Arran Corbetts day 1 – Beinn Tarsuinn & Caisteal Abhail

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 the shapely peak of Beinn Nuis and two of Arran’s Corbetts.

 | Overview

 | Walk description

Starting at Glen Rosa campsite, this route starts with a gentle meander up Glen Rosa, before climbing steeply up the western side of the valley along the Garbh Allt stream. The path levels out across peaty moorland before ascending steeply to the first summit of the day, Beinn Nuis.
The reward for the long climb is an easy undulating walk along the broad ridge to Beinn Tarsuinn, the first of the two Corbetts. Fine views of the Arran mountains and beyond and the unique feature of the “Old Man of Tarsuinn” will keep you entertained along the way.

Dropping down from Beinn Tarsuinn, 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.

Cir Mhor is also bypassed (and saved for the second Arran Corbetts day), before ascending the sweeping arch of Hunter’s ridge to Caisteal Abhail, its plateau-like summit dotted with impressive granite tors. It is the second Corbett of the day and Arran’s second-highest after Goat Fell.
The descent via Sail an Im is straightforward along another sweeping ridge with breath-taking views north up Loch Fyne and the Kyles of Bute. The walk ends at North Glen Sannox carpark.

 | Advised Kit List