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It's the peak with no name... well the hill is Creag Ghlas Laggan, or is it Fionn Bhealach... but technically these are the names of the two mounds either side of the summit, which doesn't actually have a name on the OS map. Confusing matters further, down below towards the Boguillie is Glen Chalmadale... yet Sail Chalmadale the S2000 hill is further south west at Glen Iorsa!
When speaking to other locals I got the best response when referring to it as the Laggan Hill or Creag Ghlas Laggan, and as the DOBIH have this with [Fionn Bhealach] after then that's what I'm sticking with, that Laggan Hill!
With shorter winter nights and not much daylight to play with while back home for a long weekend, not to mention a lot of wind and rain, Friday was a no-go. On the ferry all the hills were covered in clouds but that Laggan hill, which I had climbed half up on the way over the hill to camp at Laggan many years ago, was also on my to do list and I snapped a few shots of it from a distance, noting how it remained clear when the other hills were invisible:
DSC_6565 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
I'll be walking up the backside from this angle:
DSC_6569 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
On Saturday I originally intended to drive 15 minutes to Lamlash to climb Tighvein, however the drive up the Lamlash hill coincided with an almighty shower, so I stopped at the viewpoint and it seems that rainbows are following me around at present, i'm seeing double everywhere!
20171118_114243 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
I was getting wet and knew that Tighvein would be a hike up a boggy, forested hill side on the dark side and didn't fancy that return route if I faffed about and had to return using the head torch in fading light. I noted when viewing the hills to the north that it was clear above Meall Donn to the right of Goatfell and remembering the Creag Ghlas being clear my mind was made up, it was just a half hour north to Lochranza and I was there in no time, parking across from the Castle:
20171118_122300 DSC_6663 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Gear on, I was soon off up the road towards Torr Nead an Eoin veering left towards Glen Chalmdadale. Ceum na Caillich, better known as the Witches Step, and the ridge to Caisteal Abhail's brilliant summit tors peeking out in to the south:
20171118_122500 DSC_6668 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Having walked the first half of this route before I knew it would have the best ascent views. The alternative routes up are from Sannox, which funnily enough is almost the exact same distance from the summit as a Lochranza start! The quickest route up is from the Boguillie car park but a good path for the first half of the ascent and end of the walk along with the better views won out for me.
This way:
20171118_122700 DSC_6669 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
The track rises gradually with Torr Nead an Eoin dominating and view:
20171118_122900 DSC_6670 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
The Distillery, midday sun and the wedge shape of Gleann Easan Biorach is now visible, pointing the way towards the distillery source, tiny Loch na Davie, along with Marilyn Beinn Bhreac, Caisteal Abhail and the top of Glen Iorsa:
20171118_123100 DSC_6672 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
The Torr, which along with Beinn Bhreac's big top Meall Mor out of shot to the right, dominates the view south of Lochranza:
20171118_123500 DSC_6682 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
You can see the Boguillie road snaking around the bottom of Torr Nead an Eoin as it travels further south towards Sannox:
20171118_123700 DSC_6687 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Just as the track swings around to point east you reach the turning point and start of the path up to Bearradh Tom a' Muidhe, the high bealach between Torr Meadhonach and Creag Ghlas:
20171118_123800 DSC_6690 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Looking right up Gleann Easan Biorach, a possible route when it comes to doing Beinn Bhreac although i'll probably climb it from the Catacol side and include more hills:
20171118_124000 DSC_6697 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
The way ahead:
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
A wee bridge as the path crosses the Alt Eadaraidh:
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
To the right the erratic weather has changed and cold blasts of wind and rain now hit me as I don the waterproof troosers and dry bag the big camera:
20171118_125021 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
A panorama on the way up showing the route taken and way ahead, Laggan hill the target far left, the Boguillie snaking round the Torr in the middle and Meall Mor far right:
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
A bit further along as I quickly ascend the good path the view of Caisteal Abhail opens out and Beinn Bhreac's summit can be seen peeking out back right:
20171118_130009 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
The path becomes a stream briefly as I pass the lone sapling:
20171118_130326 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
The path improves as the outcrop of Creag Ghlas Laggan (not the summit of the hill but the crags sticking out north of it) comes into view, time to go off road and I leave the path before the cairn to find some ATV tracks or paths up the final ascent:
20171118_130755 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
I head straight before moving left towards the sea for a better view on the way, attempting to find a few paths here and there which prove sporadic as I avoid the steeper peat hags:
20171118_131200 DSC_6702 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
Suddenly motion ahead, a large herd of deer! Typical i've got the short lens on...
