Arran Camping Meet
1st-3rd September 2000

Present: Valerie C, Calum M, Fiona M, Anne M, Graeme M (arrived Satuday afternoon), Andy R and Brian S

The club has generally enjoyed excellent weather for its visits to Arran. This weekend was no exception and there was settled weather with some sunshine on both days for the meet based at the campsite in Glen Rosa. One of the many attractions of Arran is the climate on the island, which is invariably different from the nearby mainland. It is possible to leave on the ferry from Ardrossan after days of pouring rain on the mainland to find it has been dry on Arran. On this occasion, we learned that Arran had enjoyed a particularly dry period of weather and we could expect dry rock on the island's ridges and little difficulties with river crossings.

The party met up at Ardrossan pier on Friday for the early evening boat. Fortunately it was 10minutes late in leaving because Andy, Calum and Fiona had chosen an indirect route across from Edinburgh and would otherwise have been left to catch the later boat. Once at Brodick, the meet secretary assured everyone there were always taxis around to avoid the 40minute walk to Glen Rosa but by the time personnel and gear were off the boat, all the taxis had disappeared! Assistance from a local in the form of a phone number along with Andy's phone soon rescued the situation and a taxi quickly materialised to take everyone to the campsite.

All was quiet in Glen Rosa with very few tents. It was clear all too soon why this was the case. The midges had taken over this part of the island and had eaten all visitors not equipped with suitable defences! In a short time however, the FMC tents were pitched and a defensive ring of smoke coils lit to deter invaders. After some tea and drams (for building up resistance to midges) everyone turned in.

Saturday

An excellent mix of routes were chosen on Saturday. Andy and Valerie headed for Cir Mhor to climb S'Wester Slabs (V Diff) and returned back via the A'Chir ridge (moderate), one of the best outings to be had anywhere in Scotland. Calum and Fiona also chose the traverse of the A'Chir ridge, whilst Brian and Anne walked part way up Glen Rosa to climb Goat Fell by its SSW ridge. After traversing to North Goat Fell and dropping to the Sannox/Rosa col, Anne returned down Glen Rosa to the campsite to leave Brian to continue up to Cir Mhor. For Brian, there was barely time to say but a few words to Andy and Val on the tiny summit of Cir Mhor before heading off to Caisteal Abhail and Suidhe Fhearghas via the Witches Step, then finally down to North Glen Sannox to catch the bus round to the end of Glen Rosa.

To escape the midges, Andy, Anne, Brian and Valerie eat out on Saturday evening in the restaurant situated in the former stables of Brodick Castle and were joined there by Graeme. Rather than driving from Edinburgh, he had travelled by train through to Glasgow Queen Street and then from Glasgow Central down to Ardrossan for the 6pm boat. Calum and Fiona remained in camp for their meal to fend off the midges and keep the coils smoking in their defensive ring.

Sunday

Sunday morning was a little cloudy, but dry with the promise of some sunshine later. Calum and Fiona headed for Goat Fell joining the tourist path from Brodick Castle across Glen Rosa from the campsite. Anne returned up Glen Rosa to tick off Caisteal Abhail, her only remaining Corbett on Arran. The remainder also went up the Glen towards the south ridge of Cir Mhor; Andy and Valerie to climb South Ridge Direct (Very Severe) with Brian and Graeme following the easier South Ridge Original (Hard Severe). The Original route traverses right at the foot of the 'S' crack on the Direct to avoid both this pitch and the infamous 'Y' crack above. After the traverse, it then moves up to gain a fine corner which is followed by a cracked wall to emerge at the top of the 'Y' crack where both routes rejoin. This enabled both parties to follow one another to the top of the buttress without slowing each other up.

All targets having been achieved for the weekend, the party returned in good time to the tents for some well-deserved tea before packing up. Once again the midges were out in force but with the help of the smoke coils and midge hoods, their advances were repulsed to allow an orderly retreat to the pier at Brodick and the boat back to Ardrossan. Just before heading out from the campsite, we were approached by a continental visitor who said be had been puzzled by what be thought were bee nets until realising their significance. After going on to say he had neither a midge hood or smoke coils, we took pity on him and left him the remains of some smoke coils.

It was a most enjoyable weekend in Arran but we were all glad to have been prepared for the Glen Rosa midges!

Brian S