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Goat Fell – Arran
March 9, 2013
Friday UPDATE: The weather doesn’t look ideal, but then it isn’t that bad either. So to take advantage of the quieter trails I’ll be getting the 0945 ferry tomorrow. Meet at 0915 outside the ferry terminal office. Take warm and suitable kit for a wintery day on the hill.
I was walking up this recently and thought it would a really decent bike ride. Infact it has even made it into Vol. 2 of the Scotland Wild Trails Book. Clearly it will not be possible for mortals to ride all the way up (or down), but from around 700m to the bottom would make a cracking descent for most people.
Meet at Ardrossan at 0915, ditch cars and get the 0945 from Ardrossan to Brodick
Head up Goat Fell, and ride back down again
Energy dependent, there are lots of other trails around Brodick or a beer / coffee / cake and the ferry back (1610 or 1855).
Hmmm. Could be up for this if the weather looks good. It’s been on my to do list for a while. Any old excuse for a hike a bike session!
I’m in (weather dependant), but keeping up with Sanny & Tom pace is going to be tough! I may draft a new paragraph in the constitution that states no overtaking of the chairman, just for this ride 😉
I could be up for this one. Weather dependant.
How was goatfell then?. Really fancied that, but I had already committed to riding the Leadhills with some mates. Dry as a dry thing btw.
Plan was to do it next week Greg, 9th March. Have you done it before being local-ish to the the shire?
Tom,
John and I did Goatfell last March, when we had that freak 20degrees weather! We didn’t try to take the bikes all the way to the top, but just locked them together in the heather once it got unrideable, and then just walked to the summit.
Even from there the descent was cool beans, and we blasted back down in about 20mins!
One word of caution- if its’ a nice day, the footpath can feel a lot like Sauchiehall street- so you may have to do more stopping that you’d like, especially the lower section where path runs parallel to the river….
I’ll stick some pics on FB.
Enjoy!
Sam
Oops, I had it I my head that you were going that weekend just passed. Sad to say I haven’t ridden goatfell, walked to plenty times and I think it’ll be a smashing descent. There are a lot of boulder fields between the shoulder and the summit that won’t be rideable, but sections in between them that will. When you get back down not the forest, there is a forestry road off to your left, head along this instead of just shooting back down to the start. Follow this road for about a k or so, and you’ll come to a wee bridge. There is a descent from there down the side of the merkland gorge which is a much better way down than the tourist path.
I hear a few of the guys from Arran mtb club rode up glen sannox and over the saddle at the weekend, means carrying the bike up through the chimneys, which is a wee bit of a scramble without the bike!. Then rode down the full length of glen rosa. I’ve often eyeballed that, good to know that it’s feasible now, one for the future.
Hi Tom
How are things looking for Arran on Sat? If it’s on, I am in.
Nick
I’m up for this, as long as the weather is OK.
Currently met office says snow flurries and 45mph winds…
Should be fewer walkers then! bonus
Tom, is there space in your van for me and if so what time are you leaving?
yes Chris, we would need to leave at 8.00 to allow time to get to Ardrossan and get tickets. Can you get to mine for then?
sure can, thanks again Tom
Sorry Tom, unfortunately I need to bow out. I have other commitments that’ll now keep me off the bike till next week. Enjoy it & I hope you get decent weather.
Righto, looks not toooooo bad, will be bringing fairly warm clothes mind you!
See you at the ferry port, I think I’ll be taking the train down.
Luke