New Year Three Beinns

We started 2016 with a hill day and headed up to Coire Bhradain and the Three Beinns. The weather was brisk- cold and breezy with icy paths and a dusting of snow.

Ski Arran

Hen's Teeth..... Tigers in Africa..... Snow days on Arran are pretty rare, and ptarmigan sightings are even more elusive.  With tales of bottomless snow drifts on the hill and also a reliable ptarmigan report, Wally and I met up with Zabdi from Flying Fever this morning and donned our skis at the top of the String...

Skinning across the plateau towards Beinn Nuis

Not Ptarmigan- Red Grouse.  Close... but...

Once we had crossed the plateau, Wally and Zabdi played around on their skis in the deeper steeper stuff, while I went for a sprackle amongst the rocks to see if I could find any evidence of ptarmigan.  No joy unfortunately but it was really just an excuse to get out....  On the way back I fell in every drainage ditch I could find and face planted every 100m or so.  Skiing is hard...and I have a lot to learn.

Beinn Nuis Lockheed C-60A Lodestar 42-56014 Crash Site

There are a number of air crash sites from WWII on Arran, including three on Beinn Nuis.  Two of these are fairly accessible, but the third, a Lockheed  C-60A Lodestar flying from Prestwick to Stornoway in 1943, is located high in a remote gully and not easy to reach.
I was contacted by a family member of one of the victims who hoped to visit the site.  Luckily he is fellow mountain fan, and so we enjoyed an adventurous day exploring the slopes and gullies between the Nuis Face and the Flat Iron Tower.  Although the visibility was virtually nil, it wasn't long before we found the site.  Being there with someone who has a direct connection to the site brought home  in a very poignant way, the loss and sacrifice that so many young airman and their families suffered during WWII.

The plane came down almost 70 years ago on the 30th Sept 1943. Seven people were on board and all were lost. There is more information about this and other air crash sites on Arran available online here.

Beinn Nuis, Beinn Tarsuinn and Beinn a Chliabhain

The Three Beinns of Beinn Nuis, Tarsuinn and Chliabhain form one of the best ridge walks on Arran and one I'm always happy to be working on.  Yesterday Anne and had a great day doing this classic horseshoe. 

Highland cattle enjoying the lush grass in Glen Rosa

We took a leisurely start and enjoyed the sunshine in Glen Rosa. However, it wasn't long before we were climbing up out of the glen alongside the rocky gorge of the Garbh Allt.  Higher up we crossed the river, before beginning the steep climb up the southern ridge of Beinn Nuis.

Views down the ridge towards Brodick and Lamlash Bays

Looking across to Beinn Tarsuinn from Beinn Nuis summit.

From Beinn Nuis, we took a high level stroll amongst magnificent rock architecture to the summit of Beinn Tarsuinn, guarded by the stern face of the Old Man of Tarsuinn, who keeps a look out from close to the summit.

The Old Man of Tarsuinn

From Beinn Tarsuinn, a steep descent and a high pass led us to the final summit of the Three Beinns, the diminutive peak of Beinn a Chliabhain.  This mountain is dwarfed by its neighbours, but the fine crest offers great views of the entire Goatfell range.

The meadow face of Beinn Tarsuinn from Beinn a Chliabhain

A' Chir, Caisteal Abhail and Cir Mhor from Beinn a Chlibhain.

Three Beinns, Goatfell, Happy Days!

I'm at my happiest wandering the mountains of home and I'm incredibly lucky that my local peaks are so astonishingly brilliant. This week I've had a real treat.  On Sunday, I was on the Three Beinns, (Beinn a Chliabhain, Beinn Tarsuinn, and Beinn Nuis), with Erin and Casey from the US, and today I was working for the Lochranza Field Centre  who have a school group staying with them who were keen to do a mass assault on Goatfell.  Despite being a large group, they were a lovely bunch of young people and we had a ball in the sunshine with great views and good company. Happy Days!

Above Glen Rosa, looking out towards Brodick Bay on the Three Beinns Walk.

Beinn Nuis is on the left in the cloud, Beinn Tarsuinn sneaking out on the Right.

The Old Man of Tarsuinn.

The remains of a B54 Liberator that crashed on Beinn Nuis in August 1943.

Another day, another dollar.... Stunning views on the way to Goatfell.....

