3rd June 2025 - Lochranza to Laggan and back
Walk Details
Distance walked: 8.4 miles
Total ascent: 1400 ft
OS map used: 361 - Isle of Arran
Time taken: 5 hrs
Route description: Lochranza-A841-Newton Road-Glen Chalmadale-Laggan-Arran Coastal Way-Lochranza
It's taken a while for yesterday evening's and last night's wet and windy weather to clear, which has resulted in me arriving in Lochranza at lunchtime for today's walk. The forecast is for it to stay very windy and cloudy with the odd shower, but improving a bit through the afternoon with more sunshine. Given the strength of the wind I chose a low-level walk. My route is from one of my guidebooks but done the opposite way round so that I had the wind at my back for the moorland crossing to Laggan. After having lunch at The Sandwich Station in Lochranza I set off under cloudy skies, then a shower passed through while I was crossing the moor to Laggan. However, the rest of the afternoon was fine with some sunny spells but still very windy.
From where I parked my car in Lochranza I briefly walked east along the A841 before taking Newton Road on the left. I followed this to a left-hand bend, where I took a track on the right, signposted as a footpath for Laggan. I took this and walked to the end of the track, then up the footpath across the hillside above Glen Chalmadale, through the gap in the hills and then down to Laggan and the coast. After a stop for a break I followed the Arran Coastal Way west along the coast to Newton Point, and back to Lochranza.
Total ascent: 1400 ft
OS map used: 361 - Isle of Arran
Time taken: 5 hrs
Route description: Lochranza-A841-Newton Road-Glen Chalmadale-Laggan-Arran Coastal Way-Lochranza
It's taken a while for yesterday evening's and last night's wet and windy weather to clear, which has resulted in me arriving in Lochranza at lunchtime for today's walk. The forecast is for it to stay very windy and cloudy with the odd shower, but improving a bit through the afternoon with more sunshine. Given the strength of the wind I chose a low-level walk. My route is from one of my guidebooks but done the opposite way round so that I had the wind at my back for the moorland crossing to Laggan. After having lunch at The Sandwich Station in Lochranza I set off under cloudy skies, then a shower passed through while I was crossing the moor to Laggan. However, the rest of the afternoon was fine with some sunny spells but still very windy.
From where I parked my car in Lochranza I briefly walked east along the A841 before taking Newton Road on the left. I followed this to a left-hand bend, where I took a track on the right, signposted as a footpath for Laggan. I took this and walked to the end of the track, then up the footpath across the hillside above Glen Chalmadale, through the gap in the hills and then down to Laggan and the coast. After a stop for a break I followed the Arran Coastal Way west along the coast to Newton Point, and back to Lochranza.
Route map
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It's lunchtime, and a late start for me, as I set off from a very windy Lochranza
Lochranza Castle sits on a peninsula in Loch Ranza
I walk east along the A841 before turning left onto Newton Road (footpath sign for Laggan)
Torr Nead an Eoin ahead as I take the track that is the start of the footpath to Laggan
The southern end of Lochranza sits below Creag a' Chaise and Creag a' Mhadaidh. The top of the hill on the left is Meall Mor.
I pass an information board on wildlife in the area and of the history of the path
The path follows a nice easy gradient across the hillside
Glen Chalmadale to my right, and the road to Brodick
Looking back to Meall Mor and the southern end of Lochranza below Creag a' Chaise
Further on and I can see the jagged top of Caisteal Abhail in the distance
A last look back towards Lochranza as I near the top of path
There's a very strong wind helping me up to the top
Reaching the top of the path and I get views across the Sound of Bute..
The path takes a gentle gradient down the hillside..
Looking back as a brief shower passes through
Following the path as it zig-zags down the hillside..
Reaching Laggan Cottage, and it's time to stop for a break
The view east along the coast
and across the Sound of Bute
Leaving Laggan Cottage I follow the Arran Coastal Way west
I pass the ruins of a hut on the shoreline
Making my way along the coast, and there's a distinct change in the types of rock on the shoreline, to conglomerates and desert sandstones......
The path becomes very rough as it passes through boulders at An Scrioidan
A huge boulder on the beach
Passing the cottage at the foot of Fairy Dell
Looking back east along the coast
A heath spotted orchid (I think)
Looking across to the coast of Kintyre
The headland on the other side of Loch Ranza comes into view
Views across Kilbrannan Sound to Kintyre as I reach Newton Point..
There's a great view across Loch Ranza to the village with Caisteal Abhail in the distance on the left, and to the round dome of Meall Mor
and looking across Loch Ranza to Coillemore Point
Onto the road at South Newton which I'll follow back to Lochranza
Views across Loch Ranza as I walk along the road..
A final shot of Lochranza Castle