Wednesday 28th September: After driving up from Sheffield I stopped at the top of Glen Ogle to bag the Corbett Creag Mac Raniach. This proved to be a foot-soaking slog across rough heathery moorland, but did lead to a nice double topped summit with good views in the bright but hazy conditions.
Thursday 28th September: With Dad, walked the two Munros on the Loch Tay end of the Ben Lawers range. The first, Meall Greigh entailed a steep scramble up a grassy slope beside a vague stream to gain the summit ridge, which was pretty windy. A fence post guided the route to the second Munro, where we had tantalising glimpses through the cloud. A deer fence guided the descent, with improving views over the Loch as we descended.
Friday 30th September: We all walked along the disused railway line from the top of Glen Ogle towards Lochearnhead on this sunny day, before heading to Killin for lunch.
Saturday 1st October: Headed off from Tyndrum to climb the two Munros next to Ben Cruachan. A very cloudy walk, but on a good small path the whole way. Then drove down Loch Awe and Loch Fyne to Kintyre, before taking the ferry crossing to Lochranza on the north end of Arran.
Sunday 2nd October: After a very leisurely morning and fry-up, Reuben and I headed south to Glen Rosa, and walked up to the South Rosa slabs in improving weather. Although the rock had wet patches, Reuben climbed the first pitch of Blank (VS), accompanied by a pair of Golden Eagles soaring above, while I used my waterproof hood to escape the midges. The second pitch would not go, so we extracted ourselves from a less than ideal belay with some down climbing, protected by a useful thread. We descended the steep valley in the gloaming with aid of head torches, using a wooden debris catcher to excitingly re-cross the steam in the dark, before walking out, reaching the car around 9 pm.
Monday 3rd October: I walked down through Lochranza to the west beaches in the morning, watching the rich bird-life including mergansers, gannets and curlews. In the afternoon, we all headed out for some bouldering on snappy Schist on the beach near Catacol.
Tuesday 4th October: I explored the Easterly coastline today, heading along the beach past the seals at Newton point, to Fairy Dell beach and a bit beyond, returning via a higher path into the strong wind.
Wednesday 5th October: Despite a terrible MWIS forecast myself, Ed and Clare drove down to Corrie to walk up Goat Fell. The first significant obstcale was an in spate stream crossing, after this we reached a flat ridge with cliffs to the north, and the full force of the wind, from the south. After battling along for a couple of hundred meters, being knocked over, and then pinned down by a fierce series of gusts we beat a retreat, crossed to the Brodick path allowing us to traverse the mountain to Cladach. We returned to the car via a series of forrest paths and the coast road, giving a good 10 mile outing.
Thursday 6th October: With another bad forecast, Ed and myself drove right around the island, in squally rain. Stopping for a photo at Kilodan beach (below), and walking up to the Glenashdale waterfalls, we also had good view to Aisla Craig. We then met Reuben et al in Brodick for a cuppa.
Friday 7th October: This was the "weather window" day we had been waiting for, and me and Ed made a reasonably early start from Glen Rosa, aiming for the Classic Rock route Sou-wester Slabs on the Rosa Pinnacle of Cir Mhor. Despite indications from the photos, the weather still did its best to stop play. We were hit by a sharp shower at the second belay, and climbed most of the route in full waterproofs with gloves on, and some sections made difficult by the wet rock and gusty wind, a proper British mountaineering outing, leading to my first Arran summit of the week.
