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The mountain terrain crossed by the race is potentially dangerous.
It is imperative that you take the utmost care when on the Paps. Carelessness could
directly or indirectly cause injury to others. Prior knowledge of the course (particularly
with regard to ascent and descent of the Paps) is strongly advised.
Please note checkpoint
closing times which are strictly applied.
Craighouse to Dubh
Bheinn:
Proceed from the Distillery up the unmetalled road opposite the Village Hall
and continue on up the road to the top near the telephone exchange. Leave the road
at this point to break off on to open moorland, keeping
to the right of the plantation. Though the gradient is fairly moderate,
the ground itself is very boggy in places to begin with. Straight up a short steep ascent to
pass Dubh Chreag. Head via compass bearing/trod direct to CP1 at the summit cairn/shelter of Dubh Bheinn.
Dubh Bheinn to Glas
Bheinn:
Double back, then bearing left move down the ridge passing some lochans and on
up to the summit of Glas Bheinn; a fast leg. Trust compass; reconnaissance useful
Glas Bheinn to Aonach
Bheinn:
Flat, fast ridge traverse to the west summit of Aonach Bheinn.
Aonach Bheinn to
Beinn a’Chaolais:
Initially steep descent from Aonach Bheinn
into Gleann Astaile to cross the burn. Choose your own route up the 2,000 feet
to the summit of Beinn a’Chaolais, or follow the trod up the green water streak, then heather and scree, nearly to the summit.
Beinn a’Chaolais
to Beinn an Oir:
Steep descent to NE on worn out scree track (some grass) to saddle, then
steep ascent up ridge to summit of Beinn an Oir.
- Beinn a’Chaolais is a convex mountain and the direct line down would
take you over crags.
Beinn an Oir to
Beinn Shiantaidh:
The eastern side of Beinn an Oir, although
steep, is not as treacherous. Best descent is from low ruins at the end of an unusual
boulder-track NE of summit cairn. Spring in hillside about 200 feet down. The ascent
of Beinn Shiantaidh from the pass (Imir an Aonaich) is steep but on sure ground;
some worn trods and tracks; ascent eases off before the summit.
Beinn Shiantaidh
to Corra Bheinn:
Beinn Shiantaidh is another convex mountain. Descent of N to NE side is very dangerous
- with many crags a short way below the summit. Easily the best way is to descend SE flank
for a few hundred feet on mainly small screes, then bear NE on screes and a rough
trod to Lochanan Tana. Do not be tempted to bear left too soon high up - it's awful, and is banned anyway, as you would be crossing a SSSI.
From the plateau, find a way up L or R (most popular) of the crags to the summit of Corra
Bheinn.
Corra Bheinn to
Three Arch Bridge:
Straightforward descent to Bridge over deer tracks and rough grassland, very wet
in places. Most runners cross the Corran River and follow tracks on the S side to
the Bridge. Pass under the bridge.
Three Arch Bridge
to Craighouse:
The rest of the way lies along a 3.3 mile stretch of road which hugs Jura’s
beautiful coastline. (The milepost, which might have now disapeared, which said Craighouse 1 mile should not be taken
too seriously).
Pronunciation Guide by George Broderick
George is the race founder and is a teacher of Gaelic Studies and here's what he
has to say about pronunciation:
"I noticed that there was some difficulty among runners with the pronunciation
of the hill-names on the course. If I may, I would like to supply them now along
with an English-based pronunciation which may be felt to be helpful to the runners.
Parts in bold type indicate where the stress lies. "
Dubh-Bheinn
doo-venn 'black mountain'.
Glas-bheinn glass-venn
'grey/green mountain'.
Aonach-bheinn urnach-venn
'steep mountain'.
Beinn a' Chaolais bennya-khurlish
'mountain of/by/nearest the sound (i.e. Sound of Islay)'.
Beinn an Òir bennyan Oar
'mountain of the gold, the golden mountain' (seemingly from its golden hue, as seen
at sunsets from the west, e.g. from Colonsay).
Beinn Shiantaidh benn heeantee
'holy mountain' (reason unknown).
Corra-bheinn korra-venn
'steep mountain'.
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