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What a day! I live in the Sunny South and it is always an effort trying to get up higher than 200m and then when I do plan a week in Glencoe, it snows! Hoping for better weather, this week I am on the Isle of Arran and what a cracking week it is turning out to be. This was my first day on Arran and as it was sunny with a forecast of good weather I decided to head up the Three Bienns. I feel that I need to add at this point that I am very much a novice mountain walker and probably found the route more challenging than others!
I parked in the small carpark at the Glen Rosa campsite, there is room for about 4 cars but more room at the start of the campsite and even a bit further along the start of the walk. I got there at 9am expecting it to be busy... but no! Anyhow, good to get out early. The start was lovely, a nice, flat path with lovely little bridges made for humans to cross the multiple streams.
Absolutely stunning.
As we reached the "Glen Rosa" placard I was still feeling pretty confident. We turned a sharp left after the bridge over the river and headed up hill. There was a good path underfoot but the overhanging heather and grass made it difficult to see where the rocks were, on the way down I felt the need to take particular care.
We reached another gate and headed into The Swamp. It was a good swamp, proper deep bits that you could lose someone in and we picked our way across. Quite easy to spot the general direction but the path itself was braided and difficult to pick. My boots held though and my feet remained dry.
We then came to the first difficult bit the stream/ gorge crossing. The point to cross was very obvious with a well worn path. It was almost too well worn and I did find it difficult to pick my way down. Anyhow, I managed (yay!). I tested the rocks to see if I could use them as stepping stones but they were very very slippery. I decided to go barefoot and made it across easily.. my poor feet were very cold though, the water was freezing! The scramble up the otherside was steep and a little tricky but doable. You may be able to see the path down in the second image.
More bog that was less boggy followed as we made our way to the first proper ascent. And I started to wonder what I had let myself in for!
Paths were difficult to find and hold once we started the first phase of the ascent to Beinn Nuis but it was pretty obvious where we had to go
We struggled on and I quickly discovered that the breakfast of cereal I had had at 8am did not offer much in the way of sustenance. I didn't want to stop till I was at the summit though so continued on (lesson learnt- stop earlier, its so much easier once you've had some fuel!). The ascent was full of giant slabs of rock which made it difficult to hold the path.
Approaching the final ascent of Beinn Nuis (I think)
Once at the summit a group of young adults (what a phrase..) joined us for lunch. It was now 12 on the dot! Three hours it had taken to get to the first Beinn. Have to admit, looking at what I had to come I was feeling pretty intimidated!
Unfortunately I do not have a photo of the amazing rock architecture down this side of the ridge, absolutely amazing... Anyhow, we continued on our way! Following the ridge this part of the walk was an absolute delight. It was warm with a cool breeze, the going under foot was easy... fantastic!
We then started the ascent up to the second Beinn, Beinn Tarsuinn. This was OK. No obvious summit point though...
We did meet this chap-
And the rock architecture along the ascent to the ridge was mind blowing... could have spent all day up there!
However, we did have to get home at some point and I did not want to be stuck up there in the dark! The descent from Beinn Tarsuinn was difficult. The paths weaved around here and there, disappearing completely in places. I struggled to find a good way down and ended up in on this funny path under a natural rock arch. Pretty cool but a fairly tricky spot to get myself and the dog down from! We took our time though and made it... the dog did kick me in the face when I tried to lift her down though!
We could see the path we needed to get to quite well so I wasn't too worried, it was just a bit of a difficult route to take. Looking back at the route map I needed to stay to the left more. But I would have missed the fun arch! Once past the "corner" and making our way up to the third Beinn, Beinn Chilihabhain it became easier.
There was a path to follow which bypassed the ridge to the right and then went up to the summit. You can just make out the path behind Shae and the rock on this pic.
We went up to the summit (bit of a scramble but nothing compared to the last bit!) but no cairn or anything
So the descent began!
To start we had lots of slabs... but at gentle gradients for the most part and we skipped our way down. We eventually met the summit cairn of Cnoc Breac
I knew we had to take a slight right here so looked around for the path- all pretty easy
Into more bog! This bog wasn't as bad though... bouncy bog, not sinking bog. Made my just dry boots wet again!! Very simple now, not much of a path but easy enough to look out for the gate in the fence. Then, we rejoined the route we had started out on
I really enjoyed this walk. It was certainly the most challenging walk I've done to date and it took me out of my comfort zone a fair bit!! I am glad it was circular as otherwise i'd have probably turned round early and missed out... A good experience though and totally up for another Arran challenge later this week, but not tomorrow, tomorrow we are going to do some nice, low level walks!! I was amazed at how quiet it was, we only met two parties in 7.5 hours. Here are a few more photos that are out of order on my computer, maybe someone will make sense of them!
