Night of the Hunter - Pentlands night run 13/01/09
We set off late for the Pentlands knowing we wouldn't see much of the dwindling Winter daylight. We took our new headtorches – aquired since last benighted on the hills – to try out an off-road run in the dark.
We arrived at Flotterstone as the sun was dipping below the horizon and although it took just under 25 minutes to summit Turnhouse, by that time (4.12pm – sunset just after 4) the sun was gone and the remaining light was slipping away. This had a slightly alarming feel to it as we are usually finishing a run at this stage rather than just setting off. However we are so familiar with this route that we felt it wasn't too risky.
The View from Turnhouse
In fact the novelty of the approaching night made the miles pass more quickly. We seemed to be travelling along the paths pretty sharpish despite the conditions being difficult: the ground was fairly wet and I slipped a couple of times descending. It was definitely more difficult to judge the exact conditions underfoot as well as spot hazards – I tripped more than once on rocks I hadn't seen.
It took just over the hour to get along to West Kip having crossed Turnhouse, Carnethy, Scald Law, S. Black Hill and East Kip, by which time the last of the daylight was being blotted out and it was time to switch on headtorches.
The lights come on in the city as a shower falls on the West side.
Stars come outIt took maybe another hour for the sky to turn from deep blue to black during which time the light from the torches went from merely helpful to essential. We found ourselves slowing down on the rough rutted, muddy and icy path of the Drove Road, so decided instead of the more usual route over or round Black Hill then Bells Hill, we would drop down Beech Avenue over Redford Bridge to Bavelaw car park and go round Threipmuir/Harlaw where the going was flatter before climbing up the path between Bell's and Harbour Hill then returning along the tarmac to Flotterstone.
Ascending West Kip
The last of the light on top of W. KipAll the way along the last part of the Drove Rd we heard the geese honking and squabbling down on the water below. When we got to Redford Bridge at the bottom of Beech Avenue and looked west out over the reservoir the honking reached a crescendo then about 300 geese took off from the far side with a huge whirring of wing beats, then circled overhead. I've no idea whether we set them off or perhaps Mr Foxy out looking for a goose supper had startled them.
Through the woods alongside Harlaw ReservoirIt was so dark that by the time we headed up the long track between the hills and came to a fork we mistakenly took the right hand side path. Neither of us remembered this fork – a good reminder of the difference night runs can make – and thinking the right seemed to point more in the direction we wanted to go, followed that track for about half a k until it got to a gate and we knew we had come the wrong way.
Back to the fork and up the long, long drag to the dip between the hills. This seemed to go on forever. We had been out for two and a half hours and were both really hungry by now. Nothing for it but to soldier on past the gate at the top of the climb and trot down the rutted muddy trails with streams of water criss crossing, down to the gate and the last tarmac mile to Flotterstone. 13.6 miles 2hrs 50. Welcome flask of hot squash.
There is something special about being out in the dark and it really lifted a long Tuesday night session. The alternative would have been a grim run down the coast or through the city with the ipod blasting to keep out the reality. This was much more of an adventure but not without its hazards. We got lucky with the weather – relatively little wind made it possible to run in just 2 thin long sleeve tops, no more than usual, though we both had head gear and gloves. It was no colder than during the daylight hours but there was much more chance of twisting an ankle or going your length so extra care to be taken. And slower over rough ground once the light had gone completely. Also its more difficult to spot puddles and discern their depth so we both had soaked muddy feet early on. Dinner, however, tasted spectacular.
Report and photos Donny Darko
