Arran Mountain Festival Open Meeting
The first Open Meeting of the Arran Mountain Festival was held on 10 May at the Arran Mountain Rescue Team’s base at Cladach. The evening was a resounding success with a good mix of islanders coming along to hear about the pass successes of the Festival and the highlights of the forthcoming one, 16-19 September 2011.
The annual Festival enables locals and visitors alike to explore Arran’s fantastic mountains in the safe hands of experienced guides. In its fifth year the Festival attracts many repeat visitors to the island. It is a community-run event, organised by a committee of volunteers and made possible by dedicated volunteer walk leaders donating their time and expertise.
The Festival concentrates on high level all-day walks. This year there are 18 walks on offer over the four days, taking in 14 different routes, including Caisteal Abhail and Cir Mhor, Three Beinns, and the A’Chir ridge walk. There are six new routes this year: the walks programme will be on the website shortly, and bookings will open on 1 June www.arranmountainfestival.co.uk There is a 2-day navigation course on offer and other outdoor activities in conjunction with Arran Adventure and Flying Fever.
A tour of the Arran Mountain Rescue Team’s base following a presentation by the Festival chair, Corinna Goeckeritz. The Team provides vital search and rescue assistance to walkers and climbers. It is made up of volunteers from the island who give up their time freely and without pay when an emergency arises. All Team members receive regular training through a mix of formal courses and workshops at the base and planned exercises out on the hills and mountains. The Festival especially thanks the AMRT for the use of their base for the Festival meeting, and for their continued support over the years of the Festival.
For anyone that didn’t make it along to the Mountain Rescue base, the Festival is still looking for volunteers, “Friends of the 2011 Arran Mountain Festival”, and Sponsors. All Festival supporters will receive a 2011 Arran Mountain Festival car sticker. If you would like to support the Festival, email info@arranmountainfestival.co.uk or phone Corinna on 01770 302462.