....And even better ones from the top! This is Cir Mhor and Caisteal Abhail.

Three Beinns and a Badger

Its been another busy week for me, and I'm playing catchup again....  Here are some photos from a jaunt around the Three Beinns on Monday with John and Vivian. It was a still and overcast day to start, but by the time we were descending the sun was out and a gentle breeze was dispersing the midges.
A note on route choice for this walk- I used to do the horseshoe in a clockwise direction, getting a potentially tricky river crossing at the Garbh Allt  out of the way early on.  However, recent severe erosion on the path between Beinn Tarsuinn and Consolation Tor means that I now prefer to ascend this path, in an anticlockwise direction from Beinn a Chliabhain and thus leaving the river crossing till the end of the day. It is possible if the river is in spate to cross it higher up in Coire a Bhradain, and this is often the best option- so be prepared for late extension to the day!

 On the lower slopes of the Beinn a Chliabhain ridge.

 Brodick, Lamlash and Holy Isle from the summit of Beinn a Chliabhain.

 A'Chir from the NE flank of Beinn Tarsuinn

 Beinn Tarsuinn from Beinn Nuis. 

 

Across Coire a Bhradain towards Beinn a Chliabhain, with Goatfell beyond. 

Surprise find- a badger print on the ridge of Beinn Nuis!  Just what it was doing up there we can only guess.

 Coire a Bhradain, and the crags of Beinn Tarsuinn.

Three Beinns and a Short Eared Owl

The forecast today was for mizzly wetness and strong winds, and at first it looked like this promise would be fulfilled. I met Garry Fraser from Scots Magazine bright and early in Brodick, with a plan to get up high in the mountains and enjoy some of Arran's best hillwalking.  We picked the Three Beinns as our objective, one of my favourite ridge walks and I was sure that even in the damp weather, Gary would not be disappointed.

Looking down Glen Rosa from the path the climbs steeply alongside the Garbh Allt to Coire a Bhradain

The route takes an early escape from Glen Rosa alongside the Garbh Allt and climbs through a deer exclosure that protects native trees in the gorge from nibbling.  Higher up we crossed the bog, and then the Garbh Allt, to take a path that strikes out towards the toe of the first Beinn, Beinn Nuis. Our big wildlife sighting of the day appeared at this point, a short eared owl that reared up out of the heather in front of us. We had a wonderful view of this day flying bird of prey, as it flapped away over the moor. 

The wreckage of a B24D Liberator near the summit of Beinn Nuis.

It wasn't long before we were in the mist, high on the slopes of Beinn Nuis. Shortly before the summit we took a brief detour to visit the site of a crashed B24D Liberator, which met its end on the western flank of the mountain on route to Prestwick from Newfoundland in August 1943. Sadly all 10 of the American servicemen on board perished in the crash.

Beyond the summit, the ridge undulates, until a final pull up on to the second of the Beinns, Beinn Tarsuinn. From here there is a steep and badly eroded descent to the bealach by the bowmans pass, where it is possible to descend further towards Beinn a Chliabhain to the south. 

The mist began to clear as we neared the summit of Beinn a Chliabhainn

At last with the clearing weather we were able to look back towards Beinn Tarsuinn and the route we had traveled. 

Looking back towards Cir Mhor at the head of Glen Rosa. The summit of Beinn a Chliabhain is in the foreground and in the far distance the ridge of the Sleeping Warrior.

The cloud finally clears from the summit of Beinn Nuis as seen across Coire a Bhradain

Looking south towards Brodick Bay, with Holy Isle peeping out in the far distance. 

Finally, back down in Glen Rosa, the famous view of Cir Mhor at the top of the glen. 

With the lifting weather, our spirits lifted, and it is a brilliant ridge walk in all conditions. By the time we were back down in Glen Rosa it was positively balmy and springlike.

Classic Day on the Three Beinns

Its been a while since I posted something fresh on here, and I'm sorry for getting so behind myself! It has been a busy summer with work both on and off the island and not much chance to log on and upload.  This week the schedule finally eased, and not only that, but last Thursday Wally and I grabbed a nice day to head out in to the hills to enjoy one of Arran's classic ridge walks, the three Beinns. 

