Scotland
Caisteal Abhail East Top
760M
2493FT
About Caisteal Abhail East Top
Perched on the rugged granite ridges of northern Arran, this high subsidiary shoulder offers a dramatic perspective of the Witches’ Step. Reaching the summit involves navigating the island’s characteristic weathered terrain, rewarding walkers with a close-up view of the main peak’s castellated tors and the deep trench of Glen Sannox.
Key Statistics
Rank
9th Highest in Region
Parent Range
The Southern Hebrides
Prominence
?
34m
Nearest Town
North Ayrshire
Geology
You are walking across a foundation of solid granite, cut through by narrow bands of dark volcanic basalt.
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NR974443
Latitude
55.6503°N
Longitude
5.2202°W
Did You Know?
- •The name Caisteal Abhail is Gaelic for 'Fortress of the Ptarmigan', a nod to the castle-like granite tors that crown the main summit ridge.
- •From this vantage point, you look directly across the dramatic void of the North Sannox Cirque toward the sharp peak of Cìr Mhòr and the jagged A' Chir ridge.
- •The East Top is a key waypoint for those attempting the traverse toward Ceum na Caillich, or the Witches' Step, a notorious and formidable V-shaped notch in the skyline.
- •The terrain here is defined by coarse granite which provides excellent grip for boots in the dry, though the weathered boulders can be deceptively unstable.
- •Being classified as a 'Tump' suggests a modest hillock, which feels like a slight clerical oversight when you are standing on a narrow granite spine 760 metres above the sea.