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Report on Goatfell
21 April 2013
After much discussion & close appraisal of the weather forecast Irene, Gail, Gillian, Kenny and myself set off to Arran on the 9.45 ferry. Irene was not convinced of my weather prediction that it was to dry up but I had lulled her into a false sense of security that at best we would manage Goatfell but probably just a walk up to the shoulder & drop into Corrie & walk back along the road to Brodick.
Well by the time we got on the ferry the rain had stopped & the hills were almost out of the mist so as is usual the walk developed! A plan was hatched that we would climb Goatfell via the tourist route, walking from the ferry then along to North Goatfell then down to the saddle & back to Brodick via Glen Rosa - weather permitting.
Our ascent of Goatfell was lovely, dry , a little wind & some great views, a few patches of snow added to the lovely views along the ridge to North Goatfell. Kenny skipped down the scramble from North Goatfell like a mountain goat - the rest of us scrambled using all 5 contact points with the ground - arms, legs and bum! At this point we also had to endure a hail shower. However, by the time we had reached the Saddle it had dried up & Gail informed us it was 3 hours back to the ferry - we looked at her disbelieving but she was right!
Glen Rosa treated us to a 45 minute downpour. Irene, who was convinced it was a shower & didn't put on over trousers, was soaked through to her knickers! Then it dried up & we had a lovely sunny trek admiring the deer, golden eagle & cute white lambs back to Brodick for a well earned drink, pizza & chips & the 7.20 (which should be the 7.10!) back to Ardrossan.
Kathryn Gaffney
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