Gaelic in the Mountains - Meall Mor

Understanding Arran’s many evocative Gaelic place names adds another dimension to walking in the island’s hills. On this walk, a local Gaelic speaker illustrates their descriptive nature and shares the stories and characters associated with them.

In addition, this route has wildlife and scenic interest all the way as it winds its way up through two beautiful glens before taking to the little-frequented hills, giving vistas of Arran’s central mountain complex and over the Kilbrannan Sound.

Overview

Distance 14km

Highest Point Gained 575m - Beinn Bhreac

Total Ascent 720m

Walk Duration 7hrs

Terrain Majority of walk on pathless, rough moorland, some of it boggy. Some steep ascents and descents.

Technical Rating Moderate

Endurance Rating 3

Cost £25

Date Friday 16 May 2025

Meeting Time 08.30

Meeting Place Festival Hub at the Auchrannie Playbarn. Transport to the start & finish of this walk is provided from there.

Walk description

The walk starts at the car park at Fairhaven in Catacol. It takes the path up Glen Catacol and then into Gleann Diomhan past the rare endemic Arran whitebeams to the top of the pass.

Here the route leaves the path & works its way up wild pathless terrain first onto Beinn Bhreac and then over to the heathery hill of Meall Mor, before stravaiging across the moorland to the trig point above Catacol. With few people frequenting these hills, there are good chances of spotting mountain wildlife. There is a final steep descent to the public road & the short walk back to the cars.

This walk is organised by the Arran Mountain Festival, a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation SC 052229, supported by Auchrannie Leisure Ltd.