Goatfell

Our destination for today, although we could not see it at all. We have a view of Goatfell right from our cottage door but the low cloud today obscured everything.


We waited until noon then set out for the Goatfell summit from our cottage door. Goatfell is the highest summit on Arran and a very popular walk. The trail is very good, someone has put in a lot of effort in building the trail with rock steps at the higher level and along the rocky moorland as well. The beginning of the trail is a track through forest.

We didn’t know how well we would fair on this walk as the elevation gain is something we have not undertaken for years. The gain is 2870 feet, which is something we would have thought was a stroll some years ago but not now. The walk was 16km and took us a total of 6 hours as we dilly dallied on top.

We met a group of three walkers who came down out of the mist, they reported that they didn’t see a thing due to the low cloud cover and wished us better luck. Then we happened into a pair of walkers who came out of the moor and trailed along behind us until we stopped and let them pass.

As we gained elevation it was really clouded in, we couldn’t make out anything around us but the visibility as far as the trail was concerned was fine. Met a couple of older Scot men fairly high up, the older people are the best conversationalists, they always ask where we are from and when we tell them Canada, the flood gates open and we hear about their relatives in Canada and the places in Canada they have visited.

Invariably, when they find out I have Scottish ancestors and where they are from, the Scots tell me I have good blood in me hahahahahaha. Today I was also told I have the look of a Scot! In actuality, I look like a total freak as my hair goes totally, and I mean totally, ballistic in this moisture, you wouldn’t think my level of frizz is possible but it goes wild, I need to leave the humectant out of my hair conditioner and add an anti-frizz agent but cannot be bothered.

The last pull to the summit was a steep bugger, all rock, we could not see ahead of us, which was a good thing since the incline was masked. Then suddenly you reach the summit which is a really great flat top with huge granite slabs.

Once on the summit, we couldn’t see anything so we had our lunch, it was around 3:00. The pair of walkers who passed us gave up after a while and headed back down but John was certain it was going to clear. It was really cold, we were outfitted with layers and gloves but froze anyway since we were so drenched with sweat.

Luckily the clouds lifted and we got pretty good views, all considered. On a clear day the views are spectacular, supposedly, you can see Northern Ireland and the hills of Argyll. We could look way down to Glen Rosa which we walked yesterday and down to The Saddle.

It had cleared decently so we headed back down and are always amazed at how steep the walk up is. We were the last up and the last down as we didn’t meet any more walkers all the way down. It cleared more as we descended.

I have always wanted to walk up Goatfell since I started researching this trip so I am really happy we had the good weather to complete the walk. Originally, I wanted to walk this toward the end of our week here but we are strong enough and the walk was a lot easier than I expected. The weather is about to change as well, tomorrow afternoon the showers are to come in and then rain for the remainder of the week.

Tomorrow, we plan to shift gears and do more exploring of Arran since we have completed our mountain expeditions. Our walks should be easier and of shorter duration. We will head to the south west area of Arran and check out some standing stones.

Summit hidden by low cloud

Still cannot see it

View down to Brodick and the hill in the distance is Holy Isle, owned by Buddhists

Summit seagull, we were told that this fellow likes cheese sandwiches, we were not giving up any of our meagre lunch though, he was miffed

The view from the summit, spectacular

Clouds lifting

We have a view

Glen Rosa

Brodick from the summit

Looking toward the mainland

The Saddle and the witch's step

On the descent, we can now see what we walked up

Descending to the moor

Another view back up

Back down and a tree full of sea gulls