We hiked up Goatfell yesterday and it was stunning. Goatfell is the highest mountain on the Isle of Arran (off the west coast of Scotland). The mountain stands at 2850 feet. Which seems quite modest until you factor in that the parking area where you start is 50 feet above sea level. The true tree line on Arran appears to lie at about 2000 feet, a little higher than over in the highlands, but like most of Scotland, where tress could grow, and where they do grow, are two different stories. It's three and half miles to the top of Goatfell and it's open vistas for the entire second half of that walk.
We started in brilliant sunshine, passed through thick clouds for a while and, then, as we got up higher, the skies cleared above and the fog settled in below. We stayed mostly above the clouds for the rest of the day. Ironically, the coast was socked in with dense fog. In the coastal villages it was a foggy, damp, day. Up on the mountain it was spectacular.
We walked very slowly and, as we neared the top, people who had passed us on the way up passed us again going the other way. I was a little concerned when we got to the top at 2:30. A young couple was on top when we got there and they were starting back down. We had the top of the mountain all to ourselves (I was wondering if they all knew something we didn't). But, no worries, after half an hour on top we started back down and passes a steady stream of still upward bound walkers.
These photos are not in any particular order. And for the best sense of the top of mountain, this YouTube video says it all. It's worth noting that there top is a fairly large flat area on top, but the mountain falls away steeply on all sides. In the video Elle was holding on to steady her wobbly knees. Wobbly from the exertion but also a little bit from the sense of exposure as the ground fell away in all directions.
It's hard to get a sense of scale from the photos. This screen capture from Google Earth should help. The marker on the left for Glen Rosa is at a point that is 300 feet above sea level. The summit of Goatfell is at 2850. The trail comes up from the right and it rises up from sea level.
Looking northeast. You can see the highlands 50 miles away when it's clear. We did get that view later in the day.
The south ridge of Goatfell slipped in and out of clouds as we climbed higher.
Similar to the picture above. Taken higher up after the clouds started to fall away.
From this point the route gains 700 feet of elevation in a quarter mile of distance. Just past where Elle is in the picture it starts to get very steep.
Looking northeast from the summit. Goatfell is surrounded by jagged ridges and slightly lower peaks.
Looking southeast from the summit. Glen Rosa is on the right. For scale, the ribbon of water seen at the far right is small river. The floor of the valley is 2300 feet below the summit.
By later in the day the clouds cleared (though it remained socked in below 500 feet all day). Looking backup at the summit. This picture gives a sense of the route. It crosses the rocky bump on the right and then goes straight up to the top.
Looking west from further down. The Isle of Arran is surprisingly mountainous.
One last look back up at the top.
On the steep part, nearing the top. This ridge to North Goatfell is "not recommended for casual walkers."
Our first look at the top taken in the morning. The summit was socked in at this point in the day.
