Glens and peaks...

The weather today was a lot better than forecast with the predicted showers skirting the island and cloud billowing around the high tops but never closing in.  It was a glorious day for photographs and I took a visiting photographer on a journey through the big glens and over the Saddle.  We were treated to a flypast by a couple of golden eagles, and some great views of a bachelor herd of red deer stags. My wildlife photos are useless but hopefully my landscapes will stand up to a bit of scrutiny!  My photographer companion Ann Holmes' photos on the other hand are astonishing, follow this link to see the photos she took during her visit to Arran including on her day out with me. 

The morning mist clinging to Cir Mhor as we set off up Glen Sannox

The Sleeping Warrior resting in the clouds. 

The view along the ridge from The Saddle. 

Looking south to Glen Rosa with the low winter sun in our eyes. 

The classic view to Cir Mhor from Glen Rosa

AMRT Training Exercise

Yesterday I was out with Arran Mountain Rescue Team (I'm a probationary member) on a training exercise in the Cir Mhor area.  It was a great opportunity for the team to practice skills for moving on steep ground and numerous small parties were to be found exploring the south face of Cir Mhor throughout the day. I'm nursing a sore elbow (golfers or tennis elbow- I forget which, but would be better named climbers or kayakers elbow in my case) so followed Alec and his very happy (hairy) dog Luing up on to the Castles for a leg stretch before descending the Sub Rosa Gully and catching up with the rest of the team under the face of Cir Mhor.

Arran Mountain Rescue Team is made up of men and women volunteers from all over the island who train together in the hope that they can assist when an emergency arises in the hills. As a charity, the team depends on donations and the support of the public for its work.  You can donate to the team here: http://www.justgiving.com/amrt

 Big Alec taking in the view on the summit of Caisteal Abhail

 Looking back towards Cir Mhor and Goatfell in between snow showers. 

 Along the ridge of the Sleeping Warrior

 Back under Cir Mhor, catching up with other team members. 

 South face of Cir Mhor and the Rosa Pinnacle, where some of the best rock climbing in Scotland can be found.

Having a brew by the Argo-Cat (all terrain vehicle) before returning to base.

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.

Quick Scramble over The Saddle

Walking through the Glens from Sannox to Glen Rosa via the saddle is one of the great linear walks on the Isle of Arran, but it should not be underestimated.  Whilst the height gain is fairly minimal (less than 450m), there is a steep climb out of Glen Sannox, and a little scramble up a chimney known as the Whin Dyke to gain the saddle between the two glens.

We left the car at the bus stop opposite the Wineport on the outskirts of Brodick and hopped on a bus at about 1100 this morning.  Not long after we alighted at Sannox, and began the long walk up the glen. It was great to be traveling light for a change as the low altitude of the walk meant no need for axe, crampons, or lots of other heavy gear.

Approaching The Saddle (on the left of Cir Mhor) at the head of Glen Sannox. 

Beginning the steep climb up to the base of the chimney, which provides an exit on to the ridge. The alternative is heavily eroded hillside- unpleasant. 

 

The scramble up the Whin Dyke is on rocky steps on the left of the chimney, straightforward to climb when dry, a good bit more dodgy in descent, especially when wet. 

Yes that's me.

 

Beautiful light on the Saddle.  The peak in the middle is North Goatfell. Goatfell's main summit is on the right

partially obscured by the mist.

 

Descending in to Glen Rosa.  There is a burn to cross near the head of the glen which can be tricky after heavy rain. 

Looking back up Glen Rosa to Cir Mhor from the south.  It is about at this point that we were treated to views of a pair of golden eagles, flying over the hillside above. 

Winter Marches On

A couple of days worth of pics here- the first lot are from Wednesday when we headed up Beinn a Chliabhain and then descended in to Coire a Bhradain to see if any of the climbs on Nuis and Tarsuinn were in condition.

Sadly the sun had melted too much of the easier gullies already and not enough ice had formed in the harder lines on Nuis to all that was left to do was build a snowman and bask in the sunshine.

Next day after a days admin work we headed out for a late trip over the saddle between Glen Sannox and Glen Rosa. We made the saddle before sunset and walked out of Glen Rosa in the dark. Very atmospheric!

Crossing the saddle at the moment requires full winter skills. We went around the Whinstone Dyke as it is choked with unconsolidated snow and headed up left of the main difficulties on open slope. Not too bad but needed the ice axe and glad of the crampons. Consequences of a slip up here don't bear thinking about.