The Cobbler ( gd, Beinn Artair) is an mountain located near the head of Loch Long in

Argyll and Bute Argyll and Bute ( sco, Argyll an Buit; gd, Earra-Ghàidheal agus Bòd, ) is one of 32 unitary authority council areas in Scotland and a lieutenancy area. The current lord-lieutenant for Argyll and Bute is Jane Margaret MacLeod (14 July 2020) ...

, Scotland. It is a Corbett, and is an important site for rock climbing in the Southern Highlands. Many maps include the name Ben Arthur (an anglicisation of the Gaelic), but the name ''The Cobbler'' is more widely used. In the 19th century it was referred to as ''The Cobbler and his Wife''.
Colegate's Guide to Dunoon, Kirn, and Hunter's Quay'' (Second edition)
- John Colegate (1868), page 53

Arrochar Alps

The mountain is part of the

Arrochar Alps The Arrochar Alps are a group of mountains located around the head of Loch Long, Loch Fyne, and Loch Goil, near the villages of Arrochar and Lochgoilhead, on the Cowal Peninsula in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. The mountains are especially popular ...

. It is named for its large rocky summit features which are supposed to represent a

cobbler Cobbler(s) may refer to: *A person who Shoemaking, repairs, and sometimes makes, shoes Places * The Cobbler, a mountain located near the head of Loch Long in Scotland * Mount Cobbler, Australia Art, entertainment and media * The Cobbler (1923 ...

bending over his

last A last is a mechanical form shaped like a human foot. It is used by shoemakers and cordwainers in the manufacture and repair of shoes. Lasts typically come in pairs and have been made from various materials, including hardwoods, cast iron, an ...

. The features are visible many miles away from the mountain. Despite the mountain falling short of

Munro A Munro () is defined as a mountain in Scotland with a height over , and which is on the Scottish Mountaineering Club (SMC) official list of Munros; there is no explicit topographical prominence requirement. The best known Munro is Ben Nev ...

height, due to its summit features and ease of access, it is one of the most popular mountains in Scotland.

Three summits

The Cobbler has three summits: the middle one is the highest. The top is crowned by a rocky outcrop that marks the true summit. The three summits are tightly grouped around a small corrie (glacial cirque), but their form is due to large-scale landslipping, not ice erosion.Jarman D. 2004. The Cobbler - a mountain shaped by rock slope failure. Scottish Geographical Journal 120, 227-40 The North Peak is deeply fissured, with climbing routes caving up through it. The Summit and South Peak are the remnants of a ridge which has visibly slipped away into Glen Croe, making much of the west side hazardous or impassable.

Available paths

The most common route starts from the village of Succoth, at the head of Loch Long. Originally, the route first headed directly up the hillside, following the remains of an old

tram A tram (called a streetcar or trolley in North America) is a rail vehicle that travels on tramway tracks on public urban streets; some include segments on segregated right-of-way. The tramlines or networks operated as public transport are ...

way built as part of a water collection scheme. A newly constructed

path A path is a route for physical travel – see Trail. Path or PATH may also refer to: Physical paths of different types * Bicycle path * Bridle path, used by people on horseback * Course (navigation), the intended path of a vehicle * Desire p ...

has now been built, by-passing the tramway and zig-zagging up the hillside to give a more gentle ascent through an area of

forestry Forestry is the science and craft of creating, managing, planting, using, conserving and repairing forests, woodlands, and associated resources for human and environmental benefits. Forestry is practiced in plantations and natural stands. ...

. This path meets up with the old tramway path and continues from there, following a burn ( stream) known as the Allt a' Bhalachain. From here the path bypasses the Narnain Boulders, steepening at around . Nearer the top, the path flattens out at a ' ( mountain pass), which is marked by a cairn. Several peaks may be accessed from this point. Beside the route described above, the summits may also be reached starting from the A83 ''Rest-and-be-Thankful'' road through Glen Croe to the west, by following the rocky south-eastern ridge up from Loch Long, or from the Bealach a' Mhàim. This ''bealach'', at , allows Ben Arthur to be combined with some of the other

, such as Beinn Narnain and Beinn Ìme.

Climbing

The Cobbler is the most important site for rock climbing in the Southern Highlands, and Scotland's first climbing club was the Cobbler Club, founded in 1866.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cobbler, The Corbetts Marilyns of Scotland Mountains and hills of the Southern Highlands Mountains and hills of Argyll and Bute