Munros, at a height of 939 metres. It is also regarded as one of the easiest Munros to summit, the climb being relatively gradual and on well-maintained path. All in all, a fine little jaunt to start the trip.

Day One – Mount Keen

It was shortly after 1200 when I eventually arrived at the head of Glen Esk, to the public carpark just shy of Invermark Castle.

The car park was completely full, and I had to manoeuvre into an available space on the verge.

I got my kit together and headed off, only about a hundred metres or so down the road to the turnoff for Glen Mark. I was very quickly onto the stony path that leads past the few dwellings, through a gate, then into the open glen. It is about two and a half miles on mostly even ground to the start of the climb proper up Mount Keen. The path is very runnable, and the scenery makes for a great little introduction to the run.

I have to say from the outset that I felt a bit shit from the off and this never really improved much at all throughout the run. Not sure why, perhaps a bit low on calories or energy.

Before long, the iconic Queen’s Well came into view. Built in 1861 over a natural spring, the stone arch commemorates Queen Victoria passing through around that time.

This spot also marks the point on the trail where the path starts to rise, past the cottages then over the two burns at which point the gradient changes quickly.

I topped up with water at the burn, knowing this was the last source until returning to the same spot on the way back. Then the climbing started.

After the initial steep section and a switchback, the track levels a little and this allowed for some slow running to break up the speed-marching rhythm. I was passing quite a lot of people who were coming in the opposite direction  on the return leg by this point.

The gradient rises again and eventually the false summit comes clearly into view. I knew this to be a false summit having been fooled by it the first time I came up here. It is not far to the summit from there but a boot in the balls nonetheless if you thought it was the top.

I hit the summit in about an hour and ten minutes although it hadn’t really been a maximum effort to reach that point. It was windy and a little chilly, so I did not plan to linger. The view towards Lochnagar in the west and north across Aberdeenshire to Deeside was impressive.

So, to the descent. I took it easy over the first rockier sections but once the gradient and the terrain eased a little, I moved up a couple of gears. There was a lot of weaving, picking lines on the path itself or where permitted, onto the less rocky verges. I was moving well though, conscious not to blow my legs up completely with another effort to come the following day.

The sun was out and the view was great, down the last steeper section to the glen below.

I topped up with water at the burn again then made a beeline to the cottages where I took a short break to drink and refuel before the last few miles back down Glen Mark.

Although I never felt great on the run back, I reined back the pace and tried to enjoy it. I was catching and passing a lot of the groups I had passed on the climb up Mount Keen which is always encouraging.

Before long, I was heading back down the road in the car, blissfully unaware that I would be back before very long.

I reached Tarfside and was delighted to find the camping field virtually deserted. I found a nice level spot, some distance from the only other group and set up the tent. I then sorted through some of my running kit, realising that I had left my gloves and visor on a wall next to where I had parked at Auchronie. So, it was back in the car and along the road again. My stuff was where I had left it so I was thankful for that, as well as for  realising when I did that I had left them behind.

Thereafter, a relaxing evening. I took a stroll after dinner and enjoyed the last of the evening sunshine before settling into the tent for the night.

Day Two – Mount Battock

So, to day two of the Glen Esk training trip.

It was a peaceful and restful night in the tent at Tarfside and as ever, I was up early to get things moving, although it was a cold morning with a mist hanging over the glen. The plan today was to get some breakfast inside me then get everything packed up.

Once ready to go, I would head a few miles back down the glen towards Edzell. There is a small parking area at Millden and this is the jumping-off point for my run. This would be of a similar distance to Mount Keen, another out and back of around 9 miles in total. The route would comprise the ascent to the top of Mount Battock. At 778 metres, Mount Battock is not only a Corbett but is also the most easterly Corbett in Scotland.

The return would be on the same route. The weather forecast was excellent with a chance of stronger winds at altitude, so this was to be a day to moderate the pace, maximise the time on feet and enjoy the scenery.

I packed at leisure then set off the few miles back down the road to Millden. The parking area was empty so I stowed  my kit in my pack and set off on the initial tarmac section.

I passed one of the estate compounds, by that point full of land rovers, ATVs, pickups and a large gathering of gamekeeper-types, clients and beaters. For a good number of grouse in Glen Esk, the day was clearly going to end badly!

Soon, I was off road and heading up the winding and slowly rising track towards Mount Battock. Like Mount Keen, it is a fairly long lead-in which rises incrementally but all on well-maintained 4×4 track. The good news was that it was like night and day compared to my energy levels the day before. I felt good and I was moving much better.

I ran on the flatter sections or shallower gradients, power-hiking the rest. The track contours around a smaller hill before plunging briefly to a water-crossing where the steeper climb begins in earnest. I took a good drink and some electrolytes here, refilling my flask. This would be the last water before returning to the same spot on the way back.

The path rises steeply, forcing me up onto my toes and giving my calves a hard workout. This continued for some distance until a gate is reached. There is then a period of a little respite before another couple of much steeper sections.

Before long, the path levels off and there is a downhill, grassier section before the final climb to the top of Mount Battock which was by then clearly visible.

The brief downhill section was a nice break from the uphill grind and the last climb to the top really takes no time at all.

At the top, it was pretty windy, but the breeze had kept things cool on the way up, for which I was grateful. I got out of the wind behind the wall of the summit shelter and took in a few calories for the return leg. It was a bit of a shame because the sun had yet to fully burn off the morning haze, so the views were muted, albeit incredibly expansive in all directions.

So, to the downhill! My left achilles/soleus had been complaining a bit on the way up, so I was conscious not to go full tilt on the descent. I really do not need any kind of injury issue right now, or indeed any time in the foreseeable future. I took my time then, concentrating more on foot placement and not tripping than on generating too much speed. I even took a couple of short walking breaks just to reduce any calf stress.

It was however a very enjoyable downhill and my legs were still turning over well on the flatter running sections. I think this outing was far more indicative of my current level of fitness than the ‘blip’ the previous day.

I had an eye on my watch throughout and set myself a target of finishing within two hours, achieved with a couple of minutes to spare once I hit the stop button at the car.

The irony is that although Mount Battock is not a Munro and the route is similar in distance to the Mount Keen run, the total ascent today exceeded that of the day before. Everyone goes to Mount Keen as it is a Munro and a straightforward ascent, but in many ways Mount Battock is a more satisfying and challenging route. It is also a far less trodden route, and I had it entirely to myself for the duration of my run.

Overall, a great couple of routes, taking in the most easterly Munro and Corbett in Scotland. The weather was perfect and a tranquil overnight camp topped off a great training trip to Glen Esk, which might in my opinion be the most scenic and appealing of all of the Angus glens.

I’ll probably do a light recovery run in a couple of days then rest over the weekend. Next stop – Andorra!