The Sleeping Warrior is the profile of the north Arran hills in Scotland as seen from the

Ayrshire Ayrshire ( gd, Siorrachd Inbhir Àir, ) is a historic county and registration county in south-west Scotland, located on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. Its principal towns include Ayr, Kilmarnock and Irvine and it borders the counties of Re ...

coast. It is a well-known site 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 Caisteal Abhail is a mountain on the Isle of Arran in Scotland. It is the northernmost Corbett on the island. The mountain forms the main part of a view known as '' The Sleeping Warrior'' due to its distinctive outline (resembling the profile of ...

from

North Ayrshire North Ayrshire ( gd, Siorrachd Àir a Tuath, ) is one of 32 council areas in Scotland. The council area borders Inverclyde to the north, Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire to the northeast, and East Ayrshire and South Ayrshire to the east and so ...

and Bute is arguably the most convincing.

Interpretations

Although the idea is well known, the specific hills involved are variously described. Keay & Keay refer to "the profile of the 'Sleeping Warrior' of Arran as seen from the Clyde Coast", suggesting that several hills are included. 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 coast are profiled, including Goat Fell,

and

Cìr Mhòr Cìr Mhòr (Scottish Gaelic, usually with definite article, ''A' Chìr Mhòr'') is a Corbett known as the Matterhorn of Arran. Its name means the "big comb", referring its resemblance to a cockscomb. It is separated from the island's highest pea ...

. However, 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." Caisteal Abhail and the Witches Step are most often claimed as resembling the Sleeping Warrior when viewed from roughly northern directions. Mum and dad on Arran (157411087)

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) or the rather less-compelling Beinn Nuis and Beinn Tarsuinn ridges, that are not visible from the Ayrshire coast. However, as the view from St Ninian's Bay on Bute indicates 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 Lochranza ( gd, Loch Raonasa) is a village located on the Isle of Arran in the Firth of Clyde, Scotland. The population, somewhat in decline, is around 200 people. Geography Lochranza is the northernmost of Arran's villages and is located in t ...

and

Catacol Catacol ( gd, Catagal) is a small village on the Isle of Arran, Scotland. Geography Catacol is located on the north west side of the island, just a few miles along the coastal road from Lochranza that continues on to Blackwaterfoot. It derives ...

. This profile is visible from the direction of the

coast all the way round to Argyll and north Kintyre."The Isle of Arran"
summitpost.org. Retrieved 20 Feb 2018.

Notes

References

*Keay, J. & Keay, J. (1994) ''

Collins Encyclopaedia of Scotland ''Collins Encyclopaedia of Scotland'' is a reference work published by HarperCollins, edited by the husband and wife team, John and Julia Keay. History Scots had provided the impetus for a number of well-known references works, ''Chambers Dic ...

''. London. HarperCollins.

External links

*The view from the north: Boyle, Jac
"Sleeping Warrior !!!!"
Flickr.com. Retrieved 3 March 2009. *The view to Brodick and northwards: Long, Kirst
"Sleeping warrior"
Flickr.com. Retrieved 1 March 2009. {{Arran Mountains and hills of the Isle of Arran Rock formations of Scotland