A hot day on Arran.....Cir Mhor

 Hill: Cir Mhor (The great comb)

Type: Corbett

Height: 798m

Another day to get excited about. It was to be my 1^st trip to Arran since Covid, almost 3 years has passed, unbelievable. But maybe I wasn't as excited when my alarm went off as I was going for the first ferry. But I sure was by the time I was on board and had my traditional CalMac breakfast roll.

The objective today was Cir Mhor, known as the Matterhorn of Arran, no arguments from me.

We were going through Glen Rosa but there are no buses to the String Road that tie up with this ferry. The other bus driver said she would stop as close as she could but she forgot about us, thankfully not much of an overshoot so a short walk back.

It was a hot morning even this early.

Anticipation builds as the hills are spotted ahead as we enter Glen Rosa. The walk through Glen Rosa was different. The foliage was long and so overgrown the path could not be seen at times. Lots of ski style shuffling feeling for obstacles. But the worse was the insect life. Lots of minor bites and a couple of cleg ones. One of them was 3 bites through my shirt on my back right at my rucksack. At first I thought it was just a twisted strap but nope, real bites.

So it was relief to reach the junction and start the climb proper.

That's a proper pointed peak of a mountain

Cir Mhor was looking magnificent, a grey fortress with a stunning peak against a clear blue sky what a sight.

When we reached the corrie a cooling breeze was very welcome, I had been feeling it in that heat.

Looking over to Loch Tanna, Beinn bharrain & Meall nan Damh

Up the short zig zag track and the north and west of Arran is your magnificent vista.

Lost the correct track going through the boulders and thought we had found it but it was heading for An Caisteal. So a direct line up through the grass and boulders and came across the track.

It is an interesting climb and the latter section requires hands on minor scrambling before the top is reached.

The ridge to 3 Beinns

Glen Sannox and Witches Step on left

Goatfell Glen rosa side

At the top is a small area for about 4 people to sit and take in the view. The views are amazing looking over to the Witches Step. Glen Sannox far below with the blue waters of the Firth beyond. Goatfell of course dominates and looking down Glen Rosa both the Holy Isle and Ailsa Craig can be seen in the haze.

Glen Rosa with Ho;y Isle in background

One final look back at a stunning mountain

We followed the same route back. Grateful that the breeze was now lower which made the walk through Glen Rosa much more pleasant. It is still a long haul but the beasties were hiding.

Common Darter

Dark Green Fritillary

One of the frustrations is the non buses to meet the extra summer sailings a disgrace for a tourist island. So the long walk back to Brodick and we missed the ferry by 10 minutes. Time to hang about and take in the scenery.

A cracking walk on a beautiful day.

Ascent: 878m

Distance: 20.5

Time: 7.01

Wildlife: Common Darter; Meadow Pipit; Scotch Argus; Dark Green Fritillary;