📌 Lochranza, Isle of Arran
★★★★
The Cock of Arran is the Isle of Arran’s northernmost headland, apparently named after a prominent boulder which once resembled a cockerel from the sea. A remote but fantastically scenic section of the Arran Coastal Way traces the tip of the cock (as it were), continuing over a rough boulderfield at An Scriodan before reaching more forgiving terrain at the Fairy Dell. Make it a circular walk by starting in Lochranza and climbing the low pass to Laggan first. This abandoned township was once home to dozens of families before the Arran Clearances. Cock Farm is also visible far below the pass, where previous residents included relatives of Daniel Macmillan (publisher) and Harold Macmillan (Prime Minister); this too now lies derelict. This is an excellent walk for wildlife: red deer, dolphins and seals are all frequently spotted in the area.
📷 Chronological photo guide
View from the start, with Lochranza Castle 
Climbing out of Glen Chalmadale 
Glen Chalmadale from the ascent 
Tòrr Nead an Eoin (left) & Meall Mòr 
Bealach at Bearradh Tom a’ Muidhe 
Start of the descent to Laggan 
Track above Cock Farm (centre right) 
Creag Ghlas Cuithe (left) 
Laggan Cottage 
Creag Ghlas Laggan above 
Salt pan ruin (?) 
Dolphins 
Beach near the Cock of Arran 
The Cock rock 
An Scriodan 
Coast beyond An Scriodan 
Fairy Dell 
Hutton’s Unconformity 
Newton Point 
Final road section
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish where minor road meets the sea, northeast side of Lochranza, Isle of Arran
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NR 937506
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 55.705181,-5.284221
🚌 Infrequent bus stops on A841 near Newton turnoff
🚗 Car park
📝 Key info
▶ 12 km / 7 mi | ▲ 330 m | ⌛ 3-4 hr
Features: 💧 Loch Ranza; 🏠Laggan; 🧚 Fairy Dell; 👨🔬 Hutton’s Unconformity; 🌊 Newton Point
⬤⬤ Moderate to Tough | Good track / path for most of outward route to Laggan. Coastal return has some quite rough / rocky sections, including at An Scriodan, then improves.
Download file for GPS➡️ Anticlockwise circuit: start & Loch Ranza – Bearradh Tom a’ Muidhe – Laggan – Cock of Arran – An Scriodan – Fairy Dell – Hutton’s Unconformity – Newton Point – start
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: A few dolphins passing by the Cock of Arran, a few seals, leaping fish, grey heron, gannets, black guillemots, oystercatchers & other seabirds. Lizards, dragonflies, a few clegs on ascent and lots of ticks at Laggan. Red deer around Lochranza on a previous visit.
Weather: Sunny with potential thunderclouds developing but not amounting to much. Temperature in low 20s throughout despite early start, light breeze.
July 2022
