Arran Corbetts day 1 – Caisteal Abhail & Beinn Tarsuinn

Corbetts are Scottish mountains between 2500 and 3000 feet high, with at least 500 feet of descent on all sides. Goat Fell, Arran’s highest, is just short of a Munro (Scotland’s mountains above 3000ft), but makes the Corbett grade at 2866 feet, together with Caisteal Abhail (The Castles), Beinn Tarsuinn and Cir Mhor. Tick all four of them over two days at this year’s Arran Mountain Festival!

Arran Corbetts day 1 is a major mountain day which takes in two of Arran’s Corbetts and the shapely peak of Beinn Nuis.

 | Overview

Technical Rating

Challenging  

Exposed scrambling, head for heights required, rough terrain.

Endurance Rating

4  

Sustained steep ascents and descents, stamina and perseverance essential to cover long distances. Have you recently walked up (and down) a mountain of over 1000m (3000ft) in height within 8 hours without physical distress! Are you generally fitter than the majority of your peers? If your answer is "No", we'd guess you'd be happier doing a walk rated a level lower than the one you’ve just read! As noted previously, we're into FUN so we don't want you to miss out by overdoing it.

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 | Walk description

Starting at North Glen Sannox, this route starts with a gently ascending path by the North Sannox Burn which opens out to fabulous views of the ridges leading up to Caisteal Abhail, the first Corbett of the day. The route then takes a steeper climb to Sail an Im and follows a sweeping ridge from which, weather permitting, fabulous views unfold over Kintyre to Jura and across to the Kyles of Bute and Loch Fyne.

Following a final push, the plateau-like summit dotted with impressive granite tors is reached. This is Arran’s second-highest summit after Goat Fell. Leaving the first summit by descending another sweeping ridge along the rim of Coire na h-Uaimh gives the opportunity of inspecting Cir Mhor, another Corbett which is left for day 2 of the Arran Corbett Challenge. Next, you will skirt the notorious A’Chir ridge, the bypass path on its western flank giving a good perspective of its dizzying sheer drops. Look out for raven, red deer and other mountain wildlife along the way.

Before long, the climbing resumes past Consolation Tor and the Bowman’s Pass to scramble up the north face of Beinn Tarsuinn, the second of the two Corbetts of the day. The reward for the climb is an easy undulating walk along the broad ridge past the unique feature of the “Old Man of Tarsuinn” with fine views of the Arran mountains and beyond, perhaps to Northern Ireland. A short final climb reaches the last summit of the day, Beinn Nuis, after which it is all downhill, across peaty moorland and down alongside the Garbh Allt to Glen Rosa and civilisation at the Glen Rosa campsite.

Route Profile

 | Advised Kit List