Cock of Arran.
Start. Lochranza.
Route. Lochranza - Newton Point - Rubha Creagan Dubha - Fairy Dell - Cock of Arran - Ossian's Cave - Laggan - Creag Ghas Laggan - Lochranza.
Notes. A ccording to the guidebook The Cock of Arran is a classic coastal walk, it turned out to be that and more, we started the walk from the delightful village of Lochranza, with it's romantic castle overlooking Loch Ranza, a charming sea loch, following the coastal path around Newton Point to reach Fairy Dell before an easy scramble over the rocks at An Scriodan, two miles further on the whitewashed cottage at Laggan is reached, this marked the start of the climb, steep at first then swinging right to climb gently across the slopes of Creag Ghlas Laggan, a cairn on the coll marked the easy descent with the Isle of Arran Distillery always visible guiding us home.
Views across Loch Ranza with the hills of Kintyre in the distance.
Looking to the cottages of the delightfully named, Fairy Dell.
Sue takes time to soak up the views on the scramble at An Scriodan.
From the sandstone blocks near the Cock of Arran, stunning views across the Sound of Bute to the cliffs at Skipness Point.
This is one of the ruined buildings at Laggan Harbor, the remains of a small mining and salt collecting community, long dead, look carefully on the rocks above the shingle bank, you may find a fossilized caterpillar trail, it's a long story (or pathetic excuse) why I never got any photographs for my trouble.
The steep shingle beach near Laggan Cottage.
From the shingle beach near Laggan Cottage spectacular views to the mouth of Loch Fyne with Kintyre to the left.
Laggan Cottage marks the start of our return route, a steep climb under the cliffs of Creag Ghlas Laggan.
The stunning view over Laggan Cottage helps ease the pain of the climber.
On easier ground looking to the Firth of Clyde and the Ayrshire coast.
Just as good, the views across the Sound of Bute.
Descending to Glen Chalmadale looking to Caisteal Abhail and the Witch's Step.
The Isle of Arran Distillery forever guiding us home.