Scotland
Cruach Maolachy
379M
1243FT
About Cruach Maolachy
Tucked away on Arran’s quieter western side, this rounded moorland summit offers a gentler alternative to the island's jagged northern peaks. Reaching its trig pillar provides a superb vantage point over the Shiskine valley and across the Kilbrannan Sound towards the long, low spine of the Kintyre peninsula.
Key Statistics
Rank
192nd Highest in Region
Parent Range
The Isle of Arran
Prominence
?
113m
Nearest Town
Kilmelford
Geology
You are walking on ancient lava from the Tayvallich Volcanic Formation. This volcanic rock has been naturally transformed and hardened into the rugged ground beneath your boots.
Nearby Fells
Creagan Airich Chaimbeulaich
Cruach Maolachy East Top
An Cula
Cnoc a' Chreachain
Cnoc Chaorainn
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NM893143
Latitude
56.2751°N
Longitude
5.4034°W
Did You Know?
- •The name derives from the Gaelic Cruach Mhaolach, meaning 'bald hill' or 'bare stack,' which describes the treeless, rounded character of the moorland summit.
- •From the top, hikers can look down onto the prehistoric landscape of Machrie Moor, where several bronze-age standing stones are visible on the coastal plain below.
- •The hill is frequently climbed in tandem with the neighbouring Cnoc Dubh to the south, creating a pleasant circuit overlooking the farmland of the Shiskine valley.
- •While the height is modest, the Arran heather is remarkably efficient at making a 379-metre climb feel like a much longer expedition.