20171118_131800 DSC_6707 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
A quick change and I manage to snap a few close ups as they scarper along then down the hillside to my right, at least the people driving along the road below will hopefully get to see some of them now:
20171118_132200 DSC_6710 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Heading for the horizon:
20171118_132200 DSC_6720 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
I can now see the clyde and to the north just off Skipness point is another rainbow, start point...
20171118_132300 DSC_6723 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
...and end point with Creag Ghlas Laggan showing off it's steep cliff side:
20171118_133035 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
As I reach the 411 point the summit of that Laggan hill comes into view:
20171118_133909 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
It's a fairly boggy hillside and along with the crags and soil creep, some landslide evidence and steep clefts give you the feeling that the entire hill is leaning towards the sea:
20171118_133958 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
I take a movie as another icy blast of wind and rain hits me and the sky darkens...
https://flic.kr/p/ZpincMIt's got quite chilly by now and I press on:
20171118_134853 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
On the right the sunbeams over the Corbetts and Marilyns provide atmosphere:
20171118_134918 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
On my left the view north east to the Cowal hills and Bute clears:
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
The trig point has also been getting steadily closer...
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
Made it... I think this could be Caisteal Abhail's best side:
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
Bute and Cumbrae:
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
The 428 southern top Fionn Bhealach from the summit of the Laggan hill.
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
Looks like I chose wisely he says...
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
To the west the long ridge of Beinn Bharrain can be seen behind Beinn Bhreac, Beinn Bhiorach and Meall Mor:
20171118_135319 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
It's a spectacular viewpoint, south and west:
20171118_135342 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
North:
20171118_135414 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
All of a sudden another change in conditions provides yet more amazing light as beams strafe the Castle of the fork:
20171118_135932 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
The sleeping warrior:
20171118_135946 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
The whole island from the north east viewpoint, with the Paps of Jura also visible further west. Despite rain forcing the good camera into the bag and the cold wind making my hands almost numb i'm still blown away by the changing light and view of the hills from this angle:
20171118_135950 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Knowing how quickly conditions have been changing during the walk, I shelter behind the trig point and have a quick snack and drink while getting my big gloves out. It doesn't take long for conditions to improve so it's time for more photos for as long as I can feel my hands!
The king of the north, Caisteal Abhail:
20171118_140400 DSC_6730 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Cioch na h-Oighe, Mullach Buidhe, Suidhe Fhearghas and Goatfell with the deep cleft of Ceum na Caillich far right:
20171118_140400 DSC_6731 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Ridge-tastic:
20171118_140400 DSC_6732 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Beinn Bhreac:
20171118_140500 DSC_6735 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Beinn Bharrain, the guardian of the west, less well known but highly recommended. I imagine if you were about to finish the Grahams it would be a superb final destination!
20171118_140500 DSC_6736 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Meall Mor with Meall nan Damh behind it:
20171118_140500 DSC_6737 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
It's hard to take your eyes off of the Corbetts and ridges to the south:
20171118_140600 DSC_6742 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
North west-ish towards Lochranza, Cleonaig and beyond:
20171118_140700 DSC_6749 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
It's like a bigger version of Dun Fionn, the fort on the side of the Clauchland Hills between Brodick and Lamlash, another easy walk and brilliant viewpoint:
20171118_140700 DSC_6751 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
A band of clouds shrouds the setting sun and Corbett tops:
20171118_140800 DSC_6756 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
North North west back along the ascent route:
20171118_140800 DSC_6762 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
North, I could stay up here all day and enjoy this...
20171118_140800 DSC_6764 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
However... all day is only another 2 hours and by this point my hands are pretty numb so I pack up and set off back down the way I came, enjoying the clearer view of Kilbrannan Sound and northern Kintyre as I do:
20171118_141134 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
On the descent it's easier to spot and follow a few paths then an ATV track:
20171118_141518 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Western hills now silhouetted prior to sunset:
20171118_142002 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Just past Creag Ghlas Laggan, the proper one, and that rainbow seems to be back!
20171118_142259 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Torr Meadhonach:
20171118_142751 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Ominous skies ahead so I make haste and hag-hop back down to the path in no time, enjoying the surroundings but careful with footwork. A small but pertinant point of hill safety that perhaps goes without saying is to stop and enjoy the view, don't wander while gaping at stunning scenery, or you'll soon become part of it!
20171118_142822 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Again movement ahead as the deer it seems had returned to their cliff perch, and I noticed lots of beds of flattened heather and grass at various points on the way down, I had disturbed them again and they just want a quiet night at home!
https://flic.kr/p/DBVpS5Almost at the path and I can make out two people heading along it having come up from the shore down at Laggan on my right:
20171118_143845 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
The cairn which is a decent indication of where to head up the hill from the path on the ascent:
20171118_144035 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
I make my way down, easy going for the final stretch and it's been a grand but short winter walk, the wee hills are great for that during the shorter days:
20171118_144553 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Although coming down the off peak section with gloves, about half way it became warm again, Caisteal Abhail was now being covered in the distance:
20171118_144900 DSC_6765 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
20171118_145100 DSC_6769 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
The Distillery comes into view way down in Lochranza as the path descends the hill side:
20171118_145200 DSC_6784 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
I spot movement again and it's just a lone stag this time:
20171118_145400 DSC_6785 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Poser:
20171118_145400 DSC_6789 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
The path takes me back down to Lochranza as clouds move with a mind of their own:
20171118_145800 DSC_6799 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
The Castles are clear again:
20171118_145900 DSC_6802 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Witches Step:
20171118_145900 DSC_6803 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Goatfell and its tops, North Goatfell and Mullach Buidhe, are all now visible behind Suidhe Fhearghas:
20171118_145900 DSC_6805 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
20171118_150000 DSC_6807 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
A snow-topped Goatfell, nothing to do with goats really and I opt for the Gaelic translation of Windy Hill, which is obviously much more appropriate:
20171118_150000 DSC_6808 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
Approaching the final section around the hill side:
20171118_150200 DSC_6811 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
I didn't realise that Meall Mor had tiger stripes, cool:
20171118_150400 DSC_6827 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
It's hard not to enjoy the descent:
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
Lochranza Castle straight ahead, almost done:
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Chris Mac, on Flickr
A final look back and distant Caisteal Abhail has had a dusting of snow too:
20171118_153559 by
Chris Mac, on Flickr
I had taken just over 3 hours which was decent considering all the stopping for photos, gawping at views, stalking deer, blethering to a nice couple who had walked from Sannox that I had seen on the path and chatted to for a bit when passing them.
That Laggan hill definitely shows the best side of the guardian of the north and Arran's second highest peak. It looks superb and the whole ridge really stands out, especially the Witches Step. A very easy and enjoyable romp and one that anyone should be able to do but perfect for winter, short and sweet. Whether you call it Creag Ghlas Laggan,, Fionn Bhealach, that Laggan hill or whatever it doesn't matter, just make sure you add it to your to-do list as it is a stunning viewpoint in all directions with a little bit of everything.