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Sannox-Cir Mhor-Caisteal Abhail- Sail an Im horseshoe
Sannox-Cir Mhor-Caisteal Abhail- Sail an Im horseshoe
by ridgerunner » Sun Apr 20, 2014 9:42 pm
Corbetts included on this walk: Caisteal Abhail, Cir Mhor
Date walked: 20/04/2014
Time taken: 4 hours
Distance: 13 km
Ascent: 1154m
2 people think this report is great. Register or Login free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).Now that i've retired, thought i would try a new circuit on Arran.
Have usually combined climbing Cir Mhor from the saddle , having walked up glen Sannox , followed by circuiting down the north sannox ridge. This ridge always takes a long time, i have never had the courage to try the Witches step scramble and i dont like the heavily eroded descent from Suidhe Fhearghas.
So thought i would descend from Caisteal Abhail via Sail an Im instead.
Glorious start to the walk up glen Sannox with perfect weather, Cir Mhor in the distance.
No wind at first and dry and hot.
Pleasant breeze ascending to the Saddle between Cir Mhor and north goat fell with great views around.
Having more time today decided to scramble up to the top of Cir Mhor rather than go up a grass gully and approach from behind. Initially offputting seeing some climbers on the left buttress [just visible]
Was deciding which way to scramble when joined by two of a group of walkers who also fancied the scramble and between us managed an enjoyable scramble and got there a lot faster than the traditional route.
After lunch at the top dropped to the permanently windy col then walked up to Caisteal Abhail.
Could now see the new planned descent over to Sail an Im.
I was surprised to find this descent was pathed all the way to the North Sannox burn where a very heavily engineered smooth path takes over and follows the burn to the roadside . This is a pleasant spot to wait for the bus.
Overall very happy with this new route and got great views of the north sannox ridge from a new perspective.
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ridgerunner - Scrambler
- Posts: 82
- Munros:87
- Joined: Jul 9, 2009
Re: Sannox-Cir Mhor-Caisteal Abhail- Sail an Im horseshoe
by hendry670 » Tue Apr 29, 2014 10:18 pm
Thanks for posting this report - planning a trip to Arran in the coming days so it's great to get a current report on conditions on Cir Mhor.
Re: Sannox-Cir Mhor-Caisteal Abhail- Sail an Im horseshoe
by tomyboy73 » Wed Apr 30, 2014 8:32 pm
nice one, bottled out of cir mhor last weekend 

Re: Sannox-Cir Mhor-Caisteal Abhail- Sail an Im horseshoe
by litljortindan » Thu May 01, 2014 9:23 pm
You've got some great pictures there that really evoke the feel of the place. Was on part of your route the day before you. The easy bit! Took my wife along the witch's step ridge the year after we got married and only then discovered her comfort level with scrambling. Never mind, we do still occasionally go walking together!
2 people think this report is great. Register or Login free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
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