A hike into the Glens of the Pirnmill Mountains

On By James HandlonIn Hiking Adventures1 Comment

The Route: Gleann Easan Biorach and Gleann Diomhan | Distance: 18.4km
Time: 5.5 Hours | Height gain: 744m | Max Altitude: 411m | Start: Lochranza Village | Finish: Same as start | Map: OS Explorer OL361 | Date: 07/06/2012

Route Map

‘What’s not to like?’, I asked myself early that morning while sitting in my tent having just decided on my hiking route for the day. It would be a classic glen circuit among the less visited and today very misty Pirnmill Mountains in the north of Arran. We would be visiting Loch na Davie source of the water for Arran Whisky (and the purest natural water source in Scotland). The route would also take me through one of the most remote areas on the island and across a couple of bleak and boggy gaps as well as up and down two magnificent Scottish glens. Continue reading “A hike into the Glens of the Pirnmill Mountains” →

Lochranza and the Cock of Arran – Isle of Arran

On By James HandlonIn Hiking Adventures7 Comments

The Route: Lochranza and the Cock of Arran | Distance: 15.4km | Time: 5 Hours | Height gain: 627m | Max Altitude: 267m | Start: Lochranza Village | Finish: Same as start | Map: OS Explorer OL361 | Date: 06/06/2012

Click for Interactive Route Map

We had travelled to the Scottish Isle of Arran to experience something different to add to our inventory of UK hiking, climbing and camping adventures. We hoped for glorious mountains and unspoilt wilderness. Would we find it though?

The trip across the sea by ferry had offered tantalising views of the main mountain ranges to the north of the Island and upon docking we had driven directly north to the isolated and pretty fishing hamlet of Lochranza. Lochranza is a long straggly village that sits beside a charming sea loch. The romantic Lochranza Castle looks out over the sea from a narrow grassy point and I would wager that it would be hard to find anywhere more stereo-typically Scottish looking. Continue reading “Lochranza and the Cock of Arran – Isle of Arran” →

Tight in a bud!

On By James HandlonIn QuotesLeave a comment

“And the day came when the wish to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” – Anais Nin

Indochina Adventure (Part 7) – From the Delta to the DMZ

On By James HandlonIn Indochina AdventureLeave a comment

The Rockpile

Well actually from the DMZ to the Delta! As with most things in my life I seem to do them in reverse order. But here we were in north central Vietnam and it seemed rude not to take a look at the famed (or infamous) depending on your viewpoint DMZ. Continue reading “Indochina Adventure (Part 7) – From the Delta to the DMZ” →