Meet Report: 4-7 October 2018.

The weather looked set fair for a good few days on this lovely island. Seven of us arrived on the Thursday, Mick Borroff, John Brown and Peter Elliott all travelling together, Mike and Helen Smith arrived on the 4 o’clock ferry, the same time as Tim Josephy. Alan Kay was already on the island. The first evening was spent settling in at the Youth Hostel at Lochranza on the northern end of the island. We all adjourned to the Lochranza Hotel where we had dinner and made plans for the following day.

It was a dry clear start with the sound of rutting deer all around the valley. Mike, Helen and John headed out to Glen Sannox after dropping Alan off so he could find his way across to the northern coast and walk back to Lochranza.

The climb up towards the Devils Punchbowl was steep and committing. They then traversed right towards the airy ridge of Cioch na h Oighe. The scrambling here was great on rough granite all the way to the top.

This took a little time, so rather than complete the Glen Sannox horseshoe they carried on to Goat Fell and experienced the tremendous views.

When they reached the valley at the hamlet of Corrie, Mike decided to hitch back to the car, his hopes rose when the school bus stopped, only to be dashed when they would not let him on. He finally did get a lift and came back to collect John and Helen. The whole day was about 7 hours.

Tim and Peter walked up the scenic valley of Glen Rosa, initially with Mick until he turned off to start his climb up to Beinn Nuis.

They continued for 2½ hours, initially on good paths until the final trackless heathery and rather unpleasant approach to their chosen route, Pagoda Ridge, a 250m Severe climb on the flank of A’Chir. Not the greatest rock climb, but a good mountaineering route on excellent granite slabs and ribs, all in wonderful surroundings.

Steady climbing apart from one very short, very steep and desperate crack. They enjoyed a splendid walk out down the grassy ridge over Beinn a’Chliabhain to the foot of Glen Rosa. 7½ hour day.

Leaving the climbers, Mick went walking alone and completed a strenuous round on the west side of Glen Rosa, following the ridge across Beinn Nuis and Beinn Tarsuinn, alongside A’Chir, then returning to Brodick down Glen Rosa to wait at the car for Peter and Tim.

Alan walked along the Arran Coastal Path from Sannox Bay to Lochranza. He felt this is the best part of the Coastal Path, the weather was brilliant, as was the scenery. Taking Alan’s enthusiastic recommendation, Peter walked this route the following day, though in the opposite direction.

Saturday 6th October

Mick set off from Sannox, initially following the route John and the Smiths had taken the day before. From the top of North Goat Fell he made the steep and long descent to the Saddle which separates the heads of Glens Rosa and Sannox then climbed the intimidating looking Cir Mhor which proved easier than expected as the path has been improved. Thence over Caisteal Abhail and the notorious Witch’s Step, made trickier by a short but wetting shower, then along the north east ridge back to Sannox, where he hitched a lift back to the hostel.

Tim walked from Sannox intending to follow Mick, but on reaching North Goat Fell and surveying the prospect of the descent to the Saddle and the long climb up Cir Mhor, his get up and go got up and hid in the bottom of his sack. Instead he scrambled across to Goat Fell then joined the multitudes going down the tourist path to Brodick Castle. All excellent stuff except for the tourist path which is dull and not recommended. He had to wait an hour or so for a bus so was forced to sample the delights of the Arran Brewery.

Alan also made the ascent of Goat Fell from Cladach, he descended to High Corrie, then back to Cladach via forest tracks. If he had known in advance how tedious the ascent route would be, he would have taken a different route, though the views and weather were excellent.

John walked from Lochranza a good 10 mile jaunt up through Gleann Easen Biorach Joining with Gleann Diomhan and Glen Catotol At the saddle he had great views down Glen Rosa but best of all saw three golden eagles, a peregrine and a red squirrel. There were a few showers, but still a great day out.

Mike and Helen headed for the three Beinns in the Pirnmill hills on the northwest coast, seeing nobody but hearing bellowing stags. They then called at Machrie standing stones and circles in the late afternoon. They were lucky enough to see an otter fishing on the shore, a rare sight.

Peter did the coastal walk from Sannox around to Lochranza and had a good day out before visiting relatives on the Island.

Sunday 7th October

Sunday was wet and windy. All apart from Mike and Helen made a quick exit to the ferry port and managed to get the first and last ferry from the island that day. Mike and Helen wound their way from the Lochranza hostel to Laggan bothy on the east coast. They had coffee in welcome protection from the elements there. They followed the sheltered coast north past disused salt pans and pits missing the giant centipede fossilized tracks which they only learned about back at the hostel. They went on over landslips with gannets and seals for company to Fairy Dell and rounded a headland to battle into a blustery wind. Saw the two types of rock of the Hutton Unconformity (look it up!) near Newton Point and from there back had difficulty walking in a straight line at times against the wind.

The 8.20 ferry sailed on Monday but had to withdraw stabilizers before attempting the manoeuvre into Ardrossan harbour in the crosswind and tossing sea. So the whole meet made it off the Island as planned, but only just!