Waiting for the ferry, Arran appeared then disappeared from view behind banks of cloud. This didn't augur particularly well for a good climb. We drove round to Corrie and set off up the path to Goatfell. Rain descended and winds at first caressed then berated. The Corrie Burn flowed fast and white - although crossing it was not a major problem, fortunately. We entered clag about 600m so were spared the sight of ascending Goatfell's shoulder. Reaching the summit we were alone until a group of runners joined us - I believe there had been a running event planned for the weekend (going by the small route marking flags) but canceled due to the weather. I showed the boy the rudiments of compass navigation at the summit, sheltered behind the cairn, as we made for North Goatfell and Mullach Buidhe. All that could be seen were vague shapes of boulders - nothing of the grand views to Cir Mhor unfortunately. We made it to the top of North Goatfell and pressed on along the ridge to Mullach Buidhe - the boy was not being spared Simm bagging! A tiny cairn of stones perches on the highest boulder. We retreated to the path and began to descend, wet and blustered.
P1170706 by Al, on Flickr
P1170708 by Al, on Flickr
P1170709 by Al, on FlickrTo North Goatfell
P1170710 by Al, on FlickrOh such fun!!
P1170711 by Al, on FlickrMullach Buidhe
P1170713 by Al, on Flickr
P1170716 by Al, on FlickrBack at the car we removed wet clothes and set off for the campsite at Lochranza. The rain had finally abated and we pitched the tent - only one other tent there so plenty of choices. A wee walk along to the castle after tea, serenaded by the roaring of stags, something that was to continue over the weekend. Stags don't seem to sleep much - given their continued roaring through the night...
Watching the stags at Lochranza
P1170718 by Al, on Flickr
P1170720 by Al, on Flickr
P1170721 by Al, on FlickrSunday was meant to be the best day weatherwise and I was hopeful as we drove to Glen Rosa that we'd see a bit more. The tops were clear as we drove around - a fabulous view of the Witches Step greeted us driving past Sannox. Parking at the campsite, who should we meet but the Rodmeister, heading off to do Caisteal Abhail. We kitted up and set off along the path, through the Highland coos and the gate in the deer fence. Up the steepish path beside the Garbh Allt then across the river. Sadly the clag was descending - the tops now concealed from view. The ground became boggier as we laboriously made our way towards Beinn Nuis. No sightings of plane wreckage today. Onwards to Tarsuinn, no views at all now and rain greeting us. The descent was slippy and time consuming. Continuing to Cir Mhor seemed rather pointless in the clag. I had intended to take the track from Bealach an Fhir- Bhogha to include Beinn a Chliabhain and we set off down what appeared to be the start of the path - this did not look promising as it descended very steeply over wet grass initially then onto slabs. I could see what I took to be a path winding round Consolation Tor, so we did seem to be in the right area, but there was no way I was leading my boy any further down this track in the current conditions. We returned to the bealach and decided to skirt round A'Chir to take the path into Coire Buidhe. Met another walker who had come from there and was planning to descend the way we'd started - we wished him luck.
Start of Glen Rosa
P1170723 by Al, on FlickrSee - there are hills up there
P1170724 by Al, on FlickrGarbh Allt
P1170725 by Al, on FlickrCrossing like a pro
P1170728 by Al, on Flickr
P1170730 by Al, on FlickrSummit Tarsuinn
P1170731 by Al, on FlickrUnder A'Chir
P1170732 by Al, on FlickrI had hoped to reconnoitre A'Chir to see if it was possible to climb up from the middle of the peak to the summit (a simm), avoiding the ridge itself. However, it seemed far too slabby to consider this, particularly in clag. We reached the cairn-marked path at the head of Glen Rosa and started down - A'Chir looks much more climbable from this side - one for another day. The rain lessened as we walked down into the glen, the day improved generally as we moved down out of the clag. Ally mentioned to me that he prefers the idea of climbing hills more than he likes the actual process of doing so, and admitted he didn't possess my determination in all weathers. I was sorry that he'd seen none of the wonders of these hills. We both enjoyed the afternoon meander along Glen Rosa, talking away. It had taken us over 7 hours to nab one hill.
Descent into Glen Rosa
P1170734 by Al, on FlickrCir Mhor remains steadfastly clagbound
P1170735 by Al, on Flickr
P1170737 by Al, on FlickrThe forecast for Monday was more of the same. I left the choice of what we did to Ally - he wasn't overly keen to go up another clag rouded hill so instead we drove down to the standing stones at Machrie Moor then around to Glenashdale to walk up to the Falls and the Giant's Graves. At Machrie Moor Ally had brought his drone, which he sent up for some ariel views. I watched a Peregrine start towards the drone, then swoop off in pursuit of another bird. It was even sunny, although clag continued to adhere to anything over 400m. We did watch a pair of eagles rise from the trees below and soar in ever expanding circles out over the sea, when we paused for lunch at the top of Glenashdale. Managed a pint in the PHT then the mid-afternoon ferry home.
P1170738 by Al, on Flickr
P1170739 by Al, on Flickr
P1170747 by Al, on Flickr
P1170748 by Al, on FlickrGlenashdale falls
P1170750 by Al, on FlickrHoly Isle
P1170752 by Al, on FlickrGiants' Graves
P1170754 by Al, on Flickr
P1170756 by Al, on Flickr
P1170757 by Al, on Flickr
