5th June 2025 - Mullach Buidhe from Pirnmill
Walk Details
Distance walked: 7.1 miles
Total ascent: 3188 ft
OS map used: 361 - Isle of Arran
Time taken: 6 hrs
Route description: Pirnmill-Allt Gobhlach-Meall Donn-Beinn Bhreac-Mullach Buidhe-Beinn Bharrain-Casteal na h-lolaire-Allt Gobhlach-Pirnmill
For today's walk I've made my way to Pirnmill on the west coast of Arran to do a route from my guidebook that takes in the hills directly above the village. Unfortunately the weather this morning was not conducive to hillwalking; dull, overcast, and with the cloud sitting on the hills. The forecast was for it to improve, but with it taking longer than I expected I made a stop on the way to Pirnmill to take in the stone circles and standing stones of Machrie Moor. Despite that detour the cloud was still on the tops of the hills when I arrived in Pirnmill around midday, so I had my lunch before setting off to give more time for the cloud to clear. By the time I'd finished the cloud had lifted off the tops of the hills, and it had started to brighten up. My walk was then accompanied by gradually improving weather with a bit of sunshine breaking through the cloud, better visibility for taking in the views, and compared to the week so far lighter winds.
From where I parked my car in Pirnmill I left the village by taking a track signposted as a footpath just north of The Lighthouse restaurant. I followed this uphill until I reached a left-hand bend at woodland, where I crossed a stile and took a footpath up through the woods. On exiting the woods I followed the gorge of Allt Gobhlach uphill before leaving it to head uphill across moorland and up the hill of Meall Donn to reach the northern top of Beinn Bhreac. After taking in the view I made my way south along the ridge to Beinn Bhreac, Mullach Buidhe, and then Beinn Bharrain. My route down was via the ridge of Casteal na h-lolaire and across moorland to reach a weir on Allt Gobhlach. After crossing Allt Gobhlach at the weir I followed the gorge downhill to pick up the path that I made my ascent on earlier. I then retraced my steps back down to Pirnmill.
Total ascent: 3188 ft
OS map used: 361 - Isle of Arran
Time taken: 6 hrs
Route description: Pirnmill-Allt Gobhlach-Meall Donn-Beinn Bhreac-Mullach Buidhe-Beinn Bharrain-Casteal na h-lolaire-Allt Gobhlach-Pirnmill
For today's walk I've made my way to Pirnmill on the west coast of Arran to do a route from my guidebook that takes in the hills directly above the village. Unfortunately the weather this morning was not conducive to hillwalking; dull, overcast, and with the cloud sitting on the hills. The forecast was for it to improve, but with it taking longer than I expected I made a stop on the way to Pirnmill to take in the stone circles and standing stones of Machrie Moor. Despite that detour the cloud was still on the tops of the hills when I arrived in Pirnmill around midday, so I had my lunch before setting off to give more time for the cloud to clear. By the time I'd finished the cloud had lifted off the tops of the hills, and it had started to brighten up. My walk was then accompanied by gradually improving weather with a bit of sunshine breaking through the cloud, better visibility for taking in the views, and compared to the week so far lighter winds.
From where I parked my car in Pirnmill I left the village by taking a track signposted as a footpath just north of The Lighthouse restaurant. I followed this uphill until I reached a left-hand bend at woodland, where I crossed a stile and took a footpath up through the woods. On exiting the woods I followed the gorge of Allt Gobhlach uphill before leaving it to head uphill across moorland and up the hill of Meall Donn to reach the northern top of Beinn Bhreac. After taking in the view I made my way south along the ridge to Beinn Bhreac, Mullach Buidhe, and then Beinn Bharrain. My route down was via the ridge of Casteal na h-lolaire and across moorland to reach a weir on Allt Gobhlach. After crossing Allt Gobhlach at the weir I followed the gorge downhill to pick up the path that I made my ascent on earlier. I then retraced my steps back down to Pirnmill.
Route map
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On the way to Pirnmill I stop to visit the stone circles and standing stones of Machrie Moor......
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Looking across Kilbrannan Sound to Kintyre as I walk along the track back to the car park next to the A841
Leaving Pirnmill for a track up towards the moors. When it reaches the woodland ahead I'll take a footpath into it.
A waterfall below on the burn in the woodland. Definitely not accessible.
Out of the woodland and looking back across Kilbrannan Sound to Kintyre
Waterfalls in the gorge of Allt Gobhlach..
Leaving the gorge I cross moorland to climb Meall Donn
A look back across the moorland as I climb Meall Donn
Rocky underfoot as I near the top of Meall Donn
Beinn Bhreac to my right
and further to the right, Mullach Buidhe and Beinn Bharrain across Glas Choirein
Coire Fhionn Lochan below as I head up to the northern top of Beinn Bhreac
Coire Fhionn Lochan, Meall Bhig, and Meall nan Damh from the northern top of Beinn Bhreac
A small cairn marks the summit of the northern top of Beinn Bhreac. Looking east and southeast to Caisteal Abhail, Cir Mhor, Goatfell, and Beinn Tarsuinn.
Beinn Tarsuinn, Beinn Nuis, a bit of Loch Tanna, and Beinn Bhreac
Looking across Kilbrannan Sound to the Kintyre peninsula
and north across the top of Meall nan Damh to Skipness Point on Kinytre and to the Cowal peninsula
Looking across Glen Catacol to Meall Mor, where I was yesterday
Finally, Beinn Bhreac, Mullach Buidhe, and Beinn Bharrain to the south
Loch Tanna below as I make my way along the ridge to Beinn Bhreac
Looking back to its northern top with Meall nan Damh to the right
A large and untidy cairn marks the top of Beinn Bhreac
Taking in the view from Beinn Bhreac. Caisteal Abhail, Cir Mhor, North Goatfell, Goatfell, A' Chir, Beinn Tarsuinn, and Beinn Nuis to the east and southeast.
Looking northeast across the Sound of Bute to the Cowal peninsula, Inchmarnock, and the Isle of Bute in the distance
Looking across Glas Choirein to Mullach Buidhe
There's a steep drop as I take in the view across Kilbrannan Sound to Kintyre
Glen Catacol below..
..and Loch Tanna below to my left as I follow the ridge south from Beinn Bhreac to Mullach Buidhe
Caisteal Abhail, Cir Mhor, North Goatfell, Goatfell, A' Chir, Beinn Tarsuinn, and Beinn Nuis to the east, with Loch Tanna below, as I head south along the ridge
Mullach Buidhe ahead
Dubh Loch, Sail Chalmadale, and Glen Scaftigill below
Looking across Glas Choirein to Beinn Bhreac as I make my way up Mullach Buidhe
Caisteal Abhail, Cir Mhor, North Goatfell, Goatfell, A' Chir, Beinn Tarsuinn, and Beinn Nuis to the east, with Loch Tanna and Dubh Loch below
At the trig point on Mullach Buidhe. It's seen better days. The visibility has improved enough so that I can make out the distant hills of the Paps of Jura to the northwest beyond Kintyre.
Looking across Glas Choirein to Beinn Bhreac
Caisteal Abhail, Cir Mhor, North Goatfell, Goatfell, Beinn Tarsuinn, and Beinn Nuis to the east
Looking down to the southwestern corner of Arran with Sail Chalmadale, and Glen Scaftigill below
The rocky towers of the northwestern ridge of Mullach Buidhe separate Coire Roinn from Glas Choirein
Leaving Mullach Buidhe I make the short journey across to Beinn Bharrain
Looking back to Mullach Buidhe
and across Coire Roinn to its northwestern ridge
Approaching the top of Beinn Bharrain
On the summit of Beinn Bharrain, and I've got the best weather of the day for taking in the great view. Starting with, looking back along the ridge to Mullach Buidhe, with Beinn Bhreac to the left.
Caisteal Abhail, Cir Mhor, North Goatfell, Goatfell, Beinn Tarsuinn, and Beinn Nuis to the east
Looking south to the southwestern corner of Arran, and across Kilbrannan Sound to the east coast of Kintyre..
Islay and Jura in the distance beyond Kintyre
Meall Donn and Beinn Bhreac behind the northwestern ridge of Mullach Buidhe
I leave Beinn Bharrain by heading down the ridge of Casteal na h-lolaire towards Allt Gobhlach
Beinn Bhreac and the northwestern ridge of Mullach Buidhe to my right
Nearing the foot of the ridge, and I'm going to cross the moorland to the weir on Allt Gobhlach
Meall Donn, which my route of ascent went up, and Beinn Bhreac
The northwestern ridge of Mullach Buidhe, and the ridge on the right was my way down
Having crossed Allt Gobhlach at the weir I follow it down towards Pirnmill
The gorge that Allt Gobhlach flows down through soon becomes deep and wooded, and gives dramatic views looking back to the rocky ridges above.....
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Heading downhill and I'll soon re-enter the woodland below
A fine evening on the western coast of Arran as I arrive back in Pirnmill..
