Collected Musings of a Hill Wanderer

Last time I went to Arran, it was during an Easter weekend with a very mixed weather forecast. Despite that, I gained the satisfaction of getting to the top of the island's highest hill, Goatfell, and a bus ride around the island. What I cannot deny was the existence of low cloud and heavy rain showers on that first visit over four years ago but something could be made of the drier interludes anyway.

The weather that I met near the end of June couldn't have been more different. So far, this year has turned out to be unusually dry in May and June though July looks as if it is getting an unsettled start. Things weren't looking so settled as I travelled up to Arran on Thursday with a belt of rain bearing cloud dropping south over mainland Britain. While on the subject of weather, it might have been best to stay east if I had wanted sun but the allure of going west won out on this occasion. In any case, strong sunshine and heat tend to go together at this time of year so gaining a cloudy respite is no bad thing either.

It was the cloud that was winning on Thursday though sun was getting through in spots and at times. Any ambitions at bettering previous photos of Goatfell as seen over Brodick Bay would have to wait and it looked as if pleasing photos of Lochranza Castle were to prove elusive too. However, basing yourself anywhere gives you the time window within which sunny magic can happen and so it was with Lochranza. After an evening meal, the skies let the sun through to light up the surrounding landscape sufficiently for some photographic endeavour to ensue before I returned to my lodgings to take up my bed for the night.

Arising next morning revealed that the day had made a very promising start. After breakfast, I organised myself for a day's walking though conversation with another visitor may have meant my forgetting my walking poles. It would have been better to have had them with but I was well into my walk before I remembered my omission. A bit more presence of mind than usual was to be in order for any descents and having the whole day for a none too adventurous schedule was to help enormously. For once, I wasn't trying to cram in too much.

Having been perusing Paddy Dillon's Cicerone guide to walking on Arran, I had the bones of a plan too. Usually these things can be very wide open for me though that can have its uses when you find something of interest to explore that hadn't come to mind until I am on an excursion. Those little surprises often add zest to a trip and one discovery on Harris comes to mind from a few years ago.

If it wasn't for recycling of hill names on Arran, my walk might have been easier to describe. For example, there are a few named Beinn Bhreac but it is the naming of Beinn Tarsuinn that really complicates my description; there are three of them, all within sight of each other! First up is the really rocky that can be seen from the island's east coast but that wasn't where my wandering took me and I had no inkling that there was a wooded top to the south of it too. No, I ended up bumbling about the triple-topped more rounded one out to the west of both of them with paths up Gleann Easan Biorach and down Glen Catcol taking me away from and back to civilisation, respectively.

My hike started out along the A841 with stops to look back at Lochranza in the growing heat. After the distillery, I picked up a path that was to allow me to escape from tarmac for much of the day. As I was to discover, quite a few folk use it to get to Loch na Davie before turning back again. In no way were hillsides overrun but it did mean that I needed to share. Quite why one of the others needed to stay on his mobile phone for much of the way is beyond me. It goes against my main motivation for journeying through empty hill country: to leave all the paraphernalia and pressures of modern life behind me for a while so as to recharge my spirit.

After a spot of leap-frogging and the passing of a few words, the others were to overtake me to continue on their way and I was left to enjoy the surroundings uninterrupted. The sky was taking on an ever milkier aspect but that cut down on the heat of the sun, a development that I had grown to appreciate. There was no need to rush so I had a good luck all around me with Torr Nead an Eoin behind me and a spot of height to be gained before Loch na Davie came in its own good time. Those who earlier overtook me were now coming back against me with their objective reached. There was another man walking very much with a sense of purpose; he was wanting to see if he could retrieve his spectacles after his being the way two days earlier. As I was sat near Loch na Davie partaking of some food and enjoying a little rest, he returned after a fruitless search but minded to speak to the police to see if anything was handed into them. After that I was to have the place to myself.

What helped towards that episode of total immersion in the countryside was my leaving the path later on. Before that, I rounded Beinn Bhreac with Glen Iorsa and its ribbon of Iorsa Water opening out beneath me. Carn Mor and the nearby rocky Caisteal Abhail were at my back with the by now cloud-filled skies limiting the sunshine and any photographic action. However, the sun was by then in the wrong place for any successful photos of the rocky photogenic stuff; you need the sun to be in the west for that and it hadn't got that far at that point in the day.