 

 The Garbh Allt Burn as it flows in to Glen Rosa

There had been a lot of heavy rain overnight, and the Garbh Allt Burn that flows from Coire a Bhradain was in spate. To avoid a tricky river crossing we headed up open hillside on the left side of the burn, and followed the main stream until a smaller tributary flowing from the slopes of Beinn Nuis blocked our way. From here it was possible to cut up the side of Beinn Nuis to join the main path not far from the summit.

Sunlight on the ridge above Coire a Bhradain

As we climbed a cold rain shower whipped across the mountains, but by the time we had reached the first summit, the sun was breaking through the clouds and patches of blue were appearing in the skies above. The light was incredible, and we enjoyed crystal clear views of the rest of the Goatfell Range. 

Looking towards Beinn Tarsuinn with Achir and Cir Mhor beyond.

North Goatfell and Goatfell.

Glen Iorsa, a wet place at the best of times.

The Three Beinns is a real treat of a ridge to walk because once you have slogged up the first of these three peaks, you maintain your height for much of the day.  There is a gentle stroll on to the twin humps of Beinn Tarsuinn, and then a steep descent to the bealach between Tarsuinn and Beinn a Chliabhain.  There is a little height to be regained before the final summit but not much. Finally, there is a gentle descent off the southern end of Beinn a Chliabhain, and a stomp over the bog towards the gate at the top of the Garbh Allt path down to Glen Rosa.

The Descent from Beinn a Chliabhain. Views to Brodick Bay and Holy Isle in Lamlash Bay.

Winter Mountain Wildlife

The cold weather has been affecting all of us and it is certainly getting to the wildlife too.  There was plenty of activity in evidence today in the hills, more than I would expect at this time of year, and I suspect that our predators in particular are finding feeding in the big freeze tricky. Fresh snow fell on Arran over night and there were hundreds of animal tracks in the snow in Glen Rosa this morning.

 Dawn lights up Glen Rosa

It was clear that deer, rabbits, small birds and voles had been criss-crossing the glen since the snow stopped falling. In the trees above us, flocks of finches and tits were feeding amongst the branches, until a bold red squirrel came bounding through the tree tops and put them all to flight. Further up the Glen, we could see the deer sheltering in the trees on the lower slopes.  As we began to climb up the Garbh Allt, a steep burn that runs in to Glen Rosa from the west, a pair of golden eagles circled overhead, and after they had gone, a kestrel appeared.

Our plan was to head up under the crags of Beinn Nuis,  and look to see if any of the easier gullies were climbable/soloable (looking for winter ML practice terrain). It was a hard slog up as always, but at least the bog was firm for a change.  Hidden ice amongst the heather made the going very treacherous and after a couple of painful comedy tumbles, the crampons were on despite the soft snow and thick heather. Occasionally underfoot we also saw evidence of the voles that the hungry kestrel had been searching for- strange little galloping tracks, tunnels in the snow and evidence of miniature digging works. It has been said that snowy winters favour field voles in the arms race between predator and prey as it is easier for them to hide from prying eyes under the snow.  Winter is tough on the kestrels and owls that rely on them for food.

Field Vole tunnel in the snow. 

Once up in to the upper coire it became clear that although there was plenty of ice forming on the bog, the chimneys and gulleys were relatively bare.  An easy angled gully that had caught our eye from below looked less inviting close up, with a huge chockstone at mid height and choked with deep layers of powder snow and graupel (pellet like snow- very unstable when fresh).

 The spectacular main face of Beinn Nuis

We traversed out right beneath the face, and gained a shoulder that rises relentlessly to the right hand edge of the crag.  From here it was possible to traverse right again at about grade I, across a fan of better snow, and to gain the main ridge between Nuis and Tarsuinn.

 

Climbing the shoulder.

Traversing under crags to reach the snow fan on the right.

Once on the ridge we were in the full force of a north easterly wind that bit through all our warm winter clothing. Feathery fingers of rime ice were forming on the rocks and the ground. We clambered up on to the summit of Beinn Nuis, paused for a moment to enjoy the view, and then headed back down via the easier slopes on the South Ridge. By the time we got back to the car it was snowing heavily again. 

 

Beautiful rime ice formations (sastrugi) on the summit rocks of Beinn Nuis. 

 

 

 

Looking back up Coire A Bhraidain towards Beinn Nuis and Beinn Tarsuinn.