Sunart.

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Section 10a Beinn Odhar Bheag Rois-Bheinn Sgurr na Ba Glaise An Stac Beinn Mhic Cedidh Sgurr Dhomhnuill Garbh Bheinn Sgurr Ghiubhsachain Beinn Resipol Carn na Nathrach Sgorr Craobh a'Chaorainn Stob Coire a'Chearcaill Druim Tarsuinn Beinn na h-Uamha Creach Bheinn Fuar Bheinn Section 17 Section 3 Section 4 Section 10b Return to Corbett index Return Home.

Beinn Resipol, from Loch Moidart. Beinn Resipol  845m 2775'  Hross Bolstadr, Norse, Horse Farm Map

 

Beinn Resipol 845m

The summit and west ridge of Beinn Resipol.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beinn Resipol, is very much a maritime hill. It is little surprise that it has a Norse name, it is a major landmark from the Minches. The hill is isolated, moated by Loch Sunart and Loch Sheil, it has a simple form, of a fine peak crowning a simple ridge. Like many isolated, bold and simple hills it is irresistible to the local population and is a popular day out for locals and holidaymakers alike. Ben Rinnes, Beinn Tee , Ben Lomond and Schiehallion have the same effect. Ben Resipol is an easy ascent, despite a fearsome appearance and provides Acharachle Primary School with an annual School trip.

Beyond Resipol is Ardnamurchan proper, no high hills here but a wonderful coastline and some fine gabbro hills await those who value their hills above mere tick fodder. Take your time, once past Strontian and Acharacle the roads are Arkaig-slow, take it steady and enjoy the Sunart oak woods.
As with all the Argyll coastline this area has a long and bloody history. In Castle Tioram Clanranald made a big step in its expansion from Islay. The castle has a setting as fine as any, if by a main road it would appear on as many shortbread tins as Eileann Donan.

The castle is on a tidal island, the causeway is only cut by spring tides. It was supposedly built by the divorced wife of a Clanranald cheiftain and was very much a centre of MacDonald power in the area.

It fell only once, taken by Campbell skulduggery for but one night, after skeleton defences were overcome in the absence of the main garrison. The next day the legal occupants returned and recaptured the castle. In 1715, supposedly on a premonition of death, the castle was fired by the last occupant, Allan Mor, as he set out for the rebellion. It is more likely it was to prevent Hanovarian occupation and use. Since then it has decayed gracefully until the very end of the twentieth century.

Sadly since 1998 it is fortified again, not against marauding Campbells this time, but against you and me. Ostensibly for safety the barricades are believed to be there to prepare for the restoration of the castle as a private dwelling. There is no doubt that the precautions are over the top, one notice warning of falling bits, warns you to no further ,all of 300m from the walls and on the mainland. Not so much falling masonry as artillery.
An elaborate renovation and reroofing is planned. It is said that it will be opened to the public, but the small print suggests that it will be for just a few days , and no doubt will pay a heavy toll on ones wallet.

"Public access to Castle Tioram will be made available to nationally recognised standards, comprising a minimum of 24 days per annum as well as by prior appointment. School and educational visits will be encouraged wherever possible."

The sea brought holy men as well as warriors and Loch Sheil is for ever associated with St Finnan. Below Resipol, in the narrows of the loch, is the island of the saint's retreat and also one of the best examples of a Highland burial ground. As well as the remains of a chapel there are also over 1000 years of MacDonald graves on the island. Both sides of the reformation divide and chiefs to nameless masses are buried here. Relics of monastic days remained protected by reverence for centuries in the ruined chapel .Now after an interval of decades an annual mass is held on the Green Isle. Look for it as you gaze over to Moidart.

Of course you will pick a clear day to climb Resipol, or any Ardnamurchan hill for that matter. This is one of The Great Views. A mix of land and water and hills all around. You are close to the Lochaber Munros and the Isles here, all better appreciated for the isolation of this island like peak.

To climb Resipol, there are really only two alternatives. West or East, althoug a steep ascent is possible from the south. The Eastern approach is probably, for road travel reasons the most popular. A steady climb up from an old track serving the Strontian Leadmines will get you to the summit in under 3 hours.

My ascent was from the west as I was based in Salen, at a delightful B&B whose specialty, other than fine food was a nightly visit from some pine martins . Its Tarbert Cottage by the way and highly recommended (1999). The western approach is from the Resipole farm campsite and starts by following a deep gorge through regenerating oakwood. Look out for the Highland cattle here, a bull was demolishing a birch tree as I passed. Its also a place to see wood warblers and pied flycatchers in the spring/early summer.

A good path follows the Allt Mhic Chiarain, occasionally we had to wade bogs, churned up as evidence of the popularity of Ben Resipol, but the proximity of the gorge helps to keep most of the way dry. The magical forest continued for some miles, sadly a glimpse of plantation was possible to the north, a plantation threatening the wetland of Claish Moss and the shores of Loch Sheil, but this route is still mercifully clear.
The hill looks fearsome from this approach, all rock and crag. Higher up its is obvious that the rock is pleasantly angled and broken, but fun scrambling is easy to find all the way up the final cone. You can vary the difficulty on lots of escapable problems all the way up the steeper upper hillside.

The summit code from Carn Mor na Comhdhail

The summit is a small outcrop, the OS shows no trig point, but a hill of this signifigance would have had one, and it is still there only lying on its side just below the top, intact but fallen. A similar case is on Beinn Duirinnis on Loch Etive. Gradualy the trigs are falling prey to the elements. Now only a few are required in this day of satellite aided surveying. I suppose we must have been like many previous visitors, pacing around the cairn with the 'bins taking in the view, 'is that the Paps of Jura behind Mull?' 'Can you see Mingulay, Ladhar Bheinn, Cruachan…..'

Rather than return down the steep west ridge an easier route was taken back to the path, by arcing around to the north over Carn Mor na Comhdhail, providing good views up Loch Sheil. Soon the good path was underfoot and the violets and primroses of the woods replaced the dun heights, only just free of winter. The bull was resting after his bout with the birk, and the pine martins were waiting for their bread and jam.

 

Beinn Resipol seen from Sgurr Dhomhnuill in Ardgour

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