The new path up to Coire Fhionn Lochan from Thundergay makes it a definite proposition for a short run - 1100' of ascent and descent in 3.5 miles there and back. However, we're walking it today, up towards the clag which is lurking just below the level of the pretty lochan. Paula and both dogs are along for the trip, which makes for a very pleasant morning outing. It's a shame there's no view when we reach the water, but it does clear a little while we sit down on the gravelly shore. On the way back, there are views across Kilbrannan Sound to Kintyre. It's a lovely, quiet place today.
The afternoon requires the use of boots. I'm taking Dizzy up the Cioch, and along the ridge to Goatfell. Dizzy's quite competent on rock, Tugger less so, and Paula doesnt get on with it at all, so it's just the two of us. Cioch na h-Oighe looks terrifying from Sannox, and it doesn't help that most of the guidebooks describe it as a "tough scramble". In fact, in just over 2000' of up from Sannox Bay, there are only a couple of rock steps to make things awkward. The dog accomplishes the second, harder step much more easily than I do. The big, blocky granite of Arran is quite deceptive and is often much harder than it looks, as holds are sometimes in short supply. Knees and backside assist with the climb. Once up, the ridge is a delightful place, a great humped switchback of granite tors with big drops into the glens either side. It's not worth rushing along here, and we take our time. There's a little grass on the way to the next top on the ridge, Mullach Buidhe, and another 600' or so to climb, but it's good fun. Dizzy is sometimes over-confident, and takes a header off a big block into a shallow pool. Luckily, he's OK. We've been playing tag with the clag all the way - luckily it's a great deal higher up the hill than it was this morning. On Mullach Buidhe though it catches up with us. It's not all bad news though - there are big holes in it, and it makes the ridge quite atmospheric.
North Goatfell is next on the list, a lumpy summit of bare rock, then we're off along the Stachach - Arran's version of a pinnacled ridge, which leads direct to GOatfell. There's more enjoyable scrambling to do before we reach the summit and meet our first other people of the afternoon. There's a couple with a labrador, and a group of 3 up from Brodick. The "usual" path from Brodick is not my favourite, and it's not just snobbiness on my part either, it really is the least interesting way to reach the summit. We take each other's pictures (I explain it's usually just me or Dizzy in our photos, depending on who's taking them), before I set off down the mountain. My brain has obviously stopped working, as I not only embarrassingly miss the main path altogether, but then fall on my arse and slide painfully down a big wet slab, before forgetting that I wanted to go to Brodick and taking the path down to Corrie instead. I could have got back on the path again I suppose, but Corrie has a hotel and a bus-stop too, and I've never used this path before, so I carry on. It's quite a pleasant descent, but I think it would be a poor way to climb the hill - too much same-of and then an irritating tramp alongside the forestry, before it finishes off along a scrappy concrete road.
Tying the dog outside the Corrie Hotel, a guy approaches me and asks me if I'm Marcus. I am, of course! It turns out to be Michael Sayles, a regular from Outdoors Magic. We've never met before, but he recognises me and Dizzy from photos. There's just time to have a pint before it's time to leave - I just about get away from the beer garden before the midgies get nasty!
No comments:
Post a Comment