Walking on the Isle of Arran - A Walker's Guidebook

• Location
• Description
• Contents
• Introduction
• Sample Route
• Maps
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Walk 1 - Goat Fell & Brodick

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Distance: 17km (10.5 miles).
Start/finish: Ferry Terminal, Brodick - 022359.
Terrain: Roads, forest tracks, rugged moorland and a mountain path. The upper parts are steep and stony.
Refreshments: Bars, cafés and restaurants in Brodick. Cafés at the Arran Heritage Centre and Duchess Court. Bar and Arran Brewery at Cladach.

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There are walkers who step off the Caledonian MacBrayne ferry at Brodick and head straight away in the direction of Goat Fell, hoping to climb to the summit and return in time to leave the island. It's a grand day out for those who have the energy to complete the ascent between ferries, and this route description is offered just for them. Others may enjoy Goat Fell by a variety of other routes and tackle the ascent with less urgency. Basically, the route leads along the main road from Brodick, cutting a corner near the Arran Heritage Museum, then starts climbing in earnest above Cladach. The route is a combination of roads, tracks and a well-constructed mountain path. It is quite likely that other walkers will be met on the way there and back as this is the most popular way up and down Goat Fell. The initial road-walk could be omitted by catching a bus from the ferry terminal to Cladach, cutting 6km (3.75 miles) from the route. Walkers intending to catch a bus back to the ferry should of course check up-to-date timetables.

Walk away from the ferry terminal and turn right to follow the main coastal road through Brodick. If any food or drink is needed at the outset, then there are shops along the way where supplies can be obtained. The road runs beside a pleasant green above a rocky shore, then continues between the golf course and Ormidale Park on the outskirts of town. Further along, the road passes Brodick Primary School, where a tall standing stone will be noticed across the road. Also across the road, a little further away, is the Arran Heritage Museum.

Arran Heritage Museum
The Arran Heritage Museum is based in a huddle of whitewashed buildings. Collections of artefacts have been assembled by a voluntary group to illustrate living conditions on the Isle of Arran in the recent past; up to the 1920s. There is a typical cottage, smithy, stable block and numerous agricultural implements. There are displays relating to the island's geology and archaeology, as well as shipping and archive material. Facilities include the Café Rosaburn, while the Rosaburn Lodge Guest House is alongside.

Immediately before the Arran Heritage Museum, there is a public footpath signpost listing destinations such as Brodick Country Park, Brodick Castle and Goat Fell. Follow the route indicated, which is a fine gravel path beside a beech hedge. Cross a footbridge over Glenrosa Water, then head straight onwards, following another path between a beech hedge and a golf course. This path leads back onto the main road, having cut out a slightly longer road bend. Turn right to follow the road, which later bends to the left and passes a development of specialist shops at Duchess Court.

After leaving Duchess Court, the road bends right to reach Cladach, where there is a public footpath sign on the left indicating the start of the climb to Goat Fell. Follow a clear track past the buildings of the Arran Brewery. Continue uphill through woods, as signposted 'Goatfell Path'. The slopes are rich in rhododendrons and the track crosses a tarmac driveway that serves nearby Brodick Castle (see Walk 2 for details). Just across the driveway there is an information board placed by the National Trust for Scotland.

Follow the track uphill into Forestry Commission property. There is a small marker confirming that this is the way towards Goat Fell. As the track climbs, there are waymarked paths leading to left and right at Cnocan, but stay always on the clearest track and avoid these other trails. At a higher level, turn left at a junction of forest tracks, again indicated as the way to Goat Fell. When a cross-tracks is reached a little further along, go straight through. The path leads through an area where rhododendron scrub has been cut back, passing through a gateway in a low drystone wall.

The path climbs through an area where the stands of forest are more distant, and rises on a bracken and heather slope where there are a few scattered stands of birch. The path remains quite clear as it climbs and the surroundings become more rugged. Cross a water channel that has been cut across the hillside then reach a gate in a tall deer fence. Beyond the gate the mountain is owned and managed by the National Trust for Scotland.

