Log 8 Nov 2009

ARRAN WEEKEND NOVEMBER 2009

Derek Hall, Donald, Fraser and Malcolm took the mid morning boat on Friday 6 November, a day which started fair, but the cloud started to close in and the rain began once we left the boat.

Friday 6th. 
Derek kindly dropped off the others at Thunderguy in conditions of fairly heavy driving rain and low cloud.  
We walked round Coire Fhionn Lochan and into the cloud to reach the summit of Meall nan Damh.  
There the cloud lifted, allowing a view to unfold below of rivers in full spate, so it was decided to descend south and then steeply east to cross the river flowing from Loch Tanna.  
Further down, the path crossed a much more formidable river, Malcolm opting to test its depth at a narrow point.  
Time had run out by then to attempt any other hill, so we trudged down Glen Catacol to find Derek waiting for us at the road around 4.00 p.m.  
Naturally Catacol Hotel was given the MMC test and found to be very welcoming, well stocked with Arran ales on tap and in bottle, with a cheerful log fire.

Saturday 7th.  
Again Derek kindly set us down at the high point of the road between Sannox and Lochranza.  
Cloud level was about 2000 ft. almost all day, but at least below the cloud it was dry until just before dark. 
We all made our way to the trig point overlooking Laggan Cottage, at which point Malcolm set off to follow the high ground towards Sannox, then down to the Fallen Rocks, where he almost coincided with Derek on his low level walk.  
Donald and Fraser then had a boggy plod to Loch na Davy and Beinn Bhreac (573m).  
Donald opted to go to the highest point of the path beside the loch, and then up the grassy ridge leading NW to the summit, while Fraser went more directly up through rocks where creeping junipers were growing in profusion, many still holding rather dessicated berries.  
Snacks were enjoyed at the summit, looking across to the Mull of Kintyre, where fields and other details were picked out in sunshine.  
A large bird was seen soaring above Loch na Davy, the size being unclear, but as we prepared to continue on our way, Donald noted that this rarely visited summit cairn had been used by a bird of prey, leaving new and very cleanly picked bones behind. 
Striding out towards Lochranza on the high ground was very pleasant until in an instant we were engulfed by cloud, and we simply headed on and down, glimpsing the distillery below us at the same time as Donald's phone picked up a call from Derek, who suggested that he would pick us up at the distillery.  
The descent seemed to take an eternity, as the ground was very wet and steep, and the trees which we had hoped to ease our way down snapped the minute we put a hand on them.  
As a result, it was almost dark before we got down, Malcolm having reached the car some time ahead of us.  
Derek had spent some time ensuring that the hotel in Lochranza was open - it was, but not as good as Catacol.

Sunday 8th.  
Goatfell was the destination, Donald and Malcolm opting to start from Sannox, and include all the scrambles, descending to Corrie. 
Fraser started at Corrie and went up the now excellent path to the col below North Goatfell, and descended  by the tourist path, now rerouted most attractively lower down.  
It was the most beautiful sunny day with totally cloudless sky in the morning, and distant views to Islay and Jura, with the sun reflecting so strongly on the sea to the south that Ireland was not visible.  
After reaching the summit of North Goatfell with this glaring sun in his eyes, and trying the first pinnacle in the same light, Fraser opted to take the bypass path on the Rosa side, finishing by going over the last of the pinnacles.   Derek had been walking in Glen Ashdale during the day, and again picked us all up.

After the first soaking, we had dry overhead conditions, improving all the time, making it a most enjoyable weekend, due in no small part to Derek's willingness to facilitate every whim of the rest of us, and to make all the arrangements.   It was encouraging that he was able to extend his walking again.

Report by Fraser Gold