2nd June 2025 - Goatfell
Walk Details
Distance walked: 12.0 miles
Total ascent: 3245 ft
OS map used: 361 - Isle of Arran
Time taken: 8 hrs
Route description: Brodick-A841-B880-Glenshurig Bridge-Glen Rosa-The Saddle-North Goatfell-Goatfell-Arran Coastal Way-Brodick
Before visiting Arran this week I'd marked off several walks in my guidebooks as options for doing, and this was one of them. I'd wanted to do at least one walk on the Goatfell range if the weather allowed it, and given the forecast I've got to take the first opportunity that arises. Today isn't perfect but will be dry until the evening, and although the strength of the wind will be increasing through the day it won't be as strong as some of the days later in the week. The route starts from Brodick, heads up to The Saddle at the top of Glen Rosa, then makes it way up to Goatfell via North Goatfell before returning to Brodick via Goatfell's east ridge and the Arran Coastal Way. I set off from Brodick under cloudy skies and with it covering the top of the mountains, but through the morning it gradually lifted and broke up to give some sunshine and views from the summits. By the time I arrived on Goatfell it was very windy, and not that easy to stand still.
After parking my car on the shorefront in Brodick I walked west and north along the A841 to the B880, which I briefly walked up to reach the road into Glen Rosa on the right. I walked up this road, crossing Glenshurig Bridge, all the way to its end at Glen Rosa Campsite. From there I followed a track up Glen Rosa, then a path, all the way up to its top at The Saddle. An ascent up the western ridge of North Goatfell from The Saddle took me to its summit, where I stopped for lunch. Break had, I crossed the ridge to Goatfell, and once I'd taken in the view I descended via the east ridge to pick up the trail of the Arran Coastal Way. I then followed this trail south all the way back to Brodick.
Total ascent: 3245 ft
OS map used: 361 - Isle of Arran
Time taken: 8 hrs
Route description: Brodick-A841-B880-Glenshurig Bridge-Glen Rosa-The Saddle-North Goatfell-Goatfell-Arran Coastal Way-Brodick
Before visiting Arran this week I'd marked off several walks in my guidebooks as options for doing, and this was one of them. I'd wanted to do at least one walk on the Goatfell range if the weather allowed it, and given the forecast I've got to take the first opportunity that arises. Today isn't perfect but will be dry until the evening, and although the strength of the wind will be increasing through the day it won't be as strong as some of the days later in the week. The route starts from Brodick, heads up to The Saddle at the top of Glen Rosa, then makes it way up to Goatfell via North Goatfell before returning to Brodick via Goatfell's east ridge and the Arran Coastal Way. I set off from Brodick under cloudy skies and with it covering the top of the mountains, but through the morning it gradually lifted and broke up to give some sunshine and views from the summits. By the time I arrived on Goatfell it was very windy, and not that easy to stand still.
After parking my car on the shorefront in Brodick I walked west and north along the A841 to the B880, which I briefly walked up to reach the road into Glen Rosa on the right. I walked up this road, crossing Glenshurig Bridge, all the way to its end at Glen Rosa Campsite. From there I followed a track up Glen Rosa, then a path, all the way up to its top at The Saddle. An ascent up the western ridge of North Goatfell from The Saddle took me to its summit, where I stopped for lunch. Break had, I crossed the ridge to Goatfell, and once I'd taken in the view I descended via the east ridge to pick up the trail of the Arran Coastal Way. I then followed this trail south all the way back to Brodick.
Route map
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Looking across Brodick Bay to Goatfell as I set off from Brodick
Walking up the road into Glen Rosa..
At the end of the road I pass an information board about the local area
Onto the track that will take my part of the way up Glen Rosa
Views up Glen Rosa and of Glenrosa Water..
Following the track up the glen and the weather seems to be improving, with the clouds lifting off the hills
Passing beneath the foot of Garbh Allt
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Looking up Glen Rosa to Cir Mhor
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Passing waterfalls on Glenrosa Water as I follow the path up Glen Rosa....
The mountain of Cir Mhor ahead
Rosa Slabs above
and Dearg Choirein and North Goatfell
Finally approaching The Saddle
Looking back down Glen Rosa
Reaching The Saddle and I can look down Glen Sannox on its other side
The ridge to North Goatfell with Mullach Buidhe on the left
Looking across the head of Glen Sannox to Caisteal Abhail and the cleft of Ceum na Caillich (Witch's Step)
Sunshine on Glen Sannox
Starting the climb to North Goatfell. The path gets pretty rough and eroded higher up.
Looking across Glen Rosa to Beinn a' Chliabhain, Beinn Nuis, and Beinn Tarsuinn
and across Glen Sannox to Suidhe Fhearghas
A great view across to Cir Mhor and Caisteal Abhail as I pause on the ascent
The western slopes of Mullach Buidhe
Looking across The Saddle to Caisteal Abhail as I near the top of North Goatfell
and across Glen Sannox to Suidhe Fhearghas and the Sound of Bute
On North Goatfell. The summit is the tor on the left.
Looking across Glen Sannox to Caisteal Abhail, the cleft of Ceum na Caillich (Witch's Step), and Suidhe Fhearghas
Looking along the ridge to Mullach Buidhe
Cir Mhor, Caisteal Abhail, the cleft of Ceum na Caillich (Witch's Step), and Suidhe Fhearghas from the top of North Goatfell
The rocky ridge to Goatfell. There are several granite tors to negotiate along the way, which can be circumvented.
Looking down Corrie Lan to the Firth of Clyde as I round one of those tors
and I get a dramatic view across to Cir Mhor and Caisteal Abhail as I round another
At the toposcope and trig point on the summit of a very windy Goatfell
Taking in the great all-round view. Looking southwest across Glen Rosa to Kilbrannan Sound in the distance.
and west to Beinn Nuis, Beinn a' Chliabhain, Beinn Tarsuinn, and A' Chir
Cir Mhor and Caisteal Abhail to the northwest
North Goatfell and Mullach Buidhe to the north, with the Sound of Bute beyond
Looking across the Firth of Clyde to the distant Ayrshire coast
Finally, looking down on Brodick Bay, Brodick, Holy Island, and Lamlash Bay
Caisteal Abhail, North Goatfell, and Mullach Buidhe as I start my descent from the summit
I take the path down the east ridge towards Meall Breac..
..and then south towards Brodick
The tops of Beinn Nuis and Beinn Tarsuinn above the moorland to my right
Following the path down into the woodland above Brodick Castle and Country Park..
After crossing one of the private roads in the Brodick Castle estate I follow a track down towards the A841
Looking back I can make out the pointed top of Beinn Nuis in the distance
Onto the beach by Brodick Bay, which I'll walk across to get back to Brodick
Looking back to Goatfell
Crossing the footbridge over Glenrosa Water as it enters Brodick Bay
Across the boardwalks and along the beach to Brodick
Views back across Brodick Bay to Goatfell as I return to Brodick..
