Walking on Arran: Giants’ Graves and Glenashdale Falls

I hope you enjoyed my last post about hiking up Goat Fell.

It was our last full day in Arran and we wanted explore some more. So the Giants’ Graves and Glenashdale Falls in Whiting Bay were next.

Giants’ Graves in 2006

I didn’t have a clue what the Giants’ Graves were … graves of mythical giants? I had a wee look at our book and found out they were the burial place of people in the Neolithic times. Mm, eery.

We found you could go two ways for this circular walk. We decided to walk the clockwise route and visit the Giants’ Graves first as we knew it was an uphill walk. It was well signposted from the main road and free parking nearby.

After a short walk through the woods alongside the Glenashdale Burn, we came to a signpost for the Giants’ Graves. Large wooden steps appeared before us spiralling up into the woodlands. As we started to make our way up I thought this should be no problem after Goat Fell the day before.

The book said there were 337 steps. I lost count … I loved walking up these steps through the woodlands.

When we reached the top of the steps, an uphill path through a beautiful avenue of conifer trees was looking intriguingly inviting. It was so quiet, except for the occasional noise from the trees creaking in the wind.

We finally reached the top and saw a clearing where the Giants’ Graves lived, and whatever other ghostly souls that might still be there.

The trees creaking in the wind added to the spookiness of where we were standing. I loved it though!

Three young girls from America appeared in the clearing not long after us and we offered them some bottled water which they were grateful for. The girls seemed to enjoy the atmosphere here as well as I watched them sit on the grass making flower chains for their heads. I thought they were going to dance round the stones next!

While exploring and taking photos we noticed that one of the stones had carved writing on it. Possibly graffiti but something interesting caught our attention.

“In memory of, 1890” with a list of around seven names which I think read:

• A or B Wyllie
• T Macartney
• W Jackson
• I can’t make the rest out apart from this one at the end
• J D Armour

We had a strange but nice moment … both our surnames were on that list.

What were the chances of that? Fate or what. We both just looked at each other. Deep down I knew everything would work out just fine between us. I still don’t know to this day who the people were on the stone.

We made our way back down through woods behind the American girls. I loved walking down the winding steps. The girls were skipping down them which looked like fun.

The path to the Glenashdale Falls was next.

The Giants’ Graves 2009

Before we journey to the Glenashdale Falls in 2006 though, I want to let you know about the changing landscape at the Giants’ Graves.

We visited again in 2009 with my two children. I was a little upset to see the coniferous forest around the graves had been felled.

The unique wooden steps through the woodlands were gone and replaced with a winding dirt path.

I wanted to show my children the forest walk and the steps but it was too late. They’d need to wait about 30 years before any new native trees grew to a decent size.

I had to accept that things change and maybe one day my children would return with their children. I hope they do! On a plus side, you do have a fantastic view of the Holy Isle, the mountains and the mainland on a clear day.

I said to my children they’d need to come back in about 30 years to see this area flourish again. My daughter should have used some of the fairy magic she was carrying in her backpack.

As you can see from my 2009 photos above, deforestation really does look sad and desolate and feels like the end of the world. I’ve returned a few times over the years and try to remember to take a photo to show the changing landscape.

Giants’ Graves 2015

I returned with my sister in 2015 and was happy to see some greenery return again. Beautiful views as well!

Giants’ Graves 2019

In 2019, trees, fern and wildflowers were beginning to take over again. The views across the island and to the Holy Isle are just beautiful.

After 13 years, we could still make out our two surnames on the stone slab. I always think to myself, what are the chances that you visit a place for the first time together and out of all the surnames in the world, two were ours.

Looking back at the landscape changing gives me hope that the current deforestation that’s taking place isn’t forever. Nature will thrive again, it just takes time.

We even found what was left of the old wooden steps in the woods, just off the new path. It was the same place where I stood watching the American girls skipping down the steps in 2006! What’s left of the steps stop at the trees though, and it’s a high drop below.

Giants’ Graves 2022

I returned in 2022 to see the flora was thriving along the dirt path to the top of the hill. High fern and bracken lined both sides of the path with some pine trees coming back and getting taller.

Even at the graves the trees were beginning to hide the view to the Holy Isle.

Glenashdale Falls

When we reached the Glenashdale Falls I was really impressed. They were larger than I thought and the sound they created was powerful. We stepped onto a viewing platform where we could get a bit closer and take plenty of photos. It’s a long way down!

With the amount of rain we get in Scotland the Falls are most impressive in the winter. I love the rain, well, most of the time I do!

After the Falls we continued through the woods. We also saw an Iron Age Fort and another beautiful waterfall along the way. I don’t have many good photos of the rest of the walk from 2006, but here are some that were taken one fine winter’s day in December 2014.

The Giants’ Graves and Glenashdale Falls is one of my favourite walks on Arran. It shows you so much natural loveliness and is only about 6km all round.

I’ll definitely return again.

Thanks for reading.

Love, Dawn-Marie x