📌 Pirnmill Hills, Isle of Arran
★★★
Coire Fhionn Lochan sits in the shadow of the Pirnmill Hills, cradled by two northerly arms of Beinn Bhreac. Its name – translating as beautiful little loch of the corrie – is apt, and an idyllic, peaceful spot in benign weather. Although the loch sits at more than 300 metres above the nearest road, there is a well-constructed path all the way up, as well as increasingly good views behind across the Kilbrannan Sound to the Kintyre peninsula, with the Paps of Jura visible beyond on a clear day. The walk described here returns by the same route, but a possible extension could be an ascent of one side of the coire, returning by the other (hill walking experience required), or even our full traverse of the hill range.
📷 Chronological photo guide
Coastal views from the start 
Leaving Thundergay 
Traversing above the Allt Mòr 
Crossing the Uisge Soluis Mhòir 
Meall Biorach coming into view 
Meall Biorach (right) 
View back across Kilbrannan Sound, Paps of Jura beyond Kintyre in the distance 
Final approach 
Coire Fhionn Lochan 
Coire Fhionn Lochan 
View from the slopes of Beinn Bhreac (not on this route)
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish immediately south of Mid Thundergay, on the coast road 1.5 mi north of Pirnmill, Isle of Arran
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NR 879466
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 55.666327,-5.373328
🚌 Infrequent bus passes start – probably stops on request
🚗 Verge parking (gets full), or more space to north
📝 Key info
▶ 5 km / 3 mi | ▲ 330 m | ⌛ 1.5-2 hr
Features: 💧 Coire Fhionn Lochan
⬤ Moderate | Track at first, then well-built hill path, climbing steadily.
Download file for GPS➡️ Out-and-back walk: start – Mid Thundergay – Uisge Soluis Mhòir – return by outward route
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: Red squirrel at Thundergay, small birds.
Weather: Dry but mostly overcast – sunnier skies visible to the north. Temperature in mid teens.
July 2022