The path continues uphill at a gentler gradient for a while, and the surface has been restored after suffering years of erosion. There are sections with pitched stone and gravel sufraces, with drains removing excess water, although in some places the path crosses bare granite bedrock. The surrounding moorland is mostly wet, grassy, heathery and bouldery. The gradient gradually increases as the path climbs up onto the shoulder of Meall Breac. There is a level stance before the path swings more to the left and aims directly for the summit of Goat Fell. This is the toughest part of the ascent, as the path weaves steeply between boulders and granite outcrops.

The summit of Goat Fell is reached quite suddenly and is composed of a bare table of granite bearing a few large boulders. There is a trig point at 874m, with a view indicator provided by the Rotary Club of Kilwinning. This is the highest peak on the Isle of Arran, so views are naturally extensive and stretch far into mainland Scotland as well as embracing the Highlands, islands and Northern Ireland.

If a careful check has been made of progress so far, then walkers should be able to gauge whether they are able to catch their intended bus or ferry. The descent needs to be taken carefully at first, but it should take less time than the ascent. It is simply a matter of retracing steps back to the ferry terminal in Brodick, or catching a convenient bus on the main road at Cladach.

Cladach
Brodick village has shifted from the northern side of Brodick Bay to the southern side. Old Brodick is remembered at Cladach; a huddle of old buildings near Brodick Castle. The Old Inn, the Village Inn, a woollen mill and a few houses were all that constituted the village. When the grounds surrounding Brodick Castle were redeveloped in 1853, the woollen mill was moved to Millhouse and the tenants were re-housed at Douglas Place and Alma Terrace. A new school was built in 1854. Tourists had already started visiting the Isle of Arran, frequenting the Old Inn at Cladach, where goat's milk was a speciality! Tourism continued to develop, so that the new village of Brodick became equipped with a new and larger pier, a large hotel, shops and other businesses. Cladach has been redeveloped and retains the the appearance of a small village, with the Arran Brewery being a major attraction. There are also a couple of shops and a bar.

Brodick
Brodick's main features and facilities can be spotted on the way back to the ferry terminal. In order of appearance they include: Glencloy Road, leading from a beauty salon to the Auchrannie Spa Resort and Glencloy Farm Guest House; Auchrannie Road, leading from a food shop and launderette to the Auchrannie House Hotel; and Knowe Road, leading to the Church of Scotland, Hotel Ormidale and Kilmichael Country House.

Arranged along the main road, Brodick Golf Club faces Ormidale Park. The Arran Library and Brodick Hall are beside Brodick Bowling Green, followed by the Brodick Pharmacy, a filling station, Co-op supermarket, Brodick Cycle Hire and a putting green. Across the road are the Post Office, Fire Station and Brodick Bar. Continuing along the main road are the Shanghai Chinese Take-away, Arran Trading Post, Bank of Scotland (with ATM), Inspirations of Arran gift shop and Wooleys bakery.

Several businesses look across the main road to the sea, with ample parking all the way along the road. These include: Stalkers Restaurant, Invercloy Guest House, DIY store, Alexanders gift shop, Arran Estate Agents, Sheepskin Shop, Chocolate Shop, Glenfloral bed and breakfast, Isle of Arran Estate Agents, Arran-Asia Trading Company, Book and Card Centre, Royal Bank of Scotland (with ATM), Brodick Health Centre, Dunvegan Guest House and the Shore House Apartments. Next comes Bilslands gift shop and restaurant, crazy golf, Taste of Arran, Arran Craft Gallery, Arran Adventure Centre, Kingsley Mac's Bar, McLaran Hotel and Co-op supermarket.

The McAlpine Hotel incorporates a bar and Italian restaurant, while buildings in the grounds feature an optician, flower shop, Arran Banner newspaper, domestic service centre and barber. The Roman Catholic Church is tucked behind. Finally, all in a group at the ferry terminal, are the bus station, a filling station, gift shops and the Tourist Information Centre, tel 01770-302140.