Scotland
Ard Bheinn
512M
1680FT
About Ard Bheinn
Tucked away on the western side of the Isle of Arran, this modest peak offers a quieter alternative to the island's jagged northern giants. It is the highest point of the Shiskine Hills, a complex volcanic landscape where grassy slopes hide fascinating geological remains and provide clear views across the Kilbrannan Sound towards Kintyre.
Key Statistics
Rank
31st Highest in Region
Parent Range
The Southern Hebrides
Prominence
?
143.8m
Nearest Town
North Ayrshire
Geology
You are walking across the Arran Central Complex, built from layers of volcanic ash, hardened lava, and speckled crystalline rocks.
Classifications
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NR944328
Latitude
55.5457°N
Longitude
5.2590°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is derived from the Gaelic Àrd Bheinn, meaning 'High Mountain'; a title that, while arguably ambitious for its 512-metre stature, reflects its dominance over the surrounding western moorlands.
- •Geologically, the hill is part of the Arran Central Igneous Complex and represents the remnants of an ancient volcanic caldera, which contributed to its status as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
- •The summit provides a unique western perspective of the 'Sleeping Warrior', the famous profile formed by the northern Arran peaks of Casteal Abhail and Ceum na Caillich.
- •It is frequently climbed as part of a three-peak circuit of the Shiskine hills, typically bagged alongside the neighbouring tops of Beinn Tarsuinn and A' Chruach.
- •Naming a hill 'High Mountain' on an island that boasts Goatfell suggests the original namers either had a great deal of local pride or had simply never ventured to the north end of the island.