Cioch na h-Oighe and Goatfell

 | Overview

Technical Rating

Challenging  

Exposed scrambling, head for heights required, rough terrain.

Endurance Rating

3  

Sustained steep ascents and descents, long-distance, stamina required, suitable for fit walkers. Have you had recent experience of walking for 6-8 hours? Have you recently walked up (and down) a mountain of over 1000m (3000ft) in height without physical distress? Do you regularly play an aerobic sport pretty much every week? If your answer is "No", we'd guess you'd be happier doing a walk rated a level lower than the one you’ve just read! As noted previously, we're into FUN so we don't want you to miss out by overdoing it.

 | Photo Gallery

 | Walk description

Starting at the mouth of Glen Sannox, a gentle climb to the foot of Cioch na h-Oighe over footpath and moor provides a good warm-up for the day. It soon gets serious: from there, the clamber to the top is very steep and relentless. 200 meters are ascended in little over half a kilometer with some exposed scrambling on the way. The ridge that follows is narrow and has near vertical drops down to the evocatively named Devil’s Punchbowl corrie.

The route then climbs to the next peak of Mullach Buidhe towering high above Glen Sannox and Coire Lan. Next, North Goatfell is ascended and finally Arran’s highest, Goatfell, via a narrow path just below the crest of the Stacach ridge.

Great views across some of Arran’s iconic mountains and glens and across the Firth of Clyde and beyond can be enjoyed along the way. From Goatfell the route follows the main “tourist path” down to the finish at Cladach.

Route Profile

 | Advised Kit List