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

PAULINE BARR

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

Having not long retired from teaching I do more hillwalking, spend time with my grandchild and run after my husband.

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

I love walking on Arran and like to share the hills with others.

Tell us about a favourite mountain moment.

Breaking out of a cloud inversion to walk over beautiful, calm, sunny hills.

What is your favourite Arran walk?

The Ridge from Sannox over Cioch na h'Oighe, Mullach Buidhe and North Goatfell to Goatfell over the Stacach Ridge. Favourite Scottish view is from the top of Goatfell.

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

My piece.

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

Porridge.

Pauline is leading the Three Beinns walk on Saturday and the Through the glens walk on Monday.

The Arran Hills: Many Shades of Grey!

Certain to get your heart racing and your knees trembling, Arran’s exciting mountains take your breath away. Whilst Munro-baggers may whizz up the M74 without turning left, missing out the Arran hills because of their lack of a few metres is a bit like getting married without the wedding night.

So what makes the Arran hills so seductive?

1. A magnificent profile: from all approaches, the distinctive mountain skyline of Arran commands your gaze, with its soaring peaks and pinnacles. The towering east ridge of Caisteal Abhail is known as the Sleeping Warrior- see the photo. (He’s wearing a helmet and he has a firm chin!)

2. In a vigorous embrace: Arran is only ten miles wide so wherever you are, you’re never far from the encircling presence of the waves. From the summits, you can get 360 degree sea views- to Northern Ireland, the Kintyre peninsula, the Paps of Jura, Mull, the Arrochar Alps, Cowal, Bute, Ayrshire and Galloway.

3. No boring introductions:  you won’t find long walk-ins on Arran. Unless you keep going in circles round the coast, the only way is up, but taking things one step at a time you’ll be amazed at the height you can achieve in a relatively short time. The apparently vertical climb up Cioch na h'Oighe is a good example of this - it’s still a walker’s route though a head for heights and sure-footedness will help.

4. Fill up your senses: waterfalls stream over Arran’s shoulders, sliding down chutes and plunging into deep, ferny chasms. The background music of water accompanies every Arran walk. Glen Catacol especially is a great place for waterfall hunters.

5. Hands-on experiences:  once you’re on the ridges you won’t be able to resist some exciting hands-on scrambling on the satisfyingly rough-textured  tors of pale grey granite.

6 An untamed character: whilst the Gulf Stream caresses Arran with warm currents making palm trees flourish round its coastline, the mountain tops are survivors of fierce battles with Atlantic weather. Apart from Goatfell, the hills of Arran are uncrowded and perfect for walks on the wild side.

7. A fascinating past:  walks on Arran reveal hints of the ancestors in ancient cairns, stone circles and the remains of prehistoric hill forts. The echoes of Viking rule are in the names of the coastal settlements.

8. Beautiful creatures: Arran’s most famous wild creatures just happen to be very good looking ones too: there are the pure-blooded, elegant red deer for example, as well as majestic golden eagles, tufty-eared red squirrels and lithe, playful otters to select but a few.

9. Fulfilling: Arran walks are adventurous and the end of adventure satisfaction factor as you enjoy your meal in one of Arran’s independent restaurants is off the scale overwhelmingly good.

10. Enduring and elemental: Arran enjoys worldwide celebrity status in geology circles for its amazing rocks. The island represents a coming together on a titanic scale of highland and lowland. The mountains themselves burst into being as an exploding volcano.  Today, the hills are a rocky heaven with pebbles, boulders, outcrops and crags in every imaginable and lovely shade of grey.

Kathy Mawson

All photos are copyright of Lochranza Campsite

Arran hills, some of the best in Scotland!

Here's a few pics taken yesterday of the Arran mountains seen from across Brodick Bay. Breathtaking! Definitely up there with the best of Scottish hillwalking!

Bookings are going well for this year's Arran Mountain Festival, some of the walks are fully booked, and a couple are over subscribed! Don't delay - check out www.arranmountainfestival.co.uk and book your walk!

The Three Beinns Horseshoe, a classic ridge walk, sponsored by Merrell. So popular that we're running it twice, and currently there are just a couple of places left on the Friday and Monday walks. Tempting isn't it - go on, get booking! http://www.arranmountainfestival.co.uk/friday-18-may/three-beinns-horseshoe.html

From right to left Am Binnein, Mullach Buidhe, North Goatfell (not in view) and Goatfell.  This walk, sponsored by the Friends of Brodick Castle is being led on the Monday of the Festival, and currently there are only 5 spaces left.  Don't miss out on this wonderful, but little walked, walk.

JoT