Ben Arthur - The Cobbler

DATE:                        March 2009

LOCATION:              Ben Arthur (The Cobbler)

CONDITIONS:         Bright and sunny 14C

COMMENTS:

Since school age, I wanted to climb the iconic “Cobbler” and decided today was the day. Growing up in Glasgow, with a few visits to Arrochar during school trips, it seemed all my outdoor loving friends had climbed this mountain, but for one reason or another, I hadn’t. Many a time I would look up from Loch Long, naively trying to find the mountain that was shaped like a guy who fixed shoes.

Named after a cobbler’ last, the device to hold the shoe whilst being formed, this mountain has wonderful skylines viewed some distance back from the main valley approach from Loch Long. Via the car park on the A82 there is an obvious forestry commission path enabling access to the upper valley. This path is well established with a great number of annual visitors who utilise the easy approach to the neighbouring Munros of Beinn Narnain and Ben Ime.

Following the zigzagging path up the hill, I was soon out of the forest and following the waters of  the Allt a'Bhalachain burn. The weather was terrific with a light breeze and uninterrupted sunshine, heralding a suggestion of warmth for so early in the year. I was enjoying my first climb of the season in shirt sleeves with my winter woollies well hidden in the backpack.

Reaching the famous Narnain boulders, strewn over the hillside, the emerging view of my destination was stunning. The contrast of Ben Arthur to its surroundings is so striking, with its jagged, rocky top compared to the rolling grass covered hills leading back down to the Loch. It’s as though something simply scooped away the centre of the mountain in one coarse grab, leaving the ragged debris behind. 

Walking parallel to the burn, the going was nice and easy, with the warmth of the sun on my body and the mountain looming ever steeper ahead. Within 30 mins of topping out of the forest, the path makes a cross roads just below the rocky face of the mountain. One route towards Ben Ime, one route to Beinn Narnain, or the last; a trek to the rear of the Cobbler for a relatively straight forward accent. I chose a different approach.

Branching off the track, I headed straight up through the collection of large boulders below what would be the centre of the anvil. As the sun slide behind my destination, and shadows dropped the air temperature, I began to generate my own warmth. The route was a terrific scramble, climbing over boulder outcrops, grassy verges and many smaller sheep tracks. Enjoying the ‘hands on’ grapple to the top was most enjoyable surpassed only by the shear glory of cresting the top, returning into bright sunlight and the wonderful views below.

After a challenging accent, it was with shear joy that I took in the panorama. Looking west to Ben Ime, clad with the last snows of spring, and then south to the Clyde estuary, the vantage point was splendid. To the north, the mountain's distant highland cousins stand proud, but don’t feel within ‘touching distance’ the way the Arrochar Alps do. 

Walking further south towards the proper central summit of the mountain, I could make out, far below, other walkers who had chosen to follow the more sedate path. As I reached the ‘eye’ and viewed the true summit beyond, I contemplated climbing the tower of granite, but only for a second. Doing so might be a good idea in company, but a bit ill-advised on my own.

Post lunch, consisting of corned beef sandwiches; I considered heading back down the rear access route and going on to climb Ben Narnain. I could then return to Succoth on a more direct line, however events conspired against me as my telephone signal returned, picking up various messages which effectively ended my outing.

Retreating along the Allt a'Bhalachain burn, with the ache of exercise in my legs, I was entirely satisfied with my climb. I had finally managed to climb the Cobbler, and was left wanting to turn and climb right back up. 

CONCLUSIONS:

Setting out today with high expectations, it was extremely refreshing that the day did in fact live up to these. With the rugged shape and climb and the resultant views from the top, the mountain did in fact do ‘everything it says on the tin.’ With lots of sunshine, little wind and the surroundings of the Arrochar region, can a few hours be spent doing anything better on a solitary walk? I certainly don’t think so.

RATING:                   9/10

EFFORT:                   MED.