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31 May 2012 started off with low cloud and drizzle, so we visited Brodick Castle rather than going up the hill. It brightened in the afternoon, so we did a short coastal walk from Lamlash Bay around Clauchlands Point, seeing seals, harbour porpoises and teal ducklings.
124 Holy Island from Lamlash Bay by
prwild, on Flickr
123 Seal in Lamlash Bay by
prwild, on Flickr
127 Irises by
prwild, on Flickr
128 Ardrossan Ferry by
prwild, on Flickr
1 June dawned dry though still with low cloud, so we set off to do the West Glen Sannox peaks. Andy did not feel up to a long walk, so he opted for a nature walk up Glen Rosa looking for adders, whilst Keith, Carol and I headed for Glen Sannox and the Witches Step.
129 Into Glen Sannox by
prwild, on Flickr
We started off up the Glen Sannox path and soon turned right over the footbridge.
130 Down to the bridge by
prwild, on Flickr
We lost the path immediately on the other side, probably because we headed uphill too soon. It eventually joined us again as we headed towards Suidhe Fhearghas.
131 Suidhe Fhearghas by
prwild, on Flickr
The path took us to the right of the crags, up through the heather. On the western flank of the hill we saw what might have been an eagle, though it was too distant to be sure.
132 Up through the heather by
prwild, on Flickr
We emerged at the beginning of the ridge, with Suidhe Fheargas ahead.
133 Suidhe Fhearghas summit by
prwild, on Flickr
From the top of Suidhe Fheargas we could see our intended route ahead as the clouds were beginning to lift. Next was Ceum na Caillich (the Witches Step) and beyond it Caisteal Abhail, with Cir Mhor to the left.
134 West Glen Sannox ridge by
prwild, on Flickr
An easy stroll along the bridge brought us to Ceum na Caillich, where we decided to take the bypass path to the right.
135 Start of Witches Step bypass path by
prwild, on Flickr
There was time for a few photos first.
136 The Saddle and Glen Rosa by
prwild, on Flickr
137 View back to Suidhe Fhearghas by
prwild, on Flickr
The bypass path was initially a ledge with a steep drop to the right.
138 On the bypass by
prwild, on Flickr
But it soon got quite tricky with some scrambly bits, and we stopped to put on helmets.
There was a final downclimb into a steep, wide gully leading up to the notch below the Witches Step.
139 End of the bypass by
prwild, on Flickr
We paused by the Witches Step.
140 The Witches Step by
prwild, on Flickr
Keith climbed back up the Witches Step to do the crux, whilst Carol and I looked on.
141 Keith on The Witches Step by
prwild, on Flickr
142 Keith on top of The Witches Step by
prwild, on Flickr
I had been exchanging texts with Andy on the way up. He claimed to have spotted 6 adders in Glen Rosa, including one he found by almost sitting on it. I gave him a call, as I could now see his distinctive orange fleece on the Saddle and he could see us at the Witches Step with my red helmet standing out.
The other way up from the Witches Step was a scramble in itself.
143 The other way by
prwild, on Flickr
144 Scrambly rocks at the top by
prwild, on Flickr
The stretch of ridge from here to Caisteal Abhail was excellent, with scrambly sections and great views opening up as the clouds had now lifted and the sun was coming out.
145 Rocks and Goatfell by
prwild, on Flickr
146 The Saddle and Cir Mhor by
prwild, on Flickr
There was a 'Fat Man's Agony' at one point - no difficulty for us, but we had to remove packs to squueze through.
147 A tight squeeze by
prwild, on Flickr
148 Keith and Carol on the ridge by
prwild, on Flickr
149 Caisteal Abhail by
prwild, on Flickr
There was a fine panorama of the Arran Corbetts from this point.
150 Arran Corbetts Panorama by
prwild, on Flickr
A final scramble up the summit castle took us up to the summit of Caisteal Abhail, where we finally encountered some other walkers. We were the only ones wearing helmets, but we thought it best to keep them on, as we knew there were some steep sections to come and you can't be too careful.
151 Phil on Caisteal Abhail summit by
prwild, on Flickr
152 Goatfell and Cir Mhor by
prwild, on Flickr
153 Caisteal Abhail summit castle by
prwild, on Flickr
We found a spring below the summit, marked by a cairn with the water strangely coming out of a pipe.
154 Spring below Caisteal Abhail by
prwild, on Flickr
Cir Mhor ahead looked a fine, pointy hill.
155 Cir Mhor by
prwild, on Flickr
156 Looking back at Caisteal Abhail by
prwild, on Flickr
157 Approaching Cir Mhor summit by
prwild, on Flickr
Another short scramble took us to its summit.
158 Phil on Cir Mhor summit by
prwild, on Flickr
159 Goatfell from Cir Mhor by
prwild, on Flickr
160 Caisteal Abhail and Witches Step from Cir Mhor by
prwild, on Flickr
We'd read that the descent from here to the Saddle was very steep. It soon became a very tricky climb down a chimney, which I did quickly before I had time to get scared. Looking back at Keith and Carol descending, I realized we'd missed the easy path down the gully to the left.
161 The wrong way down by
prwild, on Flickr
This would have been a good scramble on the ascent, but wasn't easy coming down. As Keith and Carol were now committed, I didn't mention the other path until they were down.
From shortly beyond this point we found the path down had been improved by steps, possibly quite recently laid by the National Trust for Scotland, judging by the sign at the bottom.
162 A steep descent by
prwild, on Flickr
The steps made the descent a doddle, though care still needed to be taken, and we were soon at the Saddle, where we had spotted Andy a few hours ago now.
163 Snack break at the Saddle by
prwild, on Flickr
164 Glen Rosa from the Saddle by
prwild, on Flickr
165 Glen Sannox from the Saddle by
prwild, on Flickr
We kept our helmets on for the final steep descent into Glen Sannox.
166 Looking back at the Saddle by
prwild, on Flickr
From here it was a pleasant walk back along a good path in the afternoon sunshine, with fine views back to the Glen Sannox peaks.
167 In Glen Sannox by
prwild, on Flickr
168 The Cioch and Cir Mhor by
prwild, on Flickr
169 Leaving Glen Sannox by
prwild, on Flickr
A fine end to a great day on the Arran hills.