Goatfell Arran

Goatfell from Brodick

Blaming Euro 16 I had not been out for a walk for a few weeks so with the forecast looking good I had pencilled in Goatfell. Then the day before son number 1 turned up, we went out for a meal and a few beers thus changing my plans.
However, the next morning I woke feeling okay so grabbed a quick cup of tea, threw a few things in the rucksack and headed to Ardrossan for the later than planned 9.40 ferry. This would offload me at Brodick about 10.45. I wanted to get up and down Goatfell in time to catch the 16.40 ferry back as the next ferry was not until after 7pm, a wait I could do without.

The ferry was on time and after a black pudding/fried egg roll & coffee onboard I ventured up and spent the crossing outside. Good decision as I briefly spotted a pair of porpoises skimming the waves alongside our boat.
At Brodick I decided I had the time to do the full walk starting from the ferry. There is an option to get a bus saving a couple of miles each way, maybe take it after the descent I was thinking. My usual stop at the Coop for their meal deal and off I went.
The walk along Broddick shorefront on this warm day gave me great views of the Goatfell and anticipation heightened. The route I would normally take along the shore and alongside the golf course was closed for construction work so it was more or less the main road along to Claddach with a brief shortcut through the golf course.

At Claddach turn in at the Arran brewery and the walk starts proper from here. The initial uphill stretch is through the grounds of Brodick Castle although if you see it you have missed the route. There are signposts and so long as you don't take any of the left or right turns you can't go wrong, although I did on the descent, more later.

Lower track

The track is good but narrow through the trees with the benefit that you do get the occasional glimpse of Goatfell. There were a few people around today, probably because it was the only really good forecasted day of the week. 
I was already sweating away, a mixture of the heat, effort and last nights beer. At the bridge and deer gate, about 250 metres, paused for a break, water intake as dehydration was a possibility today, look back and enjoy the views back to Brodick and Holy Isle. About a third of the way up.

Middle section

The middle stretch is open moorland countryside. The 'path' is fairly hard going as it is now mostly rocks and boulders which necessitate a high foot lift, the front thighs will be sore tomorrow. However it is a good restoration by the National Trust and its volunteers. Looking ahead I can spot the occasional spot of colour, walkers amidst the boulder strewn terrain. Because of the rocky terrain you need to keep looking at your next step so enjoying the view is limited. However at one look up I spotted the familiar huge shape of a golden eagle gliding below the summit, circling a few times then swinging West over the tops not to be seen by me again.
Surprisingly I was moving well and had overtaken a few people and was heading for the horizon to the point near Meall Breac, about 600 metres, where the route takes a sharp left and the steepest section beckons.
Around this point a runner comes past me descending at an alarmingly fast pace, brave man. The record for the annual run is around an hour and a quarter, the physical effort going up is admirable enough but the descent at speed on this stuff, unbelievable. A light wind is blowing up here but enough to make me put on the windproof jacket.

Holy Isle

The ant trail of walkers ahead of me has grown as the gradient takes it toll and the pace slows down dramatically. There is no obvious path just finding the best route up the smallest boulders to step on. I am now regretting last nights beer and good food, it is tough going, thirty steps then thirty seconds rest, sort of thing. Also a serious wind starts blowing which on tired legs on this granite is not welcomed. A gust blows my baseball hat off, thankfully into the rocks and not down the gully, so it is retrieved but stuffed into pocket. It lasts about 10 minutes but interesting if you were on an exposed ledge.

Cir Mhor

Then you notice the gradient has eased a bit and thankfully this is the summit area. You need to wander about a bit to get the views but they are absolutely stunning and fully worth the effort. They say that Arran is Scotland in miniature and these views remind me of Skye, rocky peaks and gullies, just breathtaking. Other Corbett's, Casteal Abhail and Cir Mhor stand out in clear the air. Four ravens swoop and play above us. They intrude in a couple of my snaps, makes them looking like a mark on the lens but I know what they are. The path to North Goatfell and the Saddle from Corrie stands out. I can see 3 pairs of walkers at different points.

North Goatfell

I eat my sandwiches just soaking the view in, a herring gull lands on a rock, staring at me, will he give me a scrap or not it thinks? The ravens 'caw' overhead. On a day like this you don't want to leave but I do have a ferry to catch. The descent is obviously quicker but is also sore on the legs.

My one issue comes at the bridge where I met up with a walker and he asked if we were on the right track. Surprised at this I reply yes and a woman walking her dog assures us we are on the right track. However after about half a mile we realise we are too high up entering the forest. The OS map indicates the track would eventually loop back but we take no chances and we re-track back to the bridge where somehow we missed the fairly obvious route marker to the other path. Tiredness or just lack of concentration, I don't know but a good reminder all the same.

A good descent and I walked back to Brodick, stopping for a welcoming ice cream cone, large, and I made the ferry with 30 minutes to spare.
According to the GPS I walked 12.48 miles (can be shortened by 4 miles if buses used) and climbed 2944 feet. Goatfell, a Corbett, is a better achievement than many Munros as it starts from sea level climbing to its official height of 874 metres. It was tough walk but the views are certainly worthwhile and as good as they come.
Time for that beer.