Cruach an Lochain

Rising above the southern moorlands of Arran, this expansive Marilyn offers a softer, quieter alternative to the island’s northern granite spires. The terrain is characteristically heathery and peat-stained, leading to a summit that commands a staggering panoramic view across the Firth of Clyde towards the distinctive volcanic plug of Ailsa Craig.

• •The name is derived from the Gaelic 'Cruach an Lochain', which translates as 'the rounded hill of the little loch', a reference to Lochan a' Mhill tucked into its eastern slopes.
• •As the highest point of the southern half of the island, it provides one of the most celebrated 'profile' views of the northern Arran range, clearly showing the famous 'Sleeping Warrior' silhouette formed by the peaks of Bennan and Caisteal Abhail.
• •Geologically, this hill is distinct from the jagged granite peaks to the north; it is part of the southern upland block of Arran, consisting largely of older sedimentary rocks and igneous sills.
• •The ascent from the south or west is often a pathless exercise in navigation through thick heather and bog, making it a far lonelier experience than the well-trodden trails of Goatfell.
• •It is a superb vantage point for spotting the ferry traffic crossing to Ardrossan, provided the Arran mist hasn't decided to reduce your world to a ten-metre radius of damp moss.