MEET THE ARRAN MOUNTAIN FESTIVAL WALK LEADERS - ANDY MCNAMARA

What do you do when you don’t lead walks for the Arran Mountain Festival?
I work at the Arran Outdoor Education Centre in Lamlash, play football for the worst team in Europe (Northend Thistle) and play guitar to the same standard as my football.

Why do you volunteer as an Arran Mountain Festival walk leader?
I enjoy being part of the team with the other volunteers, I enjoy meeting and chatting to people on the walks, if I wasn’t a leader I would go as a participant.

Tell us about a favourite mountain moment.
Walking along the A’Chir ridge with a friend. We were quicker than we thought we would be and decided to go onto the Witch’s Step despite both being booked on the ferry, after a great day in the hills I loved running down into Glen Sannox. We needed the first car to stop so we could hitch a ride to the ferry. This being Arran of course the first car stopped and we made the ferry,…just.

What is your favourite Arran walk?
From Sannox up Cioch na h-Oighe and along the ridge to Goatfell and down into Brodick.

Which piece of kit would you not head into the hills without?
A good quality pair of socks.

What is your favourite breakfast before a long day out in the mountains?

Big mug of milky weak tea, glass of orange juice and some muesli with a banana chopped up into it.

______________________________________________________________

Andy is leading Friday's Witch's Step & Castles walk.

MEET THE ARRAN MOUNTAIN FESTIVAL WALK LEADERS

ROBBIE ADAMSON

What do you do when you don’t lead walks for the Arran Mountain Festival?

I work as an environmental surveyor based in Hexham in Northumberland. In my spare time I enjoy mountain biking, getting into the hills, and playing my bagpipes. 

Why do you volunteer as an Arran Mountain Festival walk leader?
Growing up on Arran gave me my love of the outdoors. The Arran Mountain Festival is a fantastic opportunity to share my love of the hills with a range of different people.  

Tell us about a favourite mountain moment.

I am lucky to have a few special moments in the hills but if I had to choose I would have to say going up Goatfell, with my now wife, on our first ‘date’. It was a perfect summer’s day late in the afternoon and amazingly we got the summit to ourselves.

What is your favourite Arran walk?

As a south-ender I would have to pick Cnocan Donn in the south of the island. What it lacks in height it can more than make up for in views and a sense of solitude.

Which piece of kit would you not head into the hills without?

A torch, a perfect excuse to stay on the summit to watch the sunset.

What is your favourite breakfast before a long day out in the mountains?

A big one, less to carry on the hill.

Robbie is leading the Three Beinns and Glen Sannox horseshoe walks.

MEET THE ARRAN MOUNTAIN FESTIVAL WALK LEADERS

EWEN MCNEICE

Ewen on Ben More

What do you do when you don’t lead walks for the Arran Mountain Festival?
Socially I walk, climb, mountain bike, kayak and snowboard with family and friends. I also work in Health IT.

Why do you volunteer as an Arran Mountain Festival walk leader?
To help encourage others to experience the wonderful mountains on this island that I was lucky enough to grow up with.

Tell us about a favourite mountain moment.
Getting the end of the Liathach traverse in one piece.

What is your favourite Arran walk?
To the standing stones on Machrie Moor for a picnic, the whole family can enjoy it.

Which piece of kit would you not head into the hills without?
A map and compass.

What is your favourite breakfast before a long day out in the mountains?
Boiled eggs in a cup with toast and a cup of coffee.

Ewen is leading the Three Beinns horseshoe, Cioch na h-Oighe & Goatfell, Cir Mhor and Witch's Step & Castles walks.

MEET THE ARRAN MOUNTAIN FESTIVAL WALK LEADERS - JOHN KITCHING

MEET THE ARRAN MOUNTAIN FESTIVAL WALK LEADERS 

JOHN KITCHING

What do you do when you don’t lead walks for the Arran Mountain Festival? 

Lead geography field study sessions and outdoor activities for Lochranza Field Studies Centre.

Why do you volunteer as an Arran Mountain Festival walk leader? 

I enjoy being on the hills, leading gives me a chance share know environmental knowledge and allows me to pass on information about being safe in the hills.

Tell us about a favourite mountain moment.

Every time I’m on the hill.

What is your favourite Arran walk? 

The Castles up Glen Easan as its pretty much straight out my back door.

Which piece of kit would you not head into the hills without? 
My big warm duvet jacket. 

What is your favourite breakfast before a long day out in the mountains? 
Porridge with lots of fruit on top.


John is co-leading the Cioch na h-Oighe & Goatfell and the Gen Sannox horseshoe walks.

MEET THE ARRAN MOUNTAIN FESTIVAL WALK LEADERS

ANDREW BINNIE

What do you do when you don’t lead walks for the Arran Mountain Festival? 

I manage the Community of Arran Seabed Trust (COAST). With community support we have created Scotland's first No Take Zone in Lamlash Bay and a large marine protected area around the south of Arran. In my spare time I like to cycle around the west coast of Scotland, paint and draw and grow vegetables.  

Why do you volunteer as an Arran Mountain Festival walk leader?
I've always loved the drama and beauty of the hills and the adventures they offer right on our door step, not to mention the wildlife. There is lot's of time to chat and get to know people and the festival is always great fun. This is my fith one.

Tell us about a favourite mountain moment.
Getting to the top of Ben Nevis for the first time ever via the Long Climb.

What is your favourite Arran walk?
Cioch na h-Oighe is a wee cracker of a ridge if you have a head for heights. Great views and a pub and tearoom at the bottom.

Which piece of kit would you not head into the hills without?
Boots. Unless you are used to going barefoot and have soles like leather you wont get far.

What is your favourite breakfast before a long day out in the mountains?

Normally poached egg on toast with a bit of cheese for good measure.

Andrew is co-leading Friday's Witch's Step & Castles walk and the Holy Isle walk.

Find out more about the Community of Arran Seabed Trust on www.arrancoast.com