Glen Rosa Horseshoe

The approach up Glen Rosa

There are two ferries that serve the Isle of Arran, both run by Calmac, one from Claonaig in Kintyre to Lochranza, at the north end of the island, the other bigger ferry from Ardrossan to Brodick, the main town on the island. Calmac's website is here.

From Brodick, follow the main street northwards to where the road takes a sharp turn east, aside a junction with the B880 marked to the left towards Blackwaterfoot. Turn on the B880 and follow it for 100m to where a side-road, with a walker's sign pointing to Glen Rosa, heads off to the right.

Travel up this narrow road for just over 1km, through a gate and to a parking area by Glen Rosa campsite entrance. It used to be possible to drive further and along a rutted track for another 500m and park by a walkers sign (for Brodick) and gate, but I suspect this is no longer the case.

Looking up Glen Rosa to Beinn a' Chliabhain, the south-eastern minor summit of Beinn Tarsuinn

On foot, leave the car-park behind and follow a track westwards for 2km as it makes its way between some forestry and Glenrosa Water to open grassland and a footbridge over the Garbh Allt. Don't be tempted by a faint path that heads uphill around 200m before reaching the bridge - it crosses rough terrain and heads through thick grass to follow an old pipe to a dilapidated old weir.

Once over the bridge, the track ends with two paths taking over - turn sharp left and strike uphill on a coarse but obvious path. The path narrows and becomes rougher, but can be readily traced following the northern bank of the Allt Garbh upstream.

Higher up, the path crosses the burn , heads through a protected plantation to reach the foot of Beinn Nuis. Ahead the ground steepens abruptly, with the path becoming more distinct as it climbs up the south-eastern shoulder of Beinn Nuis and onto its summit . The views from here all around are quite thrilling.

The Old Man of Tarsuinn

The Old Man of Tarsuinn

A' Chìr and Caisteal Abhail from Beinn Tarsuinn

Looking northwards, the slabs and rocky outcrops on A' Chìr look intimidating - there doesn't appear to be a straightforward way up this ridge.

If you're a climber or competent rock-scrambler, you'll enjoy traversing the undulating granite crest. For hill-runners and hikers looking for an easier alternative, there is one to be found on the western side of the hill.

From Beinn Tarsuinn, pick your way down the path to Bhealach an Fhir Bhoghla. The path the splits - take the branch on the left. The path begins to bypass A' Chir, but after travelling around 500m on from the bealach, a small grassy area is reached before the path heads under rocks and slabs. Strike directly uphill on heather with occasional faint traces of path towards A' Chìr's summit . Some boulders on the top will need negotiating, but there's nothing too difficult or exposed.

From A' Chir, begin to return the same way as up. If you like scree, some fun can be had descending a channel. The path below is picked up and followed northwards without difficulty towards the bealach before Cir Mòr.

Cross the bealach and when a cairn is reached, take the path heading northwards by-passing Cìr Mhòr. This path travels over grass, through heather and across boulderfield to gain the next bealach , with Caisteal Abhail dominating the view ahead.

Having crossed boulderfield, the rise ahead on the curving crest ahead climbs gently, mainly on grass, up to Caisteal Abhail's wide summit.

Caisteal Abhail from the western slopes of Cir Mhor

Caisteal Abhail from the western slopes of Cir Mhor

Cìr Mhòr and Goatfell from Caisteal Abhail

About-turn and retrace your steps back to the bealach between Caisteal Abhail and Cìr Mhòr. Sticking to the well-worn path on the ridge ahead, climb directly. The path merges with the other travelling up from A' Chìr from where a short distance remains to the cairn on Cìr Mhòr's summit .

On the rise to Cir Mhor, although straightforward to hike up, with height gained, cliffs begin to fall away to the north. The summit is an airy place !

Looking along The Saddle to North Goatfell and Goatfell

Getting off Cìr Mhòr down to The Saddle along the east ridge can be challenging and only really for climbers or competent rock-scramblers. The initial exposed scrambling higher up is followed by a defined path leading to 'The Saddle' .

Alternatively, a longer but easier route can be made by returning to the bealach between Cìr Mhòr and A' Chir, where a path drops towards Glen Rosa. Descending this path for a bit leads to below Cìr Mhòr's crags, where a faint path heading east through heather can be picked up and followed as it contours around Cìr Mhòr to meet with another well-used path coming down from The Saddle .

Follow the path up to The Saddle, then turn eastwards and trace the line of a winding path climbing over grass, loose scree and around boulders up North Goatfell's north-western shoulder onto its summit .

The path continues south along Stacach, the crest between North Goatfell and Goatfell. There are a couple of large rocky tors on the ridge, which can be fun to scramble over in dry conditions. The path turns around these tors under their east facing sides then climbs up one last time onto Goatfell's summit .

Goatfell's summit is broad and grass-covered, scattered with granite rocks and boulders with a trig point and viewfinder standing on the highest point. The views from Goatfell's summit are vast and superb.

Having traversed the ridges so far on the Glen Rosa Horseshoe, possibly meeting only a handful of other hillwalkers, the likely hustle and bustle on Goatfell may come as a surprise. Most of the people on Goatfell's summit will have hiked up the 'tourist route' and this is the most obvious choice for a descent back towards Brodick.

A descent down Goatfell's 'tourist route' begins steeply at first, twisting and turning between rocks as it heads eastwards towards Meall Breac. As the slope becomes more gentle, the path splits with the 'tourist route' turning southwards to head towards Brodick Castle and Cladach. Lower down roads can followed for a relaxed return to Glen Rosa campsite, or a more direct can be made following some ATV tracks around some forestry followed by a wade across Glenrosa Water.

Continuous erosion to Goatfell's 'tourist route' caused by boot-traffic and weather, means regular maintenance is required and this is carried out by the NTS. More information is on their website here.

The Glen Rosa Horseshoe Hill Race used to take place in June and was last run in 2012. This was a tough race which I ran a couple of times, and managed a second place in 2007 (though I have to own up that there were only 25 runners who completed the race that year).

The race differs from the route above in various places. The race route starts from Brodick Castle and follows a track then faint path along the northern bank of Glenrosa Water to the foot of Beinn a' Chliabhain. After climbing Beinn a' Chliabhain, runners were directed downwards over heather into Coire Daingean, around and below the crags of A' Chir, followed by a climb up Fionn Choire to the bealach between A' Chìr and Cìr Mhòr. After touching the summit of Cir Mhor, runners returned to the bealach and took the by-pass path to The Saddle to then follow the route above over Goatfell and back to Brodick Castle.