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;

Stunning and spectacular Three Beinns on Arran

An early morning ferry and I was over on Arran for the Mountain Festival which for me began today with a spectacular and stunning group walk around the horseshoe of the Three Beinns. The walk leader decided to walk these against the norm and traverse anti-clockwise, a good decision.

Garbh Allt

Thankfully we got a lift to the Glen Rosa campsite and walked to the start of the uphill section following the Garbh Allt which had a nice cascading waterfall.
Wildlife was already good, a pair of golden eagles being dive bombed by something from above, a peregrine falcon I suspect. My first sand martins of the year, ravens and cuckoos calling.

Small cairn and Beinn a Chliabhain

Luckily the marshy moorland section to Cnoc Breac was on hard ground due to the dry spell and onwards we went following a reasonable track up to our first top, Beinn a Chliabhain at 675m. 

Goatfell steep west side

The views on our right were grand looking down the full length of Glen Rosa and up the west slopes of Goatfell. The hill looking totally different from this angle with it's steep flanks and corrie.

Chir Mhor, The Saddle and Glen Rosa

The views on the left were of the high ground we were heading towards, Beinn Nuis & Tarsuinn. The old man of Tarsuinn prominent.

A Chir

Some interesting paths through rock gaps and up and over large boulders as the view north was even more spectacular. The impressive A Chir ridge, with climbers on its crags of Pagoda Ridge. Cir Mhor and The Saddle, all awesome.

The Bealach heading to Tarsuinn

The hardest section of the day now as hands on scrambling required to get us around and over, I think, Consolation Tor to the summit of Beinn Tarsuinn. Some sections of pull the tummy in and squeeze through the gap. There is no clear path just huge boulder slabs to negotiate.

Looking back to Tarsuinn from Nuis

Tarsuinn is a Corbett and the highest point at 826m, where a well earned break was in order and more stunning views to enjoy.

Poser on Tarsuinn grassy top

We could see our next destination ahead but time for a snap as we went passed the Old Man, an incredible naturally shaped rock formation as it looks over North Arran.

Old Man looks like my face

Down and then up the last climb of the day to Beinn Nuis taking in the views down Glen Iorsa and across to Sundays walk of Beinn Bharrain and Sail Chamadale.

Nuis through the gap don't fall through a long way down

A short detour can be taken on the Glen Iorsa flank to see the WW2 wreckage of the Liberator bomber where sadly 10 crew perished, so near the top they almost made it over.

Sad sight of the wreckage

A twisting descent then across the normally boggy plateau to descend again via the Garbh Allt.
The cuckoo was silent and we pondered whether a mate had been found. About 2 minutes later we saw one on a wire and then a second landed with a big titbit in its beak trying to give it to the female. Looks like the calling over for one cuckoo. Just after 2 red deer were seen on the summit looking down, surprisingly the only ones we spotted today.
An absolutely stunning walk, probably the best I have had for consistent jaw dropping views.
The only downside was the walk taking at least 2 hours longer than it should have due to the walk being over ambitious for one of the group. At least it wasn’t raining.

Time:8hr 33m
Distance: 15.8km
Ascent: 1098m

Glen Sannox to Glen Rosa via the Saddle Arran

Glen Sannox, The Saddle & Cir Mhor

A fabulous walk on Arran today walking up Glen Sannox, over The Saddle and back down Glen Rosa to Brodick.
After a jam packed bus trip we got dropped off at Sannox about 15 minutes behind schedule, important as time was tight due to Calmac only operating one ferry instead of the scheduled two. Don’t want to miss the 16.40 by 5 minutes and wait 2 and a half hours to the next ferry.
It was a lovely walk up Glen Sannox only interrupted by the cascading waters and the call of the cuckoo, quite delightful.
Our objective, The Saddle, is in our sights along with Cir Mhor, a Corbett I have scheduled for next month but not today.

Lava like rock of Cir Mhor

The rock formation of Cir Mhor look amazing, almost like ripples of lava, steely grey and black, looking like the very old rock it is.

Head of Glen Sannox

There is a good recently renovated track following the burn and there are great views as you feel hemmed in by the mighty mountains.
An hours walk and we reach the scramble territory. Yesterday's rain has created running water in parts and very wet and slippy rocks for our scrambling. The semi track is frequently lost and found as we scramble upwards, hands and feet a must.

Whin Dyke scrambling time

We reach the chimney section, also known as the Whin Dyke, a steep gully scramble. For a short section it felt like a full on rock climb. Wet slippy smooth rock affording little grip. For short legs like mine some interesting haul up positions. For all that it was not scary, just effort and fun but it got the adrenaline going. 

Looking back Glen Sannox

A 40 minute haul up from the glen and we are on the Saddle and time for lunch and also have a good look at the close by notorious Witches Step. A lady comes down from North Goatfell and we have a chat. Cir Mohr’s upper flanks are right beside us, a scree scramble, it is a pity to be so close but there will be another day.

Glen Rosa

On the way down we meet another solo lady who has just done Tarsuinn and A’Chir which she found scary, it has a reputation, brave lady.

Cir Mhor & Witches step behind

And now a long but gentle walk down Glen Rosa with good views of Goatfell and looking back at Cir Mhor, the jagged Witches Step beyond looks a lot more formidable.

The Falls

Further down the glen a fenced off section of the burn with some deep gorges and waterfalls, crystal clear water, a good place for a final rest and look back.
We walked back to Brodick and made the boat with half an hour to spare.
Disappointing wildlife day. We saw a small herd of deer but not convinced that they were wild. A kestrel and the cuckoo about it.
Still a superb day to be repeated.

Time: 4.38
Ascent: 539m
Distance: 16.4km