Photographs, map and route description of Goatfell and Cir Mhor on the Isle of Arran

The island of Arran has often been described as the highlands in miniature but there's nothing miniature about its mountains, Beinn Tarsuinn, Cir Mhor, Caisteal Abhail and the island's highest hill Goatfell would grace any highland area and offer a genuine challenge to any hill walker, no matter how experienced. These are serious mountains and Goatfell, although it's the highest. is also the easiest and has a good path running all the way to its summit. The view from the top of Goatfell is exceptional. ln I628 the Duke of Morttrose entertained the traveller William Lithgow at Brodiek Castle, Lithgow, known as Lugless Willie on account of his deafness, climbed to the summit of “Goatﬁeld Hill" and later wrote in appreciation of the spectacle:

"A larger prospect no Mountaine in
the world can show, pointing out three
Kingdomes at one sight: Neither any
like Ile or braver Gentry, for good
Archers, and hill-hovering Hunters."

He may have been lugless but he obviously had good eyes!
The view from the summit of Goatfell on a clear day is indeed as varied as anywhere in the UK. To the east and north-east the Firth of Clyde is spread out in a shimmer of blue. Beyond lies the Ayrshire coast, running all the way down to the Rhines of Galloway and up towards the opening of Loch Long. Dotted on the firth below lie the Cumbraes and the Isle of Bute. The small island off the west coast of Bute is Inchmarnoek, once known as the “drunk man's island" because drunkards who persistently offended against Bute's laws of sobriety were banished there to serve a term of punishment.
To the west of Goatfell, across the deep gulf formed by Glen Rosa, the rocky ridge of Ben Chliabhain climaxes in the vertiginous slopes of Coire Daingean which, in turn, is joined to Cir Mhor by the great buttress of A'Chir. Beyond it lies the top of Caisteal Abhail and the north
ridge of Glen Sannox. Beyond Beinn Chliabhain lies Beinn Nuis and Beinn Tarsuinn.
For “hill-hovering” walkers, there are few views to match it.

Route:
Start / finish at Cladach on the A841 (GR: NS012 377).
A private road leads from Cladach, SW of Brodick Castle and passes through the castle grounds.
After a short distance the tarmac ends and becomes a footpath which soon reaches the open hillside.
The path continues and runs N up the slopes of Goatfell, skirting the obvious SE corrie to reach the prominent E ridge
Once on the ridge the path joins the path that runs up from Corrie in the E.
Scramble W along the ridge, which is now quite steep in places all the way to the summit trig point and direction indicator.
Return the same way.