Carnach Mor

About Carnach Mor

Sitting in the wilder, quieter west of Arran, this broad moorland hill offers a rugged contrast to the island’s jagged granite peaks. Rising above remote Glen Iorsa, its summit provides a superb, distanced perspective of the dramatic skyline featuring Goatfell and Cir Mhor, overlooking the deep trenches of the northern glens.

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Did You Know?

• •The name originates from the Gaelic Càrnach Mòr, which translates as the 'Big Stony Place.' This likely refers to the weathered granite boulders and rocky outcrops that break through the thick heather and peat hags of the upper slopes.
• •The hill is frequently traversed by walkers tackling the 'Arran West' ridge, a quieter alternative to the popular Goatfell range, typically linking Carnach Mor with the neighbouring summits of Beinn Bharrain and Beinn Bhreac.
• •Its position on the western edge of the northern massif provides an expansive view over the Kilbrannan Sound to the Kintyre Peninsula, with the distinctive profiles of the Paps of Jura often visible on the western horizon.
• •The eastern slopes drop steeply into the head of Glen Iorsa, a vast and lonely glaciated valley that contains the island’s longest river and serves as a significant sanctuary for Arran's red deer population.
• •Despite its modest height, the lack of maintained trails means you will likely spend more time negotiating the island's stubborn heather and hidden bogs than you would on a much higher, well-trodden Munro.