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Arran MRT: Rescue Realities on Goatfell

20th November, 2025

First published in the Autumn issue of MREW magazine, Arran Mountain Rescue Team member Lucy Wallace has put together this fascinating piece discussing the team’s rescue “hotspot” on the island; Goatfell.

Last light on Goatfell, Kirstie Smith

The team write;

Most teams will have their callout hotspots, and ours, unsurprisingly, is Goatfell, which at 874m is the highest mountain on Arran. Between 2017 and 2023, incidents on Goatfell accounted for over 35% of our total callouts.

This popular Corbett is clearly visible from the mainland, and is accessible for hillwalkers on day trips from the Central Belt of Scotland. As well as having a couple of maintained paths to the summit, Goatfell is ringed by rocky ridges and steep ground, most notably the western slopes above Glen Rosa and the ridge of Stacach with its tors. On a clear day, the views from the summit are magnificent. Each year, over 12,000 people set off up the most popular route from Brodick, and the vast majority enjoy a great day out without problems.

Callout on Goatfell, Kirstie Smith

Of those who do require our help, lower leg injuries such as sprains and fractures make up around 40% of incidents where someone is hurt or unwell. These are usually the result of slips and trips, most often during descent on uneven ground when people are tired. Medical issues are also common: Goatfell is a popular but demanding mountain that attracts a wide range of visitors, and inevitably a small number become unwell due to pre-existing conditions, exhaustion, or a mix of both. Hypothermia is also frequently a factor that we have to consider, as casualties may have been sitting still in cool conditions and on cold hard ground for a while when we arrive. Even the best equipped people, in reasonable weather, are likely to be feeling cold after an hour or more of waiting.

Goatfell in Winter, Kirstie Smith

In the past, even relatively minor injuries or medical issues would have required a long and difficult stretcher carry. In recent years, however, the addition of two Argo Cats to our fleet has transformed rescues, speeding up deployment and allowing casualties to be evacuated quickly when their condition permits. The Argos are especially valuable in technical rescues, carrying team members and heavy equipment up to “the shoulder” at 500m above sea level, thus ensuring fresh legs and minds for the demanding work once on scene.

While not everyday occurrences, technical rescues benefit hugely from training and preparation. Our volunteers commit significant time to practicing ropework skills such as stretcher lowers, in awkward locations around the mountain. When these types of callouts do come, they may involve cragfast people attempting to descend via the ridge of Stacach, or walkers who have fallen from steep ground and sustained traumatic injuries. When weather allows, support from the Coastguard helicopter is invaluable, but it can’t always be relied upon, and in poor conditions these rescues can be prolonged and complex.

Descending Goatfell, Kirstie Smith

Sadly, some accidents do result in fatalities. Goatfell has its own accident blackspot: the “Watershoot,” a steep and loose gully on the mountain’s western slopes overlooking Glen Rosa. People who take the wrong direction when descending from the summit can be drawn into this area. We are always grateful when walkers have the good sense to stop and call for help before venturing further, and tools such as Sarloc/PhoneFind have proved invaluable for pinpointing their location