Goatfell — Attraction in Scotland

Hiked 08-01-2024, set off at 10:20 and returned 14:50. What an amazing trail!

We parked at Arran Brewery where there was plenty of parking (this time of year), the trail starts around the back of the brewery and is well signposted. There are a few other points to start from, like to the southeast at the castle’s NT car park or to the east off the A841.

Climbing up through lush forested hills where the paths twist and turn, it opens up to moorlands with amazing views. The views even from this point are stunning. Further up, it becomes more rugged and the granite stones become bigger. The last 40-45 minutes of the incline becomes steep. This time of year, it is quite icy for this last section and it can be very slippery where the trail has been well trodden. Unfortunately, up on the summit we had no views as it was covered in thick grey cloud. The wind was not strong, but it was very chilly on the face. If the wind is strong down in Brodick, then it is likely to be very windy up at the summit. So, it is essential to keep check of the weather conditions.

Overall, the path is well signposted, easy to follow, not too muddy in the forested areas, and fairly easy to walk.

We will definitely be coming back again soon to grab those views...

Amazing but challenging mountain to climb. Our family of 4 (with 2 teenagers) attempted an assent today (13th Feb). It was a clear sunny day with a little wind at sea level. We started from the car park at the Arran Distillery at 10am. The mountain top was covered in snow and posts suggested crampons & snow picks ⛏️ in the winter months. We had neither. The trek is 20% woodland 🌲walk from the car park then 80% rough path with rocks, boulders 🪨 so you need to be reasonably fit. We had two short breaks and a 20 min lunch. It took us 5 hours in total and we walked 16km. Unfortunately the snow was too thick and treacherous so we only managed 90% up when we took the decision to turn around. It was in touching distance. ☹️ An experienced climber with crampons on managed the peak and said we had made the right decision like a few others who turned around. We live to fight another day 😁. Some other advice: it's windier 🌬️ and colder 🥶 (1 °C less per 100m climbed from sea level) so please be prepared. We look forward to returning to Arran in the Spring / Summer to try again. 😎 See pictures of the...

I enjoyed the climb but didn’t make it to the very top. Starting from Brodick Ferry Terminal, it took me 4.5 hours to reach almost the summit, with the last part being very steep—likely another hour to the peak. I returned via the North Wall of Goatfell to the town of Corrie, which took 2 hours 15 minutes. Going down is as challenging as going up due to large rocks along the path, so plan your timing carefully and consider taking a head torch in case it gets dark.

The route is well marked up to the middle of the mountain, but beyond that, I relied on Google Maps. While the path was mostly easy to follow, there are no emergency services available if you get lost or stranded, which can make it challenging and potentially dangerous. Transport on Arran is limited, so ensure you have a way back to your accommodation or a transport link after your hike.

The mountain itself is beautiful and rewarding, but I would mark it down for the lack of markings in the upper sections and absence of...