There is something special about combining island walking with climbing mountains. Goat Fell is the obvious mountain to climb when on Arran, but Cir Mhor and Caisteal Abhail also provide a wonderful walk with astounding views of Scotland’s celebrated west coast. The initial walk through Glen Rosa’s natural amphitheatre is stunning as is the steep climb onto Cir Mhor’s compact summit. Good paths line the route which, from Cir Mhor, hugs the ridgeline above Glen Sannox and climbs to the bouldery plateau of Caisteal Abhail. On a clear day Northern Ireland, Mull and Ben Nevis are all visible. The descent follows the route of ascent to the col below Cir Mhor, then you retrace your footsteps back to the Glen Rosa road end to catch the bus back to Brodick.
[1] From the B880, turn right into the minor road signposted for the Glen Rosa Cart Track (NS004368). Walk west then north along the single track road, which crosses a river and then climbs gently past a few cottages to reach Glen Rosa Campsite (NS001377). The track becomes a bit rougher here. Continue through the campsite and two gates into Glen Rosa, with the track following the line of the beautiful Glenrosa Water. The track provides good, solid walking as it meanders its way through the glen to reach a footbridge which crosses the Garbh Allt (NR983387).
[2] Once across the footbridge, an excellent path continues north with Cir Mhor standing in splendid isolation at the head of the glen. Walk along the path through heathery ground beneath the steep slopes of Goat Fell and Coire Daingean. The route then climbs very gently to reach the base of Fionn Choire (NR978414). Bear left here to climb a steep, stony path which zig-zags its way underneath the incredible granite slopes of Cir Mhor to reach a col (NR968429) in-between A’Chir and Cir Mhor. Turn right and ascend a steep, narrow path which climbs over some quite bouldery and exposed ground to reach Cir Mhor’s compact summit (NR973431).
There is not a lot of room on top but the views of Arran’s mountains, particularly Beinn Tarsuinn and Goat Fell, are remarkable.
[3] Carefully descend the steep, rocky north-west slopes of Cir Mhor to pick up a narrow path above Glen Sannox. The path hugs the edge of the ridge, providing wonderful views down the glen and across the Firth of Clyde, and then climbs quite steeply up broad slopes towards the flatter summit plateau of Caisteal Abhail (NR969443).
It sits in sharp contrast to the conical, pointed peak of Cir Mhor. Again, the views from Caisteal Abhail are astonishing, especially out across the Kintyre Peninsula to the Paps of Jura and Northern Ireland beyond.
[4] From Caisteal Abhail, retrace your steps south down its grassy flanks to pick up the path above Glen Sannox. Follow the line of the ridge but, just as the path begins to climb back towards Cir Mhor, bear right on to a narrow path (NR970434) which climbs south then south-east to reach the col above Fhionn Coire and in-between Cir Mhor and A’Chir.
[5] Descend the steep path back down Fhionn Coire and into Glen Rosa, then follow the path back through this wonderful glen to cross the bridge over the Garbh Allt. Follow the track back through the campsite onto the single track road back down to the B880 to catch the bus back to Brodick.