Scotland
Beinn a' Chliabhain
675M
2215FT
About Beinn a' Chliabhain
Rising sharply above Glen Rosa on the Isle of Arran, this rugged granite peak offers a more intimate perspective of the island’s jagged interior than its loftier neighbours. The ascent involves navigating steep, boulder-strewn slopes, rewarding walkers with dramatic, close-up views of the Rosa Pinnacle and the formidable granite walls of Cir Mhòr.
Key Statistics
Rank
18th Highest in Region
Parent Range
The Southern Hebrides
Prominence
?
81m
Nearest Town
North Ayrshire
Geology
You are walking on a massive foundation of hard granite. Look for dark bands of volcanic rock like basalt that cut through the mountain's core.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NR970407
Latitude
55.6177°N
Longitude
5.2245°W
Did You Know?
- •The name is derived from the Scottish Gaelic 'Beinn a' Chliabhain', meaning 'Hill of the Cradle' or 'Hill of the Little Basket', likely referring to the hollowed-out shape of the corrie on its eastern flank.
- •The summit provides a front-row seat to the 'Three Brothers', a series of jagged granite buttresses on the western side of the Goatfell range that are iconic to Arran's skyline.
- •It is frequently climbed as part of a high-level horseshoe around Glen Rosa, a route that avoids the busier tourist tracks while traversing some of the most dramatic mountain architecture in the Firth of Clyde.
- •The hill is composed of coarse 'Northern Granite', which has weathered into the distinctive grippy slabs and blocky tors that define the ridges of northern Arran.
- •Despite being physically connected to the island's most famous peak, the lack of a maintained path ensures the summit remains a quiet alternative for those who find the main route up Goatfell a little too crowded.