Sleeping Warrior

North Arran seen from North Ayrshire, about 3 miles (5 km) north of Largs. The view south over the Firth of Clyde shows the southern tip of Bute and in the background the peaks of (from left to right) Goat Fell, Beinn Tarsuinn and Caisteal Abhail. The Sleeping Warrior's profile is at right.

The Sleeping Warrior is the profile of the north Arran hills in Scotland as seen from the Ayrshire coast. It is a well-known sight that takes its name from a resemblance to a resting human figure. Various interpretations of the profile exist although the view of The Witches Step and Caisteal Abhail from North Ayrshire and Bute is arguably the most convincing.

Interpretations

Although the idea is well known the specific hills involved are variously described. Keay & Keay (1994) refer to "the profile of the 'Sleeping Warrior' of Arran as seen from the Clyde Coast", suggesting that several hills are included.^[1] However, various websites claim the phrase refers to single hills, none of which individually resemble a reclining human figure, or to different parts of the north Arran range.

One interpretation is that all the hills north of Brodick on the island of Arran's west coast are profiled, including Goat Fell, Caisteal Abhail and Cìr Mhòr. This view could resemble "the outline of a warrior lying on his back with his hands across his chest" although the individual features are vague and there is no obvious head.^[2] As other sources confirm, the Warrior does not include Goat Fell. High Spicer, for example writes: "And in broken weather the clouds would lie like a dingy blanket upon the heights until the wind blew them over, or the sun pierced them, and revealed the spire of Goatfell or the majestic figure of the Sleeping Warrior."^[3]

Caisteal Abhail and the Witches Step are most often claimed as resembling the Sleeping Warrior when viewed from roughly northern directions.^[4][5]

The Witches Step (helmeted head) and Caisteal Abhail (belly) from the north, with Suidhe Fhearghas at left (not part of Warrior)

Claims are sometimes made for other views such as A' Chìr ridge (between Cìr Mhòr and Beinn Tarsuinn), that clearly suggests a humanoid head and shoulders (although no torso)^[6] or the rather less compelling Beinn Nuis and Beinn Tarsuinn ridges, that are not visible from the Ayrshire coast.^[7][8]

However, as the view from St Ninian's Bay on Bute indicates^[9] the full profile begins with the Witches Step "face", includes Caisteal Abhail as the folded arms and continues along the ridge towards Meall Mòr in the direction of Lochranza and Catacol. This profile is visible from the direction of the North Ayrshire coast all the way round to Argyll and north Kintyre.^[10]

Notes

1. Keay & Keay (1994) p. 42.
2. Long, Kirsty "Sleeping warrior" Flickr.com. Retrieved 1 March 2009.
3. "Arran Page 1" hughspicer.fsnet.co.uk. Retrieved 22 February 2009.
4. Butterfield, Irving "Walking Wild on Arran: Scotland in Miniature" Mountaineering Council of Scotland. Retrieved 1 March 2009.
5. Hambly, Michael "Sleeping Warrior Arran Scotland" Flickr.com. Retrieved 1 March 2009.
6. "A'Chir ridge" Flickr.com. Retrieved 1 March 2009. A more detailed view of A' Chìr ridge between Cìr Mhòr and Beinn Tarsuinn.
7. Ferguson, Scott "Sleeping Warrior" Flickr.com. Retrieved 3 March 2009.
8. This is contradicted by walkaboutscotland.com who claim that "Beinn Nuis and Beinn Tarsuinn... form a clearly visible skyline known as the "Sleeping Warrior” which you will have already spied from the ferry on the way over to the island... Part way round look out for the ‘Old Man of Tarsuinn’, a natural rock formation resembling a head staring stonily out over the corrie." See "Scotland walking break: Walking on the Isle of Arran" Retrieved 4 March 2009.
9. "St Ninian's Bay" Flickr.com. Retrieved 1 March 2009.
10. Boyle, Jack "Sleeping Warrior !!!!" Flickr.com. Retrieved 3 March 2009.

References

• Keay, J. & Keay, J. (1994) Collins Encyclopaedia of Scotland. London. HarperCollins.