Alongside Ben Lomond, Ben Vorlich and Stuc a’Chroin are perhaps the two Munros easiest accessible from the central belt, which makes them very popular. While the usual way up is from Loch Earn to the north, a southern approach is, in my view, much to be preferred – not only it takes one away from the crowds into a more remote feeling country, frequented mostly only by deer and birds of prey, but there is some exceptionally good running to be had on the south side of these hills.

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In terms of scenery, the Tarmachan ridge is right out there with Scotland’s other iconic ridges, such as the famous Aonach Eagach in Glencoe. But from a hill runner’s perspective it also provides first class steady running along its entire length, save a short scramble on the western side of Meall Garbh. An outing of a good length can be had by taking in Beinn Ghlas, Ben Lawers, and Meall Corranaich, before ascending the Tarmachan along its northern ridge by the magical Lochan an Tairbh-uisge.

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Glen Canisp provides the easiest off road gateway into the heart of Assynt’s hill country, including the iconic Suilven. The rough and undulating landy track that runs from the Canisp Lodge to Loch na Gainimh provides for excellent running, and access to both Suilven and Canisp.

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The Inchnadamph hamlet, at the head of Loch Assynt and directly below Conival, and Ben More Assynt, lies in a limestone depression that is an intrinsic part of Assynt’s fascinating geology and (very) ancient history. It is also a departure point for a number of excellent runs, whether it is something short and fast you are after, or whether you are in the mood for remoteness and solitude, or whether you are just interested in some stunning views.

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The Lawers range provides some fine running opportunities. While easily accessible, at 1214m Ben Lawers is 10th tallest hill in the UK, making it popular with walkers, runners, mountain bikers and skiers.

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I have fallen in love with Assynt on my first visit a few years back, and have been coming back at every opportunity since. Assynt is, without any doubt, the leading contender for the most beautiful and unspoiled area in the whole of Scotland. It also provides some excellent off road (and more often than not, off track) running opportunities, usually in complete solitude, just in the company of deer and golden eagles.

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The yellow Inov-8 Mudclaw shoes, were, I think, a de facto benchmark for a running mud shoe. Up here in Scotland, they seemed to be the shoe of choice for many runners, significantly over-represented at any of the local hill races. This is not surprising, mud is the day to day reality in Scottish hills and the yellows provided excellent grip in the worst of conditions, while being fairly hard wearing. If you were to get just one pair of off road shoes, Mudclaw was the shoe to get.

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Hill running is fun. Hill running in Scotland is even more so – the landscape is stunning, the gradients are friendly without lacking in challenge, the temperatures are amenable year-around, and there are some truly wild places to be explored. Running (as opposed to walking) Scottish hills brings two major advantages: the ability to cover distances in a single day that otherwise would require multi-day expeditions, and significantly reducing the impact of the dreaded midge (which, as it turns out, is a slow creature too lazy to give chase).

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The Trossachs offer some excellent longer runs with a properly remote feel beyond the usual and well trodden routes and walkers paths. I have been meaning to write up notes on some of the running possibilities in the Trossachs back country for a while – this is a start.

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