Marilyn · Arran
Mullach Mor
The Big Top, high point of Holy Island in Lamlash Bay off the east coast of Arran. The island is owned by a Buddhist community and the climb passes painted Buddha rock-carvings on its way to a magnificent 314m viewpoint over the Firth of Clyde.
Gaelic: “summit, big” · Pronunciation: mull-ach more
Quick facts
- Height
- 314m/ 1030ft
- Prominence
- 314 m
- Grid ref
- NS 06317 29741
- Nearest city
- Glasgow· 64km
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
Height and prominence cross-checked against the Database of British and Irish Hills (CC BY).
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Standard route
rough grassland 50% · heather moorland 30% · schist outcrops 20%
A foot ferry from Lamlash lands at the north end of Holy Island; from there the path climbs steeply south-east up the spine of the island to the summit. Roughly 5km and 350m of ascent; two and a half hours plus ferry time.
Terrain
A clear stony path the whole way, but steep and rough underfoot in places. Holy Island has feral goats and Eriskay ponies — keep dogs strictly on the lead.
In winter
Snow rarely settles on Holy Island but the ferry is weather-dependent and may not run in winter. Check sailings in advance and accept that a south-westerly gale will keep you on the mainland.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow2h 17m
- Edinburgh5h 59m
OS maps: OS Landranger 69, OS Explorer 361S
Mobile signal: Good signal across most of the island; EE reliable thanks to the Lamlash mast across the bay.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:49
- Sunset
- 21:02
- Civil dawn
- 05:05
- Civil dusk
- 21:45
NOAA Solar Calculator · 13 August 2026
Around Mullach Mor on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Ardrossan Harbour station
Ferry to Brodick (Arran) — Goat Fell, Arran ridge
20km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Brodick
Arran base — Goat Fell, Glen Rosa, the Arran ridge
8km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Arran
Lochranza — northern Arran; revived in 1995; rich sherried releases
25km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Mullach Mor — common questions
- How difficult is Mullach Mor?
- Mullach Mor carries a 1/5 (easy) grade on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Ground conditions: A clear stony path the whole way, but steep and rough underfoot in places.
- How much drop does Mullach Mor have?
- Mullach Mor's prominence is its full height — 314m — because it is the highest point of its landmass, with no higher ground connected to it. Passing the 150m-drop threshold on all sides is exactly what makes it a Marilyn.
- What's the best month to climb Mullach Mor?
- Aim for March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October on Mullach Mor. In the remaining months treat it as a winter hill — full kit, solid navigation, and a look at the relevant SAIS avalanche forecast before you go.
- Can dogs go up Mullach Mor?
- Dogs are fine on a lead. The route passes livestock or ground-nesting bird habitat, so keep them close throughout.
- Will I get phone signal on Mullach Mor?
- Good signal across most of the island; EE reliable thanks to the Lamlash mast across the bay.
- Is Mullach Mor safe in winter?
- Snow rarely settles on Holy Island but the ferry is weather-dependent and may not run in winter. Check sailings in advance and accept that a south-westerly gale will keep you on the mainland.
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