The Cobbler.

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The Cobbler 884m

 The fangs of the North Peak

 This is the Corbett that tempts even the most blinkered Munro bagger . Generations of Glaswegians have cut their mountaineering teeth on its schisty teeth, and thanks to its easy accessibility has always seen a steady stream of pilgrims to it's triple summit.

It was always a moment to savour, on the journey north, by train. Gloomy, dark Glen Douglas was left and across the depths of Loch Long, first the hills of the Bowling Green, then The Brack and finally the crazy turrets of the Cobbler were seen. I was back in the Highlands. Sadly the reality was usually thick cloud, but clear days were most rewarding.

Many times I boarded a train at Queen Street in the hope of a day on the Cobbler, many times I was greeted by rain usually heavy. Fearful of the reputation of the final pinnacle I always went elsewhere, waiting for a dry day suitable for scrambling up exposed mica schist. I have never had a dry day on an Arrochar Munro.

The naming of this hill is curious, I suppose the English name in amongst all the Gaelic, hints at great popularity, but until recently the OS insisted on calling the hill Ben Arthur. Who calls this hill Ben Arthur? It is still there, relegated to brackets, on the latest edition. I think the origin of this name is probably of

greater interest than the often talked about The Cobbler, that is believed to come from a semblance to a cobbler bent over his last (the central peak). The south peak, a squat pinnacle is sometimes known as Jean, his wife. But where does Ben Arthur come from? The OS?

Finally I awoke to a sunny if cold morning on the Ardgarten campsite. It was the long awaited Cobbler day. The gap shown in the forest, to the north of the campsite was taken, although this gap has now been planted. A path remains up the right hand side of the former clearing. Quickly the lower slopes of 'Jean ' were reached and the rope taken out, The south east ridge is a stiff scramble, and is often done unroped, but we were big fearties and pitched the steep bit in the middle. The south peak, being the hardest sees fewer visits and the polish was not too bad on the awkward descent to the col. I roped my companion down, but did not trust his ropework so I soloed afterwards. This I found rather hairy. Non scramblers beware!

The South Peak

 

We passed on the direct route up to the summit as it was snowing by now, but enjoyed the traditional scramble to the summit. Although tame in comparison with the South peak, this final fifteen feet is the Corbett equivalent to the Inn Pin, and is the reason why I left the Cobbler alone in the rain. The summit is a tower left by one of those Arrochar landslides, the landslide now residing as a big boulder field in the corrie. To gain the tiny summit platform involves some interesting moves.

The 'window'

First you must wriggle through a window, under the summit to a wide ledge on the opposite side. The ledge is exposed by quite wide and leads to a pile of boulders which can be climbed to allow access to the top. Of course being a pinnacle this has to be reversed. Most find regaining the ledge to be the worst moment. The ledge does not seem so wide from above.

The Centre Peak from the south peak.

The most spectacular yet the only 'hands in pockets' summit is the North Peak. Ironically this has the best climbing. We enjoyed watching a team on Recess Route.
Supposedly a Severe, but Arrochar severes are a breed apart. A route has been freed up the overhanging arete of the beak that forms the North Peak. E numbers are bad for you. It was on top of this peak, unlike the other two tops , quite busy where I learned that Hereford United had gained a play off place. A year later they were to lose their league status. Fortunes change.	Recess Route
The approach route described above is not often used. Most folk come up by one of two paths from Arrochar, that meet at the Buttermilk Burn half a mile below the Narnain Boulders. These are now cover squalid muddy spaces, but were famous shelter stones in the 30's. If you are really daft a quick approach can be made straight up from Glen Croe, this is a steep grind without the classic view of the corrie as seen in all the books. The horror of the steep haul up the old hydro funicular track is now a thing of the past. The Forestry Commission have built a a path up through the woods at on a more sympathetic line. Should be good news on the erosion front, both hill and knees.
We followed one of these paths to the old pier, once used for torpedo testing, on the main road. Although this passes through forestry, a strip of deciduous woodland was left along the burn, this was filled with birdsong, primroses and wood anenomes giving an attractive but rough end to the day.	The fangs of the north top from below.