A second attempt to put the post in the right place (oops :-)
I am thinking of Arran for the BH weekend. Been before but on a bike, and a geology field-trip 20 years ago...
Idea: (comments welcome; rude or otherwise)
Day 1ishh. Glen Rosa campsite > Beinn Nuis > Cic Mhor > Nth Goatfell
Day 2 more ishh. Cioch na h-Oighe > Sannox, coast to Lochranza
Day 3ishhhh. Lochranza > Carn Mhor > Cir Mhor > Goatfell and down
I was hoping to be able to get food in Sannox (shop? or hotel), Lochranza.
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 ed - sounds good, although your last day is a long one! However you could avoid the climb to Goatfell by dropping down into Glen Rosa from The Saddle if you needed to.
As for Sannox there is a hotel but as far as I can recall no shop.
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Great, thanks; I was hoping to stay high on the last day - a 05:00 (what time does it get light up there?) start being no worry for me.
Was also thinking of the Suidhe Fhearghas descent from the tops down to Sannox(ish) on Day 2/1 any comment?
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According to Metcheck sunrise is currently 05:29 in Ardrossan next weekend.
I'm guessing that your idea of Suidhe Fhearghas is instead of North Goatfell/Cioch na h-Oighe. I would just say that Suidhe Fhearghas is a very steep and bracken covered descent (much easier going uop). Not difficult in a scrambly sense but very hard going! And you will have to negotiate the Witches Step on the way to it from the Castles (but as you were thinking of going down Cioch na h-Oighe I'm guessing that's not a problem.
Are you thinking of camping high or low? There's a decent "wildish" site near Sannox at NS 009453. We had it to ourselves on an ML Training Course, but it was September, suspect a May BH might be a bit different!
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You are right on; thanks for the pointer.
I like to camp high when possible; so might have the solitude?
Thanks
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 Businesses in Lochranza are getting closed down and turned into private homes quicker than you can blink.
Ever alive to an opportunity, Arran's Alan Sugar at Lochranza Golf/Campsite/Asda has some basic groceries for sale, but I wouldn't rely on a massive choice... the hotel does meals though.
Now, just a couple of things I thought of about your route - feel free to ignore them!
Descending the Cioch won't be easy unless you already know the route - there's only a short tricky section, just a few slabby rock steps, but it's not blindingly obvious where to drop down from above.
Descent from Cir Mhor to the Saddle is apparently quite simple as long as you don't go straight down from the summit. I attempted it last year with the dog and found it much too rotten - there's an easy path a short distance further on towards the Fionn Choire bealach.
I also think you'd be better off tacking Goatfell onto day 1 rather than adding it on the end of what is quite a stiff and either wet (through the glen) or trackless (over the Tor) ascent to Cir Mhor. I like the way over the tops better, although the Glen has some nice waterfalls. The path from the bealach I mentioned has been reconstructed and makes quite a nice way down to the head of Glen Rosa for a very pretty and pleasant walk-out to Brodick.
Hope you have a great trip!
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Tiger, Marcus
Again thanks for your comments; I do not know the routes at all - perhaps I am in for a rude awakening; I have got a lot of climbing experience though, so (usually) have a reasonable eye for a line...
I might reverse the route, and do Goatfell on Day 1 after all. At the moment it is just fun playing with the mapping software.
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 Ed - If you don't know what routes on Arran are like, just bear in mind that you often find steep granite slabs sprinkled with loose grit. One minute you have fantastic grip, and the next minute your feet are in danger of flying out from under you. You'll need to use hands from time to time. There are no shops at Sannox or Lochranza, but there are bar/restaurant and tearooms at both places. I'm sure the golf course tearoom at Sannox would be able to rustle up something like a picnic lunch, if you wanted a take-away deal. They do sandwiches and cakes, as well as meals. There's absolutely no need to get stuck anywhere on Arran without food or drink. Grab a copy of the island bus timetables as soon as you step ashore, then any time you hit a road, you could get a bus to somewhere with more facilities. The Co-op at Brodick has the biggest choice on the island. There's always Walking on the Isle of Arran if you want full details of routes and facilities.
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There's always Walking on the Isle of Arran if you want full details of routes and facilities.
No relation I take it ;-) ?
If it as good as your GR20 guide I might get it; I have OCRd the latter item, edited it and it is now a lot lighter... :-)
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Guilty as charged!
Don't edit out all the useful info. You never know when you might need it!
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I have just cut the images and some of the Shakesperian prose ;-)
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On another note does anyone know how hard the A'Chir Ridge is scramble-wise? It seems to be a Mod on some reports - sustained or just a few passages?
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Not done it but know folk who have. As far as I know it's one "bad step" that does need a rope etc i.e. that bit is a climb as opposed to a scramble.
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Mmmmm just found some pictures of it on the www.....perhaps not this time - with a loaded backpack....ulp
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It's a 'one slip and you're dead' kind of step. No problem if you're properly roped up, but by the same token, no-one to witness your demise if you slip while out on your own. I recommend a scramble to the summit of A'Chir from Bealach an Fhir-bhogha, returning the same way. From there, you can pick up a traverse below some boilerplate slabs of granite (on the Glen Iorsa flank) to reach Cir Mhor for onward adventures.
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 Just back from Arran yesterday and staying in Sannox. Seems the Corrie Golf Club may not be selling food anymore but the Sannox Bay Hotel's food is excellent. Just remember that some hotels/pubs in Arran just shut for the sake of it when business is slow as we found out on Friday night!
Some of our crowd did part A'Chir Ridge but it is advisable to use ropes etc as they had to abseil down a couple of difficult parts. Not recommended in wet weather.
Suidhe Fhearghas is quite steep and much easier going up as it is a soul destroying decent. Also be careful descending down from Cir Mhor down to the Saddle as it is easy to take the wrong route...I know!!
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Paddy - thanks as ever for the advice (yet to find your guide in 'sunny' Newcastle)...
Irene - looks like I will lose some of that weight then....and the route info...I need to live again to do the Welsh 3000s in a week or two...
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Also be careful descending down from Cir Mhor down to the Saddle as it is easy to take the wrong route.
Even if you're on the right route, it's a complete mess, being one of those routes featuring steep granite slabs that are rotting to form slippery gritty slopes. If you try and avoid the Saddle by staying high, then the Witches Step is another place with steep, rotting, gritty slopes.
You should be able to get that book in Newcastle. I passed through the city last Friday and it looked like the sort of place that would stock it!
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Mmmm sounds nice; perhaps I will stay on the beach.
The outdoor emporia tried yesterday did not have copies of said venerable volume - maybe I need to wander further!
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They have a big pile of them constantly available at the TIC where you step ashore on Arran. I think they order them by the boxload!
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