walkhighlands

Share your personal walking route experiences in Scotland, and comment on other peoples' reports.
Warning Please note that hillwalking when there is snow lying requires an ice-axe, crampons and the knowledge, experience and skill to use them correctly. Summer routes may not be viable or appropriate in winter. See winter information on our skills and safety pages for more information.

Beinn Narnain,Beinn Ime and Ben Arthur

Beinn Narnain,Beinn Ime and Ben Arthur


Postby David.Ferguson » Tue Oct 13, 2009 8:21 pm

Route description: Beinn Narnain and Beinn Ìme

Munros included on this walk: Beinn Ìme, Beinn Narnain

Corbetts included on this walk: The Cobbler

Date walked: 13/10/2009

Time taken: 7 hours

Distance: 13 km

1 person thinks this report is great.
Register or Login
free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).

HI

Set off just before 6am yesterday,wanted to miss all the Glasgow traffic.
Got to the Succoth car park for 7:15 and got on my way for 7:30.The sun was just coming up behind Ben Lomond.

Image

Headed up the zig zag path and Loch Long looked terrific in this early light.

Image

Continued on up and not being sure where or whether their was a path up the front of Narnain that was easy
to find i followed the path to the Cobbler and then turned right approx 100yds before the small dam on the cobbler path.
Couldn't see an obvious path as i walked across the bottom of Narnain so just picked a spot and headed up towards
Creag an Fhithich.I did cross a few "paths",well they had some human footprints before hitting the path. :oops: .

ben narnain-ime-arthur 12-10-09 018.jpg
Looking down on Succoth/Arrochar from Narnain


ben narnain-ime-arthur 12-10-09 024.jpg
Heading up Narnain




The views all round were fantastic and not a breath of wind so i was sweating like a swetty thing,but when i took
my light fleece off i got too cold. :(

A wee self portrait at Cruach nam Miseag before heading on up.I know the rucksacks a bit big but the only one
i have so almost empty.

Image

There is a bit of scrambling but nothing too bad for a scaredy cat like me.

Image

Made it,with the top of Ime just showing in the background.

Image

Started to head down from Narnain after i had a wee seat and changed my socks.!
I had worn my new boots today ,Scarpa SL, after having used them for the last 4 weeks for dog walking and short
jaunts.In my wisdom i thought i would wear my new smartwool socks today and not the slightly thicker and heavier
Brasher socks i had worn whilst breaking in the boots.Result,2 x heels with no skin left as my heels were lifting on
the steepest bits. :roll: .Luckily i had a pair of the Brashers in my rucksack and surprisingly had no other problems on
this trip and the heels stayed pain free.

The next shot is of Ben Vane and Ben vorlich behind.I had camped out a couple of weeks previous in this valley.
Gleann Leacann Sheileach.

Image

On a day like yesterday there were no navigation aids required except my map,the route
ahead could be easily identified.

ben narnain-ime-arthur 12-10-09 041.jpg
Next up Beinn Ime


The path up Ime is a bit boggy in places and a slog but not difficult.

Me on top,when i had been sitting a while the slight breeze on top started to chill,so jacket
and hat on whilst sitting around.

Image


A quick decent and then for the Cobbler,i was going to give it a miss but the day was so nice and
i am so glad i went up as this is a rather spectacular and beautiful corbett.It was busy by this time
with climbers,kids and their families on top.I had a look at the "eye of the needle" but as i said earlier
i am a big scaredy cat and my stomach was churning just watching others do it.

ben narnain-ime-arthur 12-10-09 056.jpg
Not for me.


ben narnain-ime-arthur 12-10-09 054.jpg
Cobbler North Peak


My favorite shot from the day.

ben narnain-ime-arthur 12-10-09 057.jpg
Looking down Loch Long from the Cobbler.


I headed off down the east face of the Cobbler after a good chat to some really nice folks on top.
I often think it is very difficult to convey the scale of the hills to someone so the next shot of the
Cobbler East face has a couple half way up,just left of centre.Kind of mauve/blue jersey.

ben narnain-ime-arthur 12-10-09 063.jpg
Spot the person.Cobbler East face.


ben narnain-ime-arthur 12-10-09 063.1.JPG
this will help a bit.


ben narnain-ime-arthur 12-10-09 064.jpg
The Cobbler in the afternoon light.


My feet,knees and hips were complaining now but an easy walk back to the car following the path.
I had a terrific day,made all the more special by the weather,and some chips in Arrochar before heading home.
A highly recommended wee route.

David.(AKA fish)
Last edited by David.Ferguson on Tue Oct 13, 2009 10:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
David.Ferguson
Munro compleatist
 
Posts: 191
Munros:43   Corbetts:3
Fionas:1   Donalds:1
Joined: Aug 25, 2009
Location: New Stevenston (Motherwell)

Re: Beinn Narnain,Beinn Ime and Ben Arthur

Postby monty » Tue Oct 13, 2009 8:31 pm

Nice report David, with some lovely pictures. Looks like you had great weather as well. :D
monty
 

Re: Beinn Narnain,Beinn Ime and Ben Arthur

Postby skuk007 » Tue Oct 13, 2009 8:53 pm

Great pics David, and good to read your report. Glad you had good weather this time round.

Those people on the Cobbler are very brave, and a bit crazy, especially the guy standing right on the edge. Makes me a wee bit queesy! :crazy:
User avatar
skuk007
Mountain Walker
 
Posts: 1419
Munros:44   
Hewitts:8
Wainwrights:16   
Joined: Aug 24, 2009
Location: Bristol

Re: Beinn Narnain,Beinn Ime and Ben Arthur

Postby Alan S » Tue Oct 13, 2009 10:10 pm

Cracking pics there David and a great report
Looking to do this route soon :thumbup:
User avatar
Alan S
Mountain Walker
 
Posts: 1482
Munros:216   Corbetts:4
Fionas:4   Donalds:1
Sub 2000:4   
Islands:13
Joined: Nov 10, 2008
Location: Braco
Walk wish-list

Re: Beinn Narnain,Beinn Ime and Ben Arthur

Postby mountain coward » Wed Oct 14, 2009 12:44 am

Like your last photo - the classic view of Beinn Gobhlach - that name by the way is my theory of why it gets called 'The Cobbler' - someone (probabaly English) asked a local what the hill was called, he told them in Gaelic - they completely misheard it and it became known by it's anglicised name! Sorry but couldn't see the peeps in the 2 photos... Nice to see what these hills look like though after we stomped around on them all and saw nothing at all! It was also greasy and slidey everywhere inside the cloud and I wasn't so keen when I stood on top of the North Peak - to me that has by far the worst drop.
mountain coward
 

Re: Beinn Narnain,Beinn Ime and Ben Arthur

Postby HighlandSC » Wed Oct 14, 2009 7:42 am

Great report from a great day out :D

Took a minute but I got the speck of purple clothing in the pic. Funny thing is I initially didn't spot anything when I glanced at the 2nd pic - not even the arrow you've put on! Only got it when I took another look.

How big is the drop for the eye of the needle bit? Has anyone got a pic that shows it well?
User avatar
HighlandSC
 
Posts: 2188
Munros:33   Corbetts:4
Fionas:2   
Sub 2000:14   
Islands:8
Joined: Jul 12, 2009
Location: USA (formerly Inverness)

Re: Beinn Narnain,Beinn Ime and Ben Arthur

Postby skuk007 » Wed Oct 14, 2009 7:59 am

That's a thought, has anyone taken or seen a video/picture while going up that slope through the eye of the needle?
User avatar
skuk007
Mountain Walker
 
Posts: 1419
Munros:44   
Hewitts:8
Wainwrights:16   
Joined: Aug 24, 2009
Location: Bristol

Re: Beinn Narnain,Beinn Ime and Ben Arthur

Postby kevsbald » Wed Oct 14, 2009 4:47 pm

Brilliant 1st photo. Something to be said for those early starts.
User avatar
kevsbald
Munro compleatist
 
Posts: 2247
Munros:273   Corbetts:134
Fionas:82   Donalds:53
Sub 2000:16   Hewitts:17
Wainwrights:29   
Joined: Jan 15, 2009
Location: Glasgow

Re: Beinn Narnain,Beinn Ime and Ben Arthur

Postby Liebestoter » Wed Oct 14, 2009 10:04 pm

If you're going to go up the cobbler then you have to go through the eye and along that sloping ledge to the top. Certainly gets you blood pumping, Especially when it's wet and windy.
Some good pics there, all I got was clouds.
Liebestoter
Mountain Walker
 
Posts: 48
Munros:234   Corbetts:20
Fionas:11   Donalds:1
Hewitts:157
Wainwrights:165   
Joined: Jul 30, 2009
Location: Manchester

Re: Beinn Narnain,Beinn Ime and Ben Arthur

Postby David.Ferguson » Mon Oct 19, 2009 2:04 pm

Thanks folks for the feedback,it was a great day and it looks like a good few of us managed to catch some nice weather last week.

Cheers

David.
User avatar
David.Ferguson
Munro compleatist
 
Posts: 191
Munros:43   Corbetts:3
Fionas:1   Donalds:1
Joined: Aug 25, 2009
Location: New Stevenston (Motherwell)

Re: Beinn Narnain,Beinn Ime and Ben Arthur

Postby billgerrie » Sat Nov 28, 2009 9:07 pm

Has anybody been up to Arrochar more recently.
I am heading up tomorrow from Troon, and was wandering if ther was any snow to worry about.
billgerrie
Munro compleatist
 
Posts: 38
Munros:151   Corbetts:14
Donalds:4
Joined: Mar 8, 2009

Re: Beinn Narnain,Beinn Ime and Ben Arthur

Postby davidmhodgey » Mon Nov 30, 2009 2:01 pm

Lovely photos, thanks! This is probably my favourite walk. I enjoyed it so much that I went up Ben Arthur both on the walk in and the walk out!
User avatar
davidmhodgey
 
Posts: 195
Munros:83   Corbetts:3
Joined: Apr 10, 2009

Re: Beinn Narnain,Beinn Ime and Ben Arthur

Postby David.Ferguson » Mon Nov 30, 2009 2:22 pm

Hi David

Yip i thoroughly enjoyed my day,the right weather doesn't half make a difference.


Bill,hope you had a good day yesterday.There was indeed snow as can be seen from some of the reports.It was also very clear Sat and Sunday as i could see Ben Lomond and some of the surrounding hills with their white bunnett's on all the way from New Stevenston.

Cheers

David.
User avatar
David.Ferguson
Munro compleatist
 
Posts: 191
Munros:43   Corbetts:3
Fionas:1   Donalds:1
Joined: Aug 25, 2009
Location: New Stevenston (Motherwell)

Re: Beinn Narnain,Beinn Ime and Ben Arthur

Postby billgerrie » Tue Dec 01, 2009 1:27 pm

Hi David.
Had a great day on the Sunday, thanks.
Could see how you missed the Narnain path.
It is literally only a hundred yards or so, very easy to miss!
We nearly did, it was only when heard voices on what we thought was too small a path to be The Path, that we turned back , and were finally on our way.
It's ten years since I was aat the Succoth car park last, and then both the Cobbler and Narnain paths headed up past the concrete blocks.
There were also more trees at the beginning.
And the zig zag path up the cobbler didn't exist, all very confusing.
When was it finished?
From up top and on the way we spotted "your path" up,there were others.
The easy scramble! you showed became more interesting with crampons on and a howling gale.
From Narnain, Ben Ime seemed a doddle even in the wind.
We had time to add the cobbler, but walking in the snow fairly sapps, your strength.
Will have to write a log some time.
billgerrie
Munro compleatist
 
Posts: 38
Munros:151   Corbetts:14
Donalds:4
Joined: Mar 8, 2009

Re: Beinn Narnain,Beinn Ime and Ben Arthur

Postby David.Ferguson » Tue Dec 01, 2009 4:26 pm

Hi Bill

Glad you had a good day,don't know if i would have managed all 3 in the weekend cold and wind.
I can imagine the scrambly bit would be interesting in the ice and snow.

I will get a chance to try out my crampons and ice axe, that Santa is bringing me,over the next 2 or 3 months. :)

happy climbing

David.
User avatar
David.Ferguson
Munro compleatist
 
Posts: 191
Munros:43   Corbetts:3
Fionas:1   Donalds:1
Joined: Aug 25, 2009
Location: New Stevenston (Motherwell)

1 person thinks this report is great.
Register or Login
free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).

Next



Can you help support Walkhighlands?


Our forum is free from adverts - your generosity keeps it running.
Can you help support Walkhighlands and this community by donating by direct debit?



Return to Walk reports - Scotland

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: BoyVertiginous, Heffalump777, PhilipN, Scottbevy101 and 43 guests