Beinn an Tuirc

About Beinn an Tuirc

Rising as the highest point of the Kintyre peninsula, this expansive moorland summit offers a rugged, often boggy ascent. While its character is now defined by a large-scale wind farm, the height provides an exceptional vantage point over the Kilbrannan Sound toward the dramatic granite peaks of the Isle of Arran.

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Did You Know?

• •The name is Gaelic for 'Hill of the Wild Boar'. Local folklore identifies this as the site where the mythical hero Diarmuid of the Fianna slew a venomous boar, only to be mortally wounded by its bristles while measuring the carcass with his feet.
• •Standing at 454 metres, it is the highest point of the Kintyre peninsula and is classified as a Marilyn. Its prominence makes it a key landmark for sailors navigating the waters between the mainland and the islands of the Inner Hebrides.
• •The hill hosts a significant wind farm commissioned in 2001. It holds a dubious place in engineering history as the site of the UK’s first operational turbine tower collapse, which occurred during a period of high winds in 2007.
• •To protect golden eagles from the turbines, land managers implemented a scheme to relocate mountain hares to the slopes. The aim was to create a stable hunting ground away from the blades, encouraging the eagles to hunt in safer zones.
• •From the summit, the view to the east is dominated by the 'Arran Skyline'. You can clearly identify the peaks of Goatfell, Caisteal Abhail, and the Witch’s Step across the Kilbrannan Sound, while the Paps of Jura are often visible to the northwest.
• •Despite being the highest point in the region, your primary companion at the summit is more likely to be a humming Vestas turbine than a fellow hiker, making it a peak for those who prefer industrial scale over mountain solitude.