Giants' Graves & Eas a'Chrannaig (Glenashdale Falls)

[Chris Mac]

GG-GAFalls.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts

Following on from a stroll up Glen Sannox, part 2 of our Saturday walk, which had been kept to a low level due to the strong winds, was a quick drive south to Whiting Bay to visit the Giants' Graves and Eas a'Chrannaig, otherwise known as Glenashdale Falls.

I had last done this walk as a child and barely remembered it but knew we'd start with a climb up the path to the Giants Graves first, so luckily by the late afternoon the weather had improved and we had little risk of getting blown away. I spent many a day as a wee boy in this area playing at the mouth of the Glenashdale Burn, with my 1st year spent in Montrose Terrace and subsequent years visiting my Gran's house around the corner, backing onto the burn.

We parked up at Port Mor and took a few pics of Holy Isle & Mullach Mor, yet again eluding being conquered and some of Whiting Bay where I spent a good part of my youth:
20170415_151106 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

20170415_151142 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

20170415_151156 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

We walked up the track between my Gran's old house across the burn, which we could see through the trees on the right and the old Youth Hostel on the left, which Y had stayed in during her first visit to Arran as a schoolgirl. A blast from the past for both of us!

A couple of signs show the routes you can take, we opt for a climb to the Giants Graves first...
20170415_151835 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

20170415_153944 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

After a few minutes of walking you quickly reach a sign post, left for the Giants Graves, then the path zig-zags up the hill at an easy gradient and in no time at all Holy Isle is in view:
20170415_154621 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

North over Whiting Bay, Goatfell already peeking above the distant hill side:
20170415_155539 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

20170415_160001 DSCF9312 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

After the zig-zagging stops the path heads straight up towards the large Chambered Cairn...
20170415_160322 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Whiting Bay, with another cracking golf course up the hill on the left, where I played my first round as a boy and where my Gran worked in the shop for many a year until her 80's:
20170415_160400 DSCF9314 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Whiting Bay golf course with the peaks of the Corbetts beyond:
20170415_160401 DSCF9315 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

20170415_160402 DSCF9316 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Before you know it you've arrived at the sign:
20170415_160830 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Unfortunately we get there just after a Mogabout crowd has arrived!
20170415_160844 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

We avoid the crowd and go to the smaller Chambered Cairn a little further along:
20170415_161100 DSCF9319 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

20170415_161101 DSCF9320 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Lazy tourist option... I wouldn't have minded as much if there weren't several kids climbing over the stones of the Chambered Cairn, show a little respect for ancient monuments (that includes all that have carved graffiti into the rocks over the decades!)...
20170415_161102 DSCF9322 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

The wee one:
20170415_161209 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

I prefer when it's peaceful and you have to make some effort to reach ancient sites like this, still not sure i'm happy about this whole Mogabout thing:
20170415_161215 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

20170415_161300 DSCF9324 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Moan over, back to the distant peaks and photography to take my mind off the topic:
20170415_161500 DSCF9325 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Cir Mhor is there but hidden right in front of Caisteal Abhail:
20170415_161503 DSCF9329 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Beinn Tarsuinn summits, Beinn a'Chliabhain and A'Chir:
20170415_161504 DSCF9331 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Cir Mhor blending in with Caisteal Abhail behind it with the golf course in the foreground:
20170415_161505 DSCF9332 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Goatfell in shadow:
20170415_161600 DSCF9333 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Goatfell and Mullach Buidhe's pointy summit behind it to the right, our destination for Monday when the weather looks better:
20170415_161601 DSCF9334 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

The crowds eventually leave and we soon have the place to ourselves, much better:
20170415_161602 DSCF9335 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

The Giants' Graves:
20170415_161603 DSCF9336 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

20170415_161700 DSCF9337 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

20170415_161701 DSCF9339 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Cnoc a Comhairle in the background to the left, the edge of Tighvein in the background to the right, although technically all of the southern part of the island is on Tighvein!
20170415_161739 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

View south west:
20170415_161759 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

South east:
20170415_161827 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Satisfied, we decide to move on and head for the forestry track, turning right to head for the Eas a' Chrannaig:
20170415_162344 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

One last look down at the Giants' Graves:
20170415_162430 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

20170415_162501 DSCF9343 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

20170415_162502 DSCF9344 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

The track leads inland affording one last view of the mountains, Whiting Bay and Holy Isle:
20170415_162632 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

The A'Chir ridge and summit in sunlight:
20170415_162701 DSCF9347 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Cir Mhor a bit easier to see now in front of the Castles:
20170415_162702 DSCF9348 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Ceum na Caillich, Goatfell, Mullach Buidhe:
20170415_162703 DSCF9349 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

We pass a fair few walkers doing this route in reverse:
20170415_162900 DSCF9356 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

It's another quick jaunt along the track:
20170415_163304 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

20170415_163638 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Very quickly we reach another sign post, you'll not get lost up here!
20170415_164454 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Follow the path and you'll soon see the top of Glenashdale Falls:
20170415_164700 DSCF9357 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Impressive, but this is only the top part:
20170415_164714 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

20170415_164803 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

To fully appreciate the view, head to the viewing platform...
20170415_164821 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

20170415_165124 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Where the full glory of one of the top ten waterfalls in Scotland is revealed:
20170415_165500 DSCF9360 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

20170415_165600 DSCF9365 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Top fall close up:
20170415_165601 DSCF9366 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Middle:
20170415_165602 DSCF9367 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Bottom fall...
20170415_165603 DSCF9368 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

... it's a long way down!
20170415_165604 DSCF9369 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

We soak in the view for a bit longer and enjoy the cascading sound of the waterfalls and nature all around us before some spots of rain tell us to beat it back to Brodick... so it's off down the easy return path to the starting point:
20170415_165732 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

It's an enjoyable stroll through the woods as you slowly descend down Glenashdale:
20170415_170221 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

20170415_170305 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

20170415_170310 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

20170415_170313 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

20170415_170935 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Soon we are on level ground again with the end of Montrose Terrace on the left as we approach the sign post where we turned off for the Giants' Graves:
20170415_171542 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Job done, childhood revisited and a great second part to a day of low-ish level walking to avoid the gales, which annoyingly have pretty much subsided by now or perhaps weren't as bad to the south:
20170415_171624 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

We reach the car and head back home, enjoying the view of the mountains on the heights at Kingscross and again at the top of the Lamlash hill, as I scheme away at our plans for Monday with the Sunday looking like a washout. Y has indicated that she wants to do Goatfell and i'm more than happy to do so, as long as we go via Corrie to avoid the tourist highway which will no doubt be mobbed on Easter Monday.

An excellent evening is spent eating cake, viewing pics and planning a big hike to the big Corbett and the only top i've not been up so far which ends another great day back home.