Cnoc a' Bhaile-shios

About Cnoc a' Bhaile-shios

Rising above Shiskine in the south of Arran, this moorland Marilyn offers a quieter, gentler alternative to the island’s jagged northern peaks. It is a rounded, heather-clad hill that provides a sprawling perspective of the granite ridges of Goatfell and the Cir Mhòr skyline across the String road.

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Did You Know?

• •The Gaelic name translates as 'Hill of the lower township.' It refers to its position overlooking the historic farming settlements in the Shiskine valley, distinguishing it from the higher grazing grounds further inland.
• •Despite its modest height, this is the highest point on the Isle of Arran south of the String road, the main route that bisects the island into its mountainous north and undulating south.
• •From the summit, the view west across the Kilbrannan Sound to the long spine of the Kintyre peninsula is particularly sharp, often accompanied by the distinct profile of Ailsa Craig rising from the Firth of Clyde to the south.
• •The hill is often climbed from the forestry tracks near Machrie, but walkers should be prepared for the final ascent, which lacks a formal path and requires navigating through thick heather and occasional peat hags.
• •The terrain is a masterclass in southern Arran moorland; if you finish the walk with dry socks, you have either stuck strictly to the forestry tracks or experienced a rare meteorological miracle.