Sannox-Cir Mhor-Caisteal Abhail- Sail an Im horseshoe

[ridgerunner]

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Now that i've retired, thought i would try a new circuit on Arran.
Have usually combined climbing Cir Mhor from the saddle , having walked up glen Sannox , followed by circuiting down the north sannox ridge. This ridge always takes a long time, i have never had the courage to try the Witches step scramble and i dont like the heavily eroded descent from Suidhe Fhearghas.
So thought i would descend from Caisteal Abhail via Sail an Im instead.
Glorious start to the walk up glen Sannox with perfect weather, Cir Mhor in the distance.

glen sannox

No wind at first and dry and hot.

Cir Mhor finally getting closer

Pleasant breeze ascending to the Saddle between Cir Mhor and north goat fell with great views around.

hazy view of descent from North Goat Fell

across to witches step

looking down to the saddle and across to north GF

Having more time today decided to scramble up to the top of Cir Mhor rather than go up a grass gully and approach from behind. Initially offputting seeing some climbers on the left buttress [just visible]

climbers

Was deciding which way to scramble when joined by two of a group of walkers who also fancied the scramble and between us managed an enjoyable scramble and got there a lot faster than the traditional route.

straight up

After lunch at the top dropped to the permanently windy col then walked up to Caisteal Abhail.

view back to Cir Mhor

Could now see the new planned descent over to Sail an Im.

rough Creag Dhubh in the centre with Lochranza in the distance behind it

Sail an Im to the right of Creag Dhubh with green forest behind its top.

I was surprised to find this descent was pathed all the way to the North Sannox burn where a very heavily engineered smooth path takes over and follows the burn to the roadside . This is a pleasant spot to wait for the bus.
Overall very happy with this new route and got great views of the north sannox ridge from a new perspective.

[hendry670]

Thanks for posting this report - planning a trip to Arran in the coming days so it's great to get a current report on conditions on Cir Mhor.

[tomyboy73]

nice one, bottled out of cir mhor last weekend

[litljortindan]

You've got some great pictures there that really evoke the feel of the place. Was on part of your route the day before you. The easy bit! Took my wife along the witch's step ridge the year after we got married and only then discovered her comfort level with scrambling. Never mind, we do still occasionally go walking together!