Argyle are Massive, Everywhere we go!
Route: Dùn da Ghaoithe, near Craignure
Corbetts: Dùn da Ghaoithe
Date walked: 07/05/2023
Time taken: 7 hours
Distance: 21km
Ascent: 843m
Sunday May 7th 2023, and I and the wife are in a B&B in Oban, living out of a suitcase waiting for the purchase of a new house in Yorkshire to complete. And a dilemma – do I sit in the room, video streaming my frustratingly beloved Plymouth Argyle on my laptop, trying to win the EFL League One Championship with their last match of the season, or do I take advantage of a weather window to enjoy the other Argyll by riding the ferry over to Mull and climbing Dun da Ghaoithe, the hill overlooking the ferry terminal at Craignure.
My hill-bagging addiction won, the chance of Corbett number 20 was too good to miss, and well, an away match at Port Vale could lead to disappointing viewing! Not a very early start as on Sundays the first ferry isn’t until tennish, but that would give chance for the low cloud over the hills to break up as half-promised by the forecast. A Lorne Sausage bap on the boat to build up the carbs for the climb ahead, and then down the gangplank with all the Tour of Mull coach-tour day trippers.
Being on foot meant a mile and a half trek along the road to the start point for the recommended route – not too onerous once the stream of cars and buses disgorged from the ferry had dissipated. Then it’s the winding hill track up to the hillside radio masts; this bit not really a wilderness experience but a fairly easy way to gain height, and the views back down to sea and shore certainly live up to their billing. But the cloud still seems glued to the ridge higher up, though a patch of blue appears to the south west. 4G internet reception is good on my phone so do I sneak a look at how that football is going (a lunchtime kick-off)? I give in, but worst fears realised, Argyle are running true to form by gifting a breakaway goal inside the opening minutes. Never mind; I get to the second set of radio beacons and stop for refreshment. Then miracles – as I head on up onto the main ridge into proper hillwalking territory the low cloud blows away and a furtive peek at the half time score shows Argyle have started to pull it out of the bag , 2-1 to the good and dominating the possession stats.
The walk is also more exhilarating than anticipated. With a strong wind blowing it feels wise to keep away from the craggy drops on the north side as I march on towards the trig point on the first top. But the cloud is now all gone from my hill, just Ben More to the west hanging onto a misty covering. Then the easier amble down and across to the Corbett summit. Visibility not quite crystal clear, but good enough to make out Arran to the SE and Skye to the NW. And the nearer views of the Firth of Lorne, and the impressive emptiness of central Mull are splendid. Final score now Plymouth 3, Port Vale 1 while nearest rivals Ipswich can only scrape a point! So a championship for Argyle and a champion walk for myself. The scenery is so good I don’t want to go down, so find a spot relatively sheltered from that gusty wind to soak it all up, Jura, Rum, Lismore, Kerrera,Scarba all to be scanned and savoured.
But eventually I do have to set off down, to ensure I don’t miss the last ferry back to Oban and can enjoy a celebratory beer on the boat. Plymouth Argyle do take their name by a roundabout route from Argyll in Scotland, exactly why is lost in the mists of time, but whatever; on this day both Argyle and Argyll were massive indeed!
My hill-bagging addiction won, the chance of Corbett number 20 was too good to miss, and well, an away match at Port Vale could lead to disappointing viewing! Not a very early start as on Sundays the first ferry isn’t until tennish, but that would give chance for the low cloud over the hills to break up as half-promised by the forecast. A Lorne Sausage bap on the boat to build up the carbs for the climb ahead, and then down the gangplank with all the Tour of Mull coach-tour day trippers.
Being on foot meant a mile and a half trek along the road to the start point for the recommended route – not too onerous once the stream of cars and buses disgorged from the ferry had dissipated. Then it’s the winding hill track up to the hillside radio masts; this bit not really a wilderness experience but a fairly easy way to gain height, and the views back down to sea and shore certainly live up to their billing. But the cloud still seems glued to the ridge higher up, though a patch of blue appears to the south west. 4G internet reception is good on my phone so do I sneak a look at how that football is going (a lunchtime kick-off)? I give in, but worst fears realised, Argyle are running true to form by gifting a breakaway goal inside the opening minutes. Never mind; I get to the second set of radio beacons and stop for refreshment. Then miracles – as I head on up onto the main ridge into proper hillwalking territory the low cloud blows away and a furtive peek at the half time score shows Argyle have started to pull it out of the bag , 2-1 to the good and dominating the possession stats.
The walk is also more exhilarating than anticipated. With a strong wind blowing it feels wise to keep away from the craggy drops on the north side as I march on towards the trig point on the first top. But the cloud is now all gone from my hill, just Ben More to the west hanging onto a misty covering. Then the easier amble down and across to the Corbett summit. Visibility not quite crystal clear, but good enough to make out Arran to the SE and Skye to the NW. And the nearer views of the Firth of Lorne, and the impressive emptiness of central Mull are splendid. Final score now Plymouth 3, Port Vale 1 while nearest rivals Ipswich can only scrape a point! So a championship for Argyle and a champion walk for myself. The scenery is so good I don’t want to go down, so find a spot relatively sheltered from that gusty wind to soak it all up, Jura, Rum, Lismore, Kerrera,Scarba all to be scanned and savoured.
But eventually I do have to set off down, to ensure I don’t miss the last ferry back to Oban and can enjoy a celebratory beer on the boat. Plymouth Argyle do take their name by a roundabout route from Argyll in Scotland, exactly why is lost in the mists of time, but whatever; on this day both Argyle and Argyll were massive indeed!
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Phil Hinde
- Activity: Munro compleatist
- Pub: Ben More inn, Crianlarich
- Mountain: Ben Lomond
- Place: Calgary Bay Mull
- Gear: day-pack
- Member: RSPB
- Ideal day out: A ridge walk with a view of lochs or sea
- Munros: 107
- Corbetts: 21
- Fionas: 6
- Donalds: 3
- Wainwrights: 27
- Hewitts: 70
- Sub 2000: 27
- Islands: 25
- Filter reports
- Trips: 1
- Distance: 21 km
- Ascent: 843m
- Corbetts: 1
- Trips: 1
- Munros: 2
- Trips: 1
- Distance: 13 km
- Ascent: 729m
- Corbetts: 1
- Trips: 1
- Distance: 18 km
- Ascent: 414m
- Sub2000s: 1
- Joined: Aug 12, 2012
- Last visited: Mar 24, 2024
- Total posts: 4 | Search posts