It was when I reached the saddle between Beinn Bhreac and Beinn Tarsuinn when I left the distinct path for trackless passage towards the latter. My first destination was a 514 metre high top before I headed for the 556 metre one before losing and regaining height to reach the 527 metre one. Quite whether one or all of these make up Beinn Tarsuinn isn't so clear from the OS maps that I have seen but it was the shrieks of resident bird life that was taking up attention. Were they trying to ward off a blundering intruder or was something else in train? All that I'll know is that it stopped once I reached the last hummock in the trio. Anyway, it was a reminder that it was countryside that was home to other creatures with a deer sighting cementing the impression.

From there, it was a matter of studying contours to find the least taxing descent into Glen Catacol. Taking in Loch Tanna might have made a tempting prospect but I wasn't going to be so greedy. Legs were tiring too so that may have been the deciding factor and there still was some height to lose as I passed the waterfalls of Abhainn Mor with yet another Beinn Bhreac above me. Very oddly, it seemed as if there was an attempt by dragonflies and other largish insects to stop me going forward; rightly or wrongly, it felt as if my legs were being mobbed. It's not something that ever happened to me before so it might an idea to get up to speed on insect behaviour. Otherwise, there were a few folk, not many though, coming up against me. Were they headed for Loch Tanna?

After making pains not to trip on any stones that littered the path, I reached those more level and kinder parts. The sun started to try getting through the cloud cover as I passed Gleann Diomhan and its National Nature Reserve. This would have been where I came down if I hadn't deviated from the path to take up a more roaming course. Creag na h-Iolaire towered above me and I might have been convinced that my climbing was over for the day. In fact, there was a little more as I neared the road at Fairhaven. This may not have been much but it speared any sense of complacency.

Once back on tarmac, I had it in mind to check out the Catacol Bay Hotel for a spot of food. First, there was the continue battle between sun and cloud to keep me occupied as I looked back towards where I had walked. Meall nan Damh was rearing to the south of where I was and sending the road all around it. Out to the west was Kintyre where I would be the day after.

When I reached the aforementioned hotel, it looked a down at heel sort of place but it did food all day and that was to satisfy me. It was good to know that I wasn't too early for service and there were folk holding up the bar already. Suitably refueled, I continued my journey back to Lochranza with the Claonaig ferry crossing to Arran for its last sailing of the day; it was to convey me to the mainland the following morning.

Unhurried strolling was to return me to Lochranza though it would not have been all on tarmac if I had been aware of such thing as a postman's path between Catacol and my destination. More height gain would have been brought upon me but my refueling should have helped me deal with that. Apparently, there's a need to watch out for a rocky edge too but I have managed loads of those so it wouldn't have been a major issue. Once back at my accommodation again, I relaxed a while before settling down for the night a tired but sated Irish lad.

A mid-week thumb through the latest edition of Web Designer magazine must have inspired because, on an otherwise lazy weekend, I got to doing some alterations on the appearance of this outpost on the web. Fatigue and work-related distractions aside, I still have it in mind to say say more about last week's trip to Arran and Kintyre. In fact, I have made a start on the Arran trip report so promises are beginning to made good. Looking ahead there even may be another window of opportunity for an outdoors escape later in the month but that is, to an extent, weather dependant too so we'll have to see what happens.

As I write these words, it is mostly grey outside my window and not the sort of alluring conditions that draw a soul fatigued after a working week out of doors. Nevertheless, we don't seem to be seeing that much rain in Macclesfield so far even if the current run of weather has an unsettled feel about it. Though everywhere is looking dry now, let's hope that the months of July and August aren't to be remembered for the deluges that beset us in previous years. If it continues like it has, the next complaints that will be heard will be about drought. Aren't we fickle?

Depending on where you were, this past weekend might have felt every bit a scorcher. However, if you were stood around Rest and Be Thankful on Sunday morning, it was not scorching sun that you would have experienced but a soaking from a conveyor belt dragging showers of rain through the surrounding hills. Having experienced this a few times myself, I can attest for the amount of rain that can come down on you when the mood takes the weather. Yesterday though, I was travelling in a coach through it all after spending a few days reacquainting myself with the Isle of Arran and getting to know a piece of Kintyre.

Having a few days of leave coming my way, my mind turned to returning to Arran more than four years after a first visit that took in the summit of Goatfell and a bus ride all around the island on a showery Easter weekend. The base this time was Lochranza rather than Brodick and the immersion in hill country deeper even if the heights were lower. The sun may have stayed hidden by cloud for much of the time but that may have meant cooler temperatures more suitable for walking so there can be no complaints.

After leaving Arran, there was time for a trot along part of the Kintyre Way between Claonaig and Tarbert. The views of Arran stayed with me much longer than I might have expected. It looked as if it was going to be a cloudy day's hiking until that cloud began to break up to give me a blast of sweltering heat on the final approach to Tarbert with views over Loch Fyne towards Cowal to my right.

From Tarbert, I travelled to Inverary for an overnight stopover prior to my coming south again the next day. The evening was perfect for lingering and, if you fancied the idea, al fresco dining on Inverary's shore line. A cheeky incursion into the surroundings of Inverary castle came to pass too and without any sort of rancour from the residents in the castle either; mind you, I wasn't making my presence that apparent. The sun may have been playing hard to get but it was the sort of evening that would keep you out of doors with its sense of quiet stillness.

Returning to the point on which I started this piece of mental rambling, the next morning was damper and that made departing not such a hard thing to do. Nevertheless, it always leaves open the idea of returning when better lighting is available, especially if you photographic designs like me. As is my habit with these things, I'll leave the wider musings on the landscape through which I traipsed for other postings. Even though I never was that far from Glasgow, everywhere I went had the feel of a quiet backwater so there was plenty of time for uninterrupted reverie with the theatre of the skull unleashed. Though others may be dazzled by thoughts of sights further north, there is plenty around Arran and Kintyre for anyone seeking restive and restorative peace and calm. All in all, it did feel as if the frantic pace of everyday living was far, far away.

Travel Details:

Return train journey between Macclesfield and Glasgow, with a change at Manchester on the northbound leg and changes at Preston and Manchester on the southbound one. Rail connection to Ardrossan for a ferry crossing (CalMac) to Brodick with a ride on bus service 324 to Lochranza. Ferry crossing (CalMac again) from Lochranza to Claonaig; all ferry travel used a handy Arran hopscotch fare. Scottish Citylink service 926 between Tarbert and Inverary and again between Inverary and Glasgow.

After a few weeks of being occupied by other matters, I have managed to clear some space for a hill wandering escape. As is my habit with all these things, I'll keep the details of what I have in mind under wraps for now because plans can change. In fact, it often happens that it's the surprises that often make my outings all the more memorable. If something comes of what I have in mind, I hope to say more afterwards.

For example, it was a surprise meeting with glorious sunny weather for which I recall a Spring Bank Holiday weekend visit to Argyll from a few years back. At the time, I ended up kicking myself for having incomplete plans but the time spent taking in Kerrera and the quieter places around Oban should have made up for it. Looking back now, the intoxicating mix of blue seas and skies along with verdant foliage everywhere on land must have been the cause of embarking on a week long visit to the Western Isles, a trip that lives on my mind. Surprises can take you onto new terrain and it's best to enjoy what comes rather than worry about whether you made the most of it or not.

There may have been wonderful sunny summer weather visiting us over the last few weeks but goings on in my professional life have meant that I haven't made the kind of use of it that is habitual for me. That's not to say that there haven't been restive escapes during the hurly burly. In fact, lengthening my cycling commute on the homeward leg has afforded the spending of some quality time among still fresh greenery.

Not inappropriately given the prospect  of a major change to my work circumstances (a change of job is looming on the horizon), some of those peaceful interludes have had me poking around the National Trust property surrounding the escarpment that is Alderley Edge. The result was that some aimless exploration took me directions that I mightn't have followed while if I had a map with me! Even so, no harm came from them and you need to break out from the constraints of modern life from time to time anyway. The area is a confined one that I know well enough so not too much can go awry. Still, there's plenty to paths for a stroll and it's under tree cover much of the time too, a perfect antidote to the hot bright strong sunshine than occasionally makes its appearance around this time of year. Trees may be things with which I have a love/hate relationship but they have their plus points too and the National Trust's broadleaved collection near the edge offers plenty of shade when it gets as warm as it has been on the way towards midsummer.

Looking further ahead, it doesn't look as if this summer will get the customary longer break that has tended to happen every year in recent times. Nevertheless, there are some days' leave coming to me that I plan to use as well as I can. It's a matter of using what is available rather than having all that I'd like to possess. Ambitions may require control (the sort of Hebridean adventure that I enjoyed a few years ago is out of the question for now but you never know what the future might bring) but one or two possibilities are coming to mind regardless. Despite the constraints that I face, I should get more out of the summer than I did during the one when my career was first set on its faltering course a decade ago. Its next phase is ahead of me and I hope to keep up my wanderings through hill country. They have afforded respite from life's toils up to now and it is unlikely that the need will disappear.