Ryjock Charity Run 3 Lochs Way Challenge

On the 7th April, three members of our team, three brothers, set out on a mission to complete a 34-mile run across the Scottish Highlands with the goal of raising £500 for The Alzheimer’s Society. 

The Three Lochs Way is one of Scotland’s great trails. Gentle landscapes are gradually replaced by the scenic drama of mountain, crag and loch as the trial crosses the Highland Boundary Fault and heads towards the mountains of the Southern Highlands. With Loch Lomond, The Gareloch and Loch Long as recurrent scenic backdrops, the Three Lochs Way links a necklace of communities strung along the Clyde Sea Lochs fringe of Scotland’s first national park. 

The route’s 55 kilometres (34 miles) can easily be walked in 3 to 4 days and with the West Highland railway line never far away, it also offers plenty of options for shorter day walks. Total ascent is approximately 1,500 metres. 

Their challenge was to complete the route in a day – with time to spare to enjoy are few cold beverages! 

They started their challenge at 8am in the small town of Balloch and set off in to the wilderness with four checkpoints to pass through before reaching the finish. The route is mostly waymarked; for much of the distance it follows minor roads and hard tracks with an undulating pathway. Some parts are on footpaths, with some boggy going in a few places. Fortunately, the weather was quite favourable with good visibility and only the occasional light rain. 

Just under ten hours from starting the challenge the three brothers arrived at the finish in Inveruglas just before 6pm with family member’s there to greet them. Safe to say there were shattered but their efforts had resulted in a grand total of £1,600 being raised for the charity. A fantastic effort from all concerned! Thank you! 

We even made the local newspaper – Daily Record News 

Plans are already being made for their next challenge. Watch this space…