View source for Goat Fell

{{short description|Mountain in Scotland}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2025}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name = Goat Fell
| other_name = 
| photo = Brodick Tideline - panoramio.jpg
| photo_caption = Goat Fell as seen from [[Brodick]] shore.
| elevation_m = 875
| elevation_ref = 
| prominence_m = 875
| prominence_ref = <br /><small>[[List of mountains of the British Isles by relative height|Ranked 16th]] in [[British Isles]]</small>
| parent_peak = 
| listing = [[Corbett (hill)|Corbett]], [[Marilyn (geography)|Marilyn]], [[Hardy (hill)|Hardy]], [[List of Scottish council areas by highest point|council top]] ([[North Ayrshire]]), [[List of Scottish counties by highest point|county top]] ([[County of Bute|Bute]])
| pronunciation = 
| map = Scotland North Ayrshire
| location = [[Isle of Arran]], [[North Ayrshire]], [[Scotland]]
| coordinates = {{coord|55|37|33.5|N|5|11|26|W|type:mountain_scale:100000|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| grid_ref_UK = NR991415
| topo = [[Ordnance Survey|OS]] ''Explorer'' 361; ''Landrangers'' 62, 69
}}

'''Goat Fell''' ([[Scottish Gaelic]]: ''Gaoitbheinn'')<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ainmean-aite.scot/?id=39105|title=Goatfell|work=[[Ainmean-Àite na h-Alba]]: Gaelic Place-Names of Scotland|access-date=2023-10-10}}</ref>  is the highest point on the [[Isle of Arran]]. At 875&nbsp;metres (2,871&nbsp;ft), it is one of four [[Corbett (hill)|Corbetts]] on the island. The mountain, along with nearby [[Brodick Castle]], is now owned by the [[National Trust for Scotland]].

==Ascent==
Due to the popularity of "Scotland in miniature" (Arran), Goat Fell is a very popular peak and there are many possible routes of ascent, some of which may be combined with visits to the summits of other nearby peaks. The most commonly used route, a constructed path of just over 3&nbsp;miles (5&nbsp;km) in length,  starts from near Brodick Castle in [[Cladach]]. Initially the path leads up through the forested grounds of the castle, passing many [[rhododendron]] bushes. At just under 1,000&nbsp;ft (300&nbsp;m) [[above sea level]] the path leaves the forestry, and the route continues through bare [[moorland]], reaching the summit by way of the east ridge of the mountain. There is a viewpoint table at the summit: on a clear day [[Northern Ireland]] may be seen.

[[File:Goatfell Summit2.jpg|thumb|Goatfell summit on a clear day.]]

An alternative shorter and steeper route comes up from the village of [[Corrie, Arran|Corrie]].  This route joins the main path on the east ridge. Goat Fell may also be climbed from the north, where it is linked by a ridge to the subsidiary top of North Goatfell, a point from which three ridges radiate. In addition to the ridge leading south to the main summit, there is a ridge heading northeast, providing some very easy [[scrambling]] as it passes over Cìoch na h-Òighe (the ''Young Maiden's [[Breast-shaped hill|Breast]]''). Finally, the western ridge drops down to a [[bealach]] known as The Saddle, before climbing again towards the summit of [[Cìr Mhòr]]. The [[Rights of way in Scotland|right-of-way]] between [[Glen Rosa]] and [[Sannox|Glen Sannox]] passes over The Saddle.

The mountain was the scene of the death of English tourist Edwin Rose who was murdered by John Watson Laurie in 1889 on the mountain. Laurie was sentenced to death, later commuted to a life sentence and spent the rest of his life in prison.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle-2-15039/mountain-top-death-did-he-slip-or-was-he-pushed-1-465841|title=Mountain-top death: Did he slip or was he pushed?|newspaper=[[The Scotsman]]|date=8 October 2005|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20191014124511/https://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle-2-15039/mountain-top-death-did-he-slip-or-was-he-pushed-1-465841|archivedate=14 October 2019}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.ayrshirescotland.com/goat-fell-hike.html Goat Fell tourist trail, map and large images]
* {{nt-scotland-link|10041}}
* Computer-generated virtual panoramas [http://www.viewfinderpanoramas.org/panoramas/ISL/Arran-GOATFELL-N.gif North] [http://www.viewfinderpanoramas.org/panoramas/ISL/Arran-GOATFELL-S.gif South] [http://www.viewfinderpanoramas.org/panoramas.html Index]
{{Arran}}

{{British hills}}

[[Category:Corbetts]]
[[Category:Marilyns of Scotland]]
[[Category:Mountains and hills of the Isle of Arran]]
[[Category:Highest points of historic Scottish counties]]