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Timing can lead us a merry dance when weaving its powers and the desired outcome is not always to our liking, or is it?.
When training for, and participating in, the Glasgow Half Marathon i sustained some tissue damage in my Achilles Tendon. To my shock this left me unable to hillwalk, run, cycle and do circuit classes for over 6 weeks. This was my 1st serious injury, and me so young at 41
In September i started my Mental health Nursing Degree so having all this vacant time meant i could concentrate on that, good timing? Other interesting distractions soon crossed my path and on the whole things felt positive...well apart from a little weight gain from all the chocolate i was devouring!
My physio was none other than Mountain Thyme - Munro Compleatist and now deranged Corbett bagger
Sunday night she came to see me and gave me the good news...yep, i should start walking again
Being off work for a week i had been checking out the weather and Arran was to be bathed in sunshine on the Monday. Having both done Goatfell previously we quickly hatched a plan to "bag" the 3 remaining Corbetts, we would catch the 7am ferry in the morning
Our route would start from North Sannox Bridge, which a bus would take us to, and finish back in Brodick.
Alarm went off at 5am and i was feeling great having 2 hours sleep, the excitement was off the scale...oh how i had missed these cold dark early starts
Caught the 7am ferry...
Bus took us to North Sannox bridge and at 8.30am both of us felt like greyhounds about to chase a cuddly toy that resembled a hare...maybe that was just me
!
There is a car park at the bridge and it is here that we got chatting with 2 fellows from Ardrossan whom gave us some local knowledge and areas of risk, and how to avoid them. We would cross paths many times till departing ways at the summit of the 1st Corbett. They took a Westerly path whilst MT and I decided on a sharper plan of attack and headed SSW for 3k which would lead us to the witches step.
After an initial boggy start to reach the ridge conditions underfoot became dry. The ridge itself looked fantastic, like a mini Forcan, and i was itching to get at it.
You can climb to the first pinnacle but you will need ropes to climb down into the gully. Instead take the path right which curves around at about 650M. There is 2 very tricky moves to navigate so if your not competent i would give them a wide berth.
The ledge/small walkway at top of the gully is narrow and could be scary if in high winds. Standing here you're presented with masses of slabs to gain the top ridge.
The slabs
Looking back at the downclimb from the 1st pinnacle
The climb up the slabs is easier than at first glance and presents no difficulties, unless your MT and had a big breakfast!!
Once passed the witches step you follow the ridge West for 1k. The views open up and you start to feel a sense of awe, the lunar type landscapes, jagged rock, huge tors and sea views...not forgetting some outdoor catalogue shots
After 3 and a half hours or so we reached the plateau of Corbett number 1 - Caisteal Abhail, joined by the 2 fellows from Ardrossan. They left here sharply but we stopped for food and milked the views, and what stunning views...
Our bellies again full we took off South along the ridge to walk the 2k to Cir Mhor - Corbett 2.
Looking back to Caisteal
And ahead to the intimidating pointy summit of CM.
The pull to the summit isn't as tough as it looks and we made quick progress, well i was...
Cir Mhor takes centre stage and the views invoke a sense of satisfying adrenalin rushing happiness, well if you get a view
There's not much room at the summit but this just adds to the excitement and thrill
After another photo shoot we sped off 3k SSW targetting Corbett 3 - Beinn Tarsuinn
To reach BT you can follow the ridge and do A Chir but ropes are required so we took the bypass right which would lead us to bealach an fhir bhoga. I enjoyed the detour as the views West of the island opened up and gave a different perspective which was barren in nature, reminded me of a an Assynt Cairngorm fusion, giving that feeling of isolation in a lost land.
At the bealach you continue the pull to the summit...
More posing on route...she made me do it!!!
And finally, summit 3 - Beinn Tarsuinn
Great views from here...
We checked the time to see if it was possible to catch the 4.40pm ferry but this was unrealistic as we had 10k still to go over varying terrain and only 90mins to do so. I could have probably made it but MT is getting on a tad so we took it easy
The plan would be to have some dinner and a pint before catching the 7.20pm ferry.
So onward we went and followed the ridge to take in another top - Beinn Nues.
From Beinn Nues its all downhll East. Firstly crossing the Garbh Allt
This takes you onto a very wet, muddy and boggy 1k stretch before crossing a stile to a better path which leads into Glen Rosa. From here its a very pleasant walk indeed with lush greenery and autumnal colours.
We reached Brodick around 6pm, 9.5hrs after we started, and ventured into a little Bistro -
http://www.eileanmorarran.com/ - for pizza, chips and draught Peroni. MT had a haggis pizza whilst i had the veggie option of goats cheese, sunblushed tomato, basil and pine nuts...sooper tasty and just what you need after burning thousands of calories. Nice place this and the staff made sure we got our food quickly as they knew we had a ferry to catch - great timing again
Arran is beautiful and this walk was up there with the many I've done, these Corbetts have everything and i would recommend you venture further than Goatfell (which is a fantastic mountain too).
My tendon held up well and it appears my fitness is still reasonable, looking forward to many more adventures on the hills after my gentle reintroduction
Big thanks to Theresa (MT) for advice on my injury and eventually giving me the go ahead to walk again, the timing was perfect...as it appears to be in other aspects of my little journey