Scotland
Beinn Dubh Airigh
459M
1506FT
About Beinn Dubh Airigh
Standing as a broad, moorland sentinel on the western side of Arran, this Marilyn offers a rugged, pathless experience away from the crowded granite peaks further north. Its heather-clad slopes overlook Glen Iorsa, providing a quiet vantage point for watching the sun set over the Kilbrannan Sound and the distant Kintyre Peninsula.
Key Statistics
Rank
126th Highest in Region
Parent Range
The Isle of Arran
Prominence
?
181m
Nearest Town
Argyll and Bute
Geology
You are walking over tough quartzite and ancient volcanic rocks, both reshaped by heat and pressure to form this rugged foundation.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NM958035
Latitude
56.1805°N
Longitude
5.2908°W
Did You Know?
- •The name translates from Gaelic as the 'hill of the black shieling', a reference to the seasonal huts used by herdsmen when moving livestock to higher summer pastures in centuries past.
- •While it lacks the dramatic granite of Arran's northern giants, the summit provides an exceptional profile view of the 'Witch's Step' (Ceum na Caillich) and the jagged ridge of A' Chir across the glens.
- •To the west, the view is dominated by the long, low spine of the Kintyre Peninsula, which often appears as a dark silhouette against the Atlantic horizon.
- •Navigating the broad, boggy plateau can be more challenging than the climb itself; the lack of a distinct summit path makes the descent toward the prehistoric sites of Machrie Moor an exercise in careful micro-navigation.
