Cruach Eighrach

About Cruach Eighrach

Tucked away in the northern reaches of Arran, this expansive upland offers a rugged, heather-clad contrast to the island’s famous granite ridges. Rising above the Boguillie pass, its broad summit provides a stunning vantage point to survey the jagged silhouettes of the Sannox hills and the Kilbrannan Sound.

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Did You Know?

• •The name is derived from the Scottish Gaelic 'Cruach Eighrach', which translates as the 'Icy Hill' or 'Hill of Ice'. This likely refers to the exposed nature of its plateau, which tends to hold frost and snow longer than the surrounding glens.
• •The summit serves as a premier viewing gallery for the 'Arran Alps'. From the top, you can see the distinctive serrated profile of Caisteal Abhail and the deep, jagged notch of Ceum na Caillich, better known as the Witch's Step.
• •Looking westward across the Kilbrannan Sound, the view extends to the long spine of the Kintyre Peninsula, with the distinctive shapes of the Paps of Jura often visible on the horizon during clear Atlantic weather.
• •The most common approach begins from the top of the Boguillie, the mountain pass road between Lochranza and Sannox, crossing terrain that is famously wild and pathless compared to the well-trodden trails on nearby Goatfell.
• •While the lack of granite crags might suggest an easy stroll, the local topography features a particularly stubborn variety of 'Arran-grade' peat hags designed to test the waterproof seals of even the best walking boots.