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A bit more than 20 years ago I climbed Goatfell for the first time. It somehow became tradition for me to climb the mountain once a year. Its such a great mountain and the 30min drive to the ferry port is hard to beat when it comes to wanting a day trip in the mountains.
With my 20 year in Scotland anniversary just a few days away, a trip up Goatfell would have been matching…but maybe it was a chance to break the habit?
20 years ago on my first mountain. Cir Mhor is just behind me
Looking back at some old photos, I noticed Cir Mhor in the heart of the mountains on Arran. It looked impressive and looking at my map I knew that Goatfell would have to wait…it was time to explore the island.
I read a few different reports and checking the map I decided that the approach from Glen Sannox would be the most logical one.
I took the 9:45am ferry and an hour later sat on the bus towards Sannox, a 20 min journey. As usual most walkers got off at the 2 main starting points of Goatfell, but I continued until the bus dropped me off right at the gate towards Glen Sannox (great service)
I crossed the gate and soon the mountains came into view. I was well impressed with Glen Sannox…it is simply beautiful.
The sleeping warrier aka Caisteal Abhail
The start of the walk
Cir Mhor towards the left
Looking ahead
Looking back
Cir Mhor close up
The path followed Sannox burn and to my left Cioch na h-Oighe was rising steeply and on my left Caisteal Abhail was looking lovely and rather tempting.
The path literally continues all the way towards Cir Mhor, so getting lost was pretty impossible. I think even for non hill walkers the path would be lovely and I was surprised by the lack of people. Once I reached the end of the valley, the path continued steeply up towards the Saddle. It is a lovely and easy scramble with a good path, which only frizzes out close to the top and made me attempt some rather dodgy scrambles.
The path slopes to the left here
Invisible, but the path slopes up the mountain from here
The great path
Looking towards the witches step on Caisteal Abhail
Close up of the witches step
Caisteal Abhail - the castle its easy to see how the mountain got its name
The way up
Once I stood on the saddle Goatfell looked massive in comparison. From the saddle the top of Cir Mhor is only 400 m away, but it is also a 370m climb in height. I followed the path and my legs certainly felt the burn. Close to the top that path looped around the mountain until I reached the small top.
The saddle and Goatfell towards the right
Glen Sannox
Glen Rosa
Panorama of the two glens and Goatfell in the middle
The last climb
Beinn Tarsuinn
It is an amazing view point, as all the other Corbetts surround this great wee mountain of 799 meters. Topping it was the fact that for the first time in my life stood on an Arran mountain alone, something which is pretty impossible on Goatfell. Enjoying the views I stayed for some time and considered my return journey.
I had briefly played with the idea to climb Goatfell (it’s a hard to break habit lol) but on my map Glen Rosa looked like a good alternative. Leaving the top I was able to see a path in the distance and the decision was made…Glen Rosa it would be.
Views from the top towards Caisteal Abhail
Towards Goatfell
Cumbrae and Largs in the distance
Myself
Cir Mhor from the other side
Glen Rosa and Cir Mhor
The path from Coire Buidhe is lovely and far less steep than the approach from Glen Sannox. Enjoying the walk I noticed a couple of walkers ahead of me. I slowly got closer mainly due to the time one of them took in taking photos. When I was only about a hundred meters away they stopped and looked at me (weird I thought) but that passed when one shouted out my name and said he thought he recognized me. It was Dean and Campbell a couple of Walkhighlanders who were on their return journey from Goatfell.
Chatting away we continued the way back to the ferry together, which I was glad for…always nice to have company
Looking back
