The Cobbler

The Cobbler is a mountain of 886.7 metres near the head of Loch Long in Argyll and Bute. It belongs to the Arrochar Alps and is known for its large rocky summit shaped like a cobbler bending over his last. The name Ben Arthur appears on many maps, but The Cobbler is the more common title. In the 19th century it was also called The Cobbler and his Wife. Despite not reaching Munro height, it is one of Scotland’s most popular mountains because of its striking summit and easy access. The Cobbler has three closely grouped summits. The middle summit is the highest at 886.7 metres and crowned by a rocky outcrop. The north summit stands at 870.7 metres and the south summit at 858.4 metres. These summits surround a small corrie formed by landslipping rather than ice erosion. The north peak is deeply fissured with climbing routes that lead through caves. The west side of the mountain is hazardous where part of the ridge has slipped away into Glen Croe. A common path to the top starts from Succoth at the head of Loch Long. The route once followed an old tramway built for water collection, but a new zig-zag path now makes the climb gentler through forestry. The path meets the old tramway near a stream called the Allt a’ Bhalachain and bypasses the Narnain Boulders before steepening near 600 metres. Near the top the path flattens at a bealach marked by a cairn, from which several peaks can be reached. Other routes start from Glen Croe or the Bealach a’ Mhàim at 640 metres, allowing walkers to include nearby Arrochar Alps such as Beinn Narnain and Beinn Ìme.