Isle of Arran
DOUBLE CORBETT CIRCUIT
NR999377 At the
1
end of the Glen Rosa road, there’s a small car park where the road turns into a track. Follow this, passing through a gate in a deer fence after 500m and continue for another 1.5km along the south bank of Glenrosa Water until you reach a bridge crossing Garbh Allt. With a gentle waterfall smoothing the rocks on your left and Glen Rosa framing the view in front, this is the best place you’ll find for a quick coffee break before beginning the first ascent.
NR982386 Cross the 2
bridge and immediately leave the main track onto a smaller, occasionally boggy path which leads off to the left, following Garbh Allt upstream. After about 100m, go through a gate and continue uphill between a fence and the river as the path becomes less steep
– there are more impressive waterfalls to enjoy. Ignore the turning towards Beinn a’ Chliabhain on your right, and continue through another gate so the fence and river are now both on your left. Keep to the path near the river until you reach a third gate on your left – go through this and hop across the river on large boulder stepping stones.
NR970385 Having 3
crossed Garbh Allt, ignore the stile and continue to follow the river, now on your right, for 260m. As the path along the bank comes to an end, bear left towards a gate in a deer fence. From here, keep to the trodden, grassy path heading north-west up the south-eastern flank of Beinn Nuis. The ascent is steep in places and requires negotiation over and around boulders, leading up above the eastern crags of the ridgeline approaching the summit. From here, there are spectacular views down over Coire a’ Bhradain and the precipitous eastern face of Beinn Tarsuinn. To the south, look for the incongruous lump of Ailsa Craig protruding from the outer reaches of the Firth of Clyde, while in the west Jura’s Paps peak over dividing Kintyre.
NR955399 From Beinn Nuis continue along the ridge and down to a saddle as the path becomes grassy and easier going. The final ascent of Beinn Tarsuinn is straightforward and rewarded by magnificent views down into Glen Rosa and the south-west Highlands beyond.
NR959412 From the 5
summit of Beinn Tarsuinn (826m), descend to Bealach an Fhirbhogha – a narrow pass between Beinn Tarsuinn and A’ Chir – following scraps of path amongst the boulders and scrambling where required. Take some time to find the easiest route, passing Consolation Tor and ignoring the route down to Beinn a’ Chliabhain on your right.
NR963415 Reaching 6 a small cairn in Bealach an Fhir-bhogha, the path ahead splits in two; choose the left fork, which skirts around the western base of A’ Chir avoiding the technical scrambling (or Moderate graded rock climbing) required to tackle the ridge. After 1.2km, these paths rejoin above Coire Buidhe, where you should follow an obvious rocky path north-east towards the small summit of Cir Mhor (799m). Caisteal Abhail dominates the view north, with mighty Goatfell to the east.
NR973430 From the 7
summit, retrace your steps for about 6m and look for a path on your left heading initially south for a short distance, before turning east to descend below the summit crags. After walking down a series of steep man-made rock steps and loose switchbacks you’ll reach The Saddle.
NR978430 At The
8
Saddle’s first path junction, turn right and follow a good path south for 4.5km along the western bank of Glenrosa Water until you reach the same bridge over Garbh Allt you crossed near the beginning of the walk. From here, retrace your steps back to the road end.