The
island of Arran has often been described as the highlands in miniature
but there's nothing miniature about its mountains, Beinn Tarsuinn, Cir
Mhor, Caisteal Abhail and the island's highest hill Goatfell would
grace any highland area and offer a genuine challenge to any hill
walker, no matter how experienced. These are serious mountains and
Goatfell, although
it's the highest. is also the easiest and has a good path running all
the way to its summit. The view from the top of Goatfell is
exceptional. ln I628
the Duke of Morttrose entertained the traveller William Lithgow at
Brodiek Castle, Lithgow, known as Lugless Willie on account of his
deafness, climbed to the summit of “Goatfield Hill" and later wrote in
appreciation of the spectacle:
"A larger prospect no Mountaine in
the world can show, pointing out three
Kingdomes at one sight: Neither any
like Ile or braver Gentry, for good
Archers, and hill-hovering Hunters."
He may have been lugless but he obviously had good eyes!
The view from the summit of Goatfell on a clear day is indeed as varied
as anywhere in the UK. To the east and north-east the Firth of Clyde is
spread out in a shimmer of blue. Beyond lies the Ayrshire coast,
running all the way down to the Rhines of Galloway and up towards the
opening of Loch Long. Dotted on the firth below lie the Cumbraes and
the Isle of Bute. The small island off the west coast of Bute is
Inchmarnoek, once known as the “drunk man's island" because drunkards
who persistently offended against Bute's laws of sobriety were banished
there to serve a term of punishment.
To the west of Goatfell, across the deep gulf formed by Glen Rosa, the
rocky ridge of Ben Chliabhain climaxes in the vertiginous slopes of
Coire Daingean which, in turn, is joined to Cir Mhor by the great
buttress of A'Chir. Beyond it lies the top of Caisteal Abhail and the
north
ridge of Glen Sannox. Beyond Beinn Chliabhain lies Beinn Nuis and Beinn
Tarsuinn.
For “hill-hovering” walkers, there are few views to match it.
Route:
Start / finish at Cladach on the A841 (GR: NS012 377).
A private road leads from Cladach, SW of Brodick Castle and passes
through the castle grounds.
After a short distance the tarmac ends and becomes a footpath which
soon reaches the open hillside.
The path continues and runs N up the slopes of Goatfell, skirting the
obvious SE corrie to reach the prominent E ridge
Once on the ridge the path joins the path that runs up from Corrie in
the E.
Scramble W along the ridge, which is now quite steep in places all the
way to the summit trig point and direction indicator.
Return the same way.