Clach Bheinn

Rising steeply above the northern coastline of Arran, this rugged hill offers a quieter alternative to the island's jagged central peaks. Its broad, heathery slopes provide an expansive vantage point over Loch Ranza and the Kilbrannan Sound towards Kintyre, making the climb feel significantly more remote than its height suggests.

• •Clach Bheinn translates from Scottish Gaelic as 'Stone Hill' or 'Stony Mountain'. While it lacks the sheer rock faces of the nearby peaks, its summit plateau is characterized by weathered granite boulders and glacial erratics typical of Arran's unique northern geology.
• •The hill is most frequently ascended as part of a high-level circuit from the village of Lochranza. This route typically links the summit with its neighbours, Beinn Tarsuinn and Beinn Lochain, across a wide, airy ridge that stays above 500 metres for most of its length.
• •The summit serves as a grandstand for the 'Arran Alps' to the south. The jagged profiles of Caisteal Abhail and the A' Chir ridge are laid out in profile, offering a perspective of the island's interior that is often missed from the more popular glens.
• •Despite the name suggesting a stony ascent, the approach from the north is a notorious test of waterproof footwear. The lower slopes are home to some of the island's most persistent peat hags, which must be negotiated before reaching the rocky upper ground.