The Arran Mountain Festival is a small community-led charity. Our aim is to enable more people to enjoy one of Scotland’s finest island mountain landscapes safely and responsibly. All our walk leaders, the organising committee and even our webmaster give their time and expertise for free, and the Arran Mountain Festival would not exist without them!
If you are interested in becoming a festival volunteer, be it to help organise the event, raise our profile on social media, or to lead festival activities, please get in touch by emailing info@arranmountainfestival.co.uk.
Meet some of your walk and run leaders. Click their name to see more information.
Alistair Hume
What do you do when you don’t lead walks for the Arran Mountain Festival?For relaxation, I play the bagpipes with the Isle of Arran pipe band, I am also a keen sea kayaker and try to play golf as often as I can. I also work part time for World Challenge, a company that specialises in taking groups of teenagers to mainly third world countries for up to five weeks at a time to experience other cultures and assist in project work such as toilet block construction. I have also been a member of the Arran Mountain Rescue Team since 1976 and a lot of my time is spent training with them and being on call 24/7.
Why do you volunteer as an Arran Mountain Festival walk leader?
I like to try and help others experience the wonderful mountains of Arran and pass on any local knowledge and history and ensure that they have a memorable time.
Tell us about a favourite mountain moment.
There have been many favorite moments!!! But for feel good factor it must be a time in Northern Peru while descending from a high 4.500 meter pass and at -10 I came across a young local lad, his face full of snot and minus some fingers and toes from frostbite – he was wearing shorts and sandals. I will never forget the way his face changed when I gave him my cosy warm mountain rescue buffalo jacket that I had cherished for some 20 years.
What is your favourite Arran walk?
Don’t really have one, I love them all!!!
Which piece of kit would you not head into the hills without?
A whistle.
What is your favourite breakfast before a long day out in the mountains?
Anyone I can persuade my wife to make!!!
Andrew Binnie
What do you do when you don’t lead walks for the Arran Mountain Festival?I am involved with marine conservation campaigning locally and nationally and have accommodation for visitors in Cordon, Lamlash.
Why do you volunteer as an Arran Mountain Festival walk leader?
I have been doing this for quite a few years now. It’s a great way to meet folk and introduce them to our wonderful mountains. It’s always fun and different every year, a bit like the weather.
Tell us about a favourite mountain moment.
I am a fan of long-distance walks that take in mountain ridges as part of the journey. I once walked from Lamlash to Lochranza via Arran’s mountains and a ridge top camp, then jumped on the ferry and followed the Kintyre Way to Tarbert and a ferry to Portavadie where I picked up the Cowal Way. A short boat trip across the Kyles of Bute landed me on Bute from where I followed the West Island Way to Rothesay then back to Arran.
What is your favourite Arran walk?
They are all great but I love the Cioch na h-Oighe ridge. The Pirnmill hills from Coire Fhionn Lochan to Beinn Bharrain are less walked but a lovely day out in good weather.
Which piece of kit would you not head into the hills without?
A decent pair of boots.
What is your favourite breakfast before a long day out in the mountains?
Porridge cooked on an open fire with a bit of salt and full fat milk, the fire makes it taste slightly smoked.
Andy Walker
What do you do when you don’t lead walks for the Arran Mountain Festival?Work for The Forestry Commission on Arran, keep bees, play the pipes in Arran Pipe Band, learn Gaelic, sit on committees.
Why do you volunteer as an Arran Mountain Festival walk leader?
I like walking the hills & watching the wildlife so it’s an opportunity to pass on some of what I know.
Tell us about a favourite mountain moment.
Up on Sgurr Alasdair & Inaccessible Pinnacle on a blistering hot day about 6 years ago, the sea was a millpond & every island & hill for miles around was in sight – hard to beat!
What is your favourite Arran walk?
Walking down onto the ridge leading to Cioch na h-Oighe from Mullach Buidhe looking up Loch Fyne & Kyles of Bute to the Cowal & Argyll hills. The ridge looks so narrow & dramatic. Then onto the ridge itself which rises in narrow twisting steps to the summit where the drop all around plunges down into Glen Sannox & to the sea.
Which piece of kit would you not head into the hills without?
Map – I love looking at the features & their names; there is so much history, culture & terrain information in them. And useful for navigation too.
What is your favourite breakfast before a long day out in the mountains?
I don’t have anything special, just my usual cereal & toast.
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Ewen McNeice
What do you do when you don’t lead walks for the Arran Mountain Festival?Socially I walk, climb, mountain bike, kayak and snowboard with family and friends. I also work in Health IT.
Why do you volunteer as an Arran Mountain Festival walk leader?
To help encourage others to experience the wonderful mountains on this island that I was lucky enough to grow up with.
Tell us about a favourite mountain moment.
Getting the end of the Liathach traverse in one piece.
What is your favourite Arran walk?
To the standing stones on Machrie Moor for a picnic, the whole family can enjoy it.
Which piece of kit would you not head into the hills without?
A map and compass.
What is your favourite breakfast before a long day out in the mountains?
Boiled eggs in a cup with toast and a cup of coffee.
Giles Ruck
What do you do when you don’t lead runs for the Arran Mountain Festival?I lead mountain running programmes in the Alps during the summer, such as the iconic Tour de Mont Blanc route, and occasionally mountain expeditions in the greater ranges. Occasionally, I’m spotted in my ‘day job’, working for Foundation Scotland.
Why do you volunteer as an Arran Mountain Festival running leader?
I’m inspired by leading and coaching people into the mountains, especially when they gain new skills and experience, and ultimately new confidence in their abilities. The combination of running, time in the mountains and connections with new people can be so good for mental and physical wellbeing … why wouldn’t I be involved with the Festival?!
Tell us about a favourite mountain moment.
Standing on the Col du Brevent, close to Chamonix, just 2 hours away from completing the infamous “PTL” challenge in the Alps, with my running companion for that ‘race’. We had battled over 300km and 25,000 metres of tricky terrain, rock scrambles and storms, and we had seen incredible sunsets and sunrises several times that week, and wildlife such as Ibex and a Golden Eagle. Utterly sleep-deprived, the total 12 hours of sleep over seven days included 30 minutes in a bin-shed! Yet, here we were, still great companions, upright and at that magical point of transition – from wild and high mountain to civilized valley – after 150 hours on the go, just a stones-throw from the carnival of the Chamonix finish line, including friends, beer and pizza!
What is your favourite Arran run?
Any route that blends some easy soft trails with some decent exposed scrambling. The run into Glen Rosa, followed by some dry rock on Goatfell or Cir Mhor and the Witch’s Step is hard to beat.
Which piece of kit would you not head into the hills without?
A “Plan B” and a “Plan C”. OK, I’ve cheated a bit, it’s not actually kit, but you know what I mean!
What is your favourite breakfast before a long day out in the mountains?
Coffee!
If you’d like to find out more about the companies Giles guides for, check out their websites below:
Run The Alps – https://runthealps.com/
Adventure Running Company – http://www.theadventurerunningcompany.com/
Run Namaste Eat – https://www.runnamasteeat.com/
Jo Totty
What do you do when you don’t lead walks for the Arran Mountain Festival?I’m a mum and wife, I also volunteer with the National Trust for Scotland at Brodick Castle 3 days a week and less frequently for Community of Arran Seabed Trust. I love to have bonfires, go on walks, swim in the sea, am learning Gaelic, and am the chair of this Festival!!
Why do you volunteer as an Arran Mountain Festival walk leader?
I volunteer as I love the mountains and whilst I’m happy to head off with my map and compass and a full bag of exciting kit, I realise that not everyone has the same confidence and skills – I just want to share what I love with as many people as possible!
Tell us about a favourite mountain moment.
Summiting Mount Kilimanjaro without a guide, and being the first woman that day to see the sunrise from the summit.
What is your favourite Arran walk?
The amazing views along the majestic sweeping ridge between Caisteal Abhail and Sail am Im.
Which piece of kit would you not head into the hills without?
Aside from the essential map and compass, it’d have to be a malt loaf – no matter what you try to do to it and no matter what shape it’s become, it’s always edible!
What is your favourite breakfast before a long day out in the mountains?
A massive bowl of cereal, with extra seeds and raisins.
Lucy Wallace
What do you do when you don’t lead walks for the Arran Mountain Festival?I’m lucky as I get to do this every day. I have my own walking and wildlife watching business based on Arran: www.arranwildwalks.com
Why do you volunteer as an Arran Mountain Festival walk leader?
I volunteer for the COAST Holy Isle walk as community driven conservation is a subject that is very close to my heart. I’m very inspired by what COAST have won for the wildlife and people of Lamlash Bay and what they aspire to achieve for the future.
Tell us about a favourite mountain moment.
Watching a golden eagle float past at eye level from the summit of Sgurr Alasdair on the Isle of Skye. I could see the wind ruffling its feathers, and the sunshine twinkling the back of its head.
What is your favourite Arran walk?
Its got the be the Three Beinns, a fabulous ridge walk, with stunning views, wildlife and lots of interest along the way and a wild and remote feel.
Which piece of kit would you not head into the hills without?
Can I have two please? It would be my map and compass.
What is your favourite breakfast before a long day out in the mountains?
Tattie scones, roast tomatoes, poached eggs, beans and buttery mushrooms.
Robbie Adamson
What do you do when you don’t lead walks for the Arran Mountain Festival?
I work as an environmental surveyor based in Hexham in Northumberland. In my spare time I enjoy mountain biking, getting into the hills, and playing my bagpipes.
Why do you volunteer as an Arran Mountain Festival walk leader?
Growing up on Arran gave me my love of the outdoors. The Arran Mountain Festival is a fantastic opportunity to share my love of the hills with a range of different people.
Tell us about a favourite mountain moment.
I am lucky to have a few special moments in the hills but if I had to choose I would have to say going up Goatfell, with my now wife, on our first ‘date’. It was a perfect summer’s day late in the afternoon and amazingly we got the summit to ourselves.
What is your favourite Arran walk?
As a south-ender I would have to pick Cnocan Donn in the south of the island. What it lacks in height it can more than make up for in views and a sense of solitude.
Which piece of kit would you not head into the hills without?
A torch, a perfect excuse to stay on the summit to watch the sunset.
What is your favourite breakfast before a long day out in the mountains?
A big one, less to carry on the hill.