Devil's Punchbowl (Coire na Ciche)

A straightforward but strenuous linear walk climbing into the secluded corrie of The Devil's Punchbowl below the dramatic peak of Cioch na h-Oighe.

Terrain

Boggy paths apart from the final pathless stretch into the corrie.

Public Transport

Bus to Sannox

Winter Safety

Please note that hillwalking in winter conditions - which is whenever there is snow lying - requires an ice-axe, crampons and the knowledge, experience and skill to use them correctly, and to judge which routes are safe for the conditions and your party in winter. Please see our Winter Essentials for details.

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Start

Large carpark by the Sannox Burn bridge. Map and directions.

Currently 3.00/5

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Walk Statistics

Distance: 5.25km/3.25 miles
Time: 2.5 - 3 hours
Ascent: 361m (Profile)
Grid Ref: NS015454

Maps / GPS

Accommodation

Walk Description

Stage 1

Sannox is located around 13km north of Brodick on the A841. The route starts from a car park next to a telephone box, and can easily be reached by bus which will drop and collect you from the large bus shelter in the carpark. From the carpark cross over the road and head up the road between a post box and white Glen Cottage, conveniently signposted 'Glen Sannox'. Pass through a kissing gate and follow the track as it passes a walled cemetery on the left.

Stage 2

The path soon becomes unsurfaced, but good-quality nonetheless, and swings right before passing through another gate. A tall white navigation mast will come into view ahead, this is one of a set of leading lights used by vessels in the Firth of Clyde to indicate a measured mile, and hence calculate the top speed of new Clyde-built ships. The lower mast can be seen on the Sannox to North Sannox walk, and the rest of the set that make up the mile on the Cock of Arran route.

Stage 3

The path rises gently before curving left, offering views of the rugged Caisteal Abhail, a major constituent of the Sleeping Warrior profile of the north Arran hills as seen from the Ayrshire coast. As the path reaches the beginning of a line of beech trees, ignore the path on the right descending to a footbridge across Sannox Burn and push on into the glen past ruined mine workings. The path soon reaches the Allt a' Chapuill burn; don't cross this, take a narrow path running up the left bank instead. The path is narrow and overgrown, but reasonably easy to follow as it winds past mossy boulders and twisted trees adjacent to the tumbling burn.

Stage 4

A fenced enclosure on the left contains a deep shaft associated with a Barytes (barium sulphate) mine that operated in the glen until the late 1930s. As the path rises the burn remains at a constant level running at the bottom of a deep gorge. Nonetheless, eventually the path and burn meet at a suitable crossing point. On the far side of the burn the path forks almost immediately take the left fork over moist open ground to reach the Allt a' Chapuill again, and follow it uphill. The path remains obvious, but often quite boggy and tougher going as the gradient increases and rocky outcrops become more prevalent.

Stage 5

The burn becomes more dramatic too, coursing over the rocks in a series of attractive waterfalls and providing ample excuse for a break from the ascent. As the path begins to peter out, and it becomes necessary to follow a succession of faint animal tracks, an obvious ford is reached. This might be a good point to turn around, otherwise continue up into the corrie on the pathless terrain. There are many interesting rock formations directly below the steep slopes of Cioch na h-Oighe, providing bespoke seats with which to enjoy the sweeping views across the Firth of Clyde and the mainland. Retrace your steps to the lower ford across the Allt a' Chapuill and follow the path straight ahead rather than turning left on the far side. This path leads across farmland before meeting an ATV track joining from the left. Follow this back to the Glen Sannox path and turn right to return to the carpark.

Route: Phil Turner

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