6th June 2025 - Glen Rosa and Beinn Tarsuinn
Walk Details
Distance walked: 12.5 miles
Total ascent: 3614 ft
OS map used: 361 - Isle of Arran
Time taken: 8.5 hrs
Route description: Brodick-A841-B880-Glenshurig Bridge-Glen Rosa-Garbh Allt-Beinn Nuis-Beinn Tarsuinn-Bealach an Fhir-bhogha-Beinn a' Chliabhain-Cnoc Breac-Garbh Allt-Glen Rosa-Glenshurig Bridge-B880-A841-Brodick
For my final walk on Arran I've returned to the mountains of the Goatfell range, taking a route from my guidebook that visits those on the western side of Glen Rosa; Beinn Nuis, Beinn Tarsuinn, and Beinn a' Chliabhain. I've probably got the best weather of the whole week for it. It's forecast to be dry, any cloud on the tops of the hills will lift clear to give some sunny spells through the afternoon, and no more than a strong breeze on the tops. The route starts from Brodick, heads up Glen Rosa to the foot of Garbh Allt, then makes it way up by this burn and across it to climb up to Beinn Nuis. After Beinn Nuis, the mountains of Beinn Tarsuinn and Beinn a' Chliabhain are taken in before returning to Brodick via Garbh Allt and Glen Rosa. I set off from Brodick under cloudy skies and with it just above the top of the mountains. It soon lifted and broke up to give some sunny spells through the afternoon, and great views from the summits.
After parking my car on the shorefront in Brodick I walked west and north along the A841 to the B880, which I briefly walked up to reach the road into Glen Rosa on the right. I walked up this road, crossing Glenshurig Bridge, all the way to its end at Glen Rosa Campsite. From there I followed a track up Glen Rosa, then a path, to reach a footbridge at the foot of Garbh Allt. After crossing the footbridge I took a path on the left up the side of Garbh Allt, then across it on the moorland above, and up to the summit of Beinn Nuis, where I stopped for lunch. Break had, I walked north along the ridge to Beinn Tarsuinn, and after taking the view I made my way down to Bealach an Fhir-bhogha. From here I took a path south along the side of Consolation Tor and then up to the summit of Beinn a' Chliabhain. I then made my way south along the path down the ridge to Cnoc Breac and Garbh Allt, where I joined my outbound route. Once back down in Glen Rosa I retraced my steps back to Brodick.
Total ascent: 3614 ft
OS map used: 361 - Isle of Arran
Time taken: 8.5 hrs
Route description: Brodick-A841-B880-Glenshurig Bridge-Glen Rosa-Garbh Allt-Beinn Nuis-Beinn Tarsuinn-Bealach an Fhir-bhogha-Beinn a' Chliabhain-Cnoc Breac-Garbh Allt-Glen Rosa-Glenshurig Bridge-B880-A841-Brodick
For my final walk on Arran I've returned to the mountains of the Goatfell range, taking a route from my guidebook that visits those on the western side of Glen Rosa; Beinn Nuis, Beinn Tarsuinn, and Beinn a' Chliabhain. I've probably got the best weather of the whole week for it. It's forecast to be dry, any cloud on the tops of the hills will lift clear to give some sunny spells through the afternoon, and no more than a strong breeze on the tops. The route starts from Brodick, heads up Glen Rosa to the foot of Garbh Allt, then makes it way up by this burn and across it to climb up to Beinn Nuis. After Beinn Nuis, the mountains of Beinn Tarsuinn and Beinn a' Chliabhain are taken in before returning to Brodick via Garbh Allt and Glen Rosa. I set off from Brodick under cloudy skies and with it just above the top of the mountains. It soon lifted and broke up to give some sunny spells through the afternoon, and great views from the summits.
After parking my car on the shorefront in Brodick I walked west and north along the A841 to the B880, which I briefly walked up to reach the road into Glen Rosa on the right. I walked up this road, crossing Glenshurig Bridge, all the way to its end at Glen Rosa Campsite. From there I followed a track up Glen Rosa, then a path, to reach a footbridge at the foot of Garbh Allt. After crossing the footbridge I took a path on the left up the side of Garbh Allt, then across it on the moorland above, and up to the summit of Beinn Nuis, where I stopped for lunch. Break had, I walked north along the ridge to Beinn Tarsuinn, and after taking the view I made my way down to Bealach an Fhir-bhogha. From here I took a path south along the side of Consolation Tor and then up to the summit of Beinn a' Chliabhain. I then made my way south along the path down the ridge to Cnoc Breac and Garbh Allt, where I joined my outbound route. Once back down in Glen Rosa I retraced my steps back to Brodick.
Route map
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Goatfell ahead as I walk up the road into Glen Rosa
Onto the track up Glen Rosa. The pointed hill in shadow ahead is Beinn Nuis, my first one of the day.
Just ahead I'll leave the track and take a footpath up the hillside on the left
Garbh Allt as I follow the path up by its side
Looking back down Glen Rosa
Following the path uphill and across moorland towards Beinn Nuis...
Looking back towards Glen Rosa
The path heads down to and across Garbh Allt. That could be a problem if it's in spate...
Looking back down to Glen Rosa and out to Brodick Bay as I climb Beinn Nuis
Beinn Nuis and the ridge to Beinn Tarsuinn
A small cairn marks the summit of Beinn Nuis
Taking in the view from Beinn Nuis. Starting with looking down the valley of Machrie Water to the southwestern corner of Arran.
To the west, looking across Kilbrannan Sound to Kintyre, with Glen Iorsa below. The patch of water on the left is Loch Nuis.
Mullach Buidhe, Beinn Bhreac, Loch Tanna, Meall nan Damh, and a different Beinn Bhreac to the northwest
Looking north along the ridge to Beinn Tarsuinn
Beinn Tarsuinn on the left, Cir Mhor just to its right, then Beinn a' Chliabhain in front of North Goatfell and Goatfell
Finally looking down Coire a' Bhradain and Glen Rosa to Brodick Bay and the Firth of Clyde
Taking in the view across Glen Iorsa to Mullach Buidhe, Beinn Bhreac, Loch Tanna, and Meall nan Damh as I follow the ridge north to Beinn Tarsuinn..
Looking back to Beinn Nuis..
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..and down Coire a' Bhradain through a gap in the crags
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Looking back along the ridge to Beinn Nuis..
..and forward to Beinn Tarsuinn
Nearing Beinn Tarsuinn and I have a great view of the whole of Glen Iorsa..
The Old Man of Tarsuinn. I was looking out for this particular rock formation, there being a photo of it in my guidebook.
Looking across Glen Rosa to North Goatfell and Goatfell
and back along the ridge to Beinn Nuis
Reaching the summit of Beinn Tarsuinn
Looking down Coire a' Bhradain through a gap in the crags to Brodick Bay, Holy Island, and Lamlash Bay
Caisteal Abhail and Cir Mhor to the north, with the Sound of Bute beyond
Looking across Glen Rosa to North Goatfell and Goatfell
Beinn a' Chliabhain, Brodick Bay, Holy Island, Lamlash Bay, and Coire a' Bhradain below
Looking south along the ridge to Beinn Nuis
Finally, taking in the view northwest to Meall nan Damh, Beinn Tarsuinn (obviously a different one), Beinn Bhreac, and across Kilbrannan Sound to Kintyre
Descending the path to Bealach an Fhir-bhogha
From Bealach an Fhir-bhogha I follow a narrow path along the side of Consolation Tor towards Beinn a' Chliabhain
The granite slabs of Pagoda Ridge on A' Chir
Looking down Coire Daingean and across Glen Rosa to North Goatfell and Goatfell
Heading for Beinn a' Chliabhain
Looking back to A' Chir and Cir Mhor, with Caisteal Abhail in the gap between them
On the summit of Beinn a' Chliabhain. Glen Rosa below leads down to Brodick Bay.
Looking across Coire a' Bhradain to Beinn Nuis
A better view down Glen Rosa as I make my way south along the ridge
Looking across the foot of Coire a' Bhradain to the rounded hill of Ard Bheinn in the distance
and back along the ridge to Meadow Slabs on Beinn Tarsuinn, the rocky knoll of Consolation Tor, Bealach an Fhir-bhogha, and the ridge to A' Chir
North Goatfell and Goatfell across Glen Rosa
Making my way down the ridge
Looking along the side of Beinn a' Chliabhain and up Glen Rosa to Caisteal Abhail, Cir Mhor, and Suidhe Fhearghas on the other side of The Saddle
Following the path down the ridge and towards Cnoc Breac
Glenshant Hill and Creag Rosa, and Glen Rosa down to Brodick Bay
Approaching Cnoc Breac
Looking across Coire a' Bhradain to Beinn Nuis and Beinn Tarsuinn
and back up the ridge to Beinn a' Chliabhain, with Goatfell on the right
On Cnoc Breac
From Cnoc Breac I follow the path down to Garbh Allt, and join my outbound route...
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Cir Mhor in the distance as I make it back down to Glen Rosa
and looking back to Beinn a' Chliabhain as I walk along the track down Glen Rosa
My walking holiday on Arran comes to an end with following the track and lane down Glen Rosa for a walk back to Brodick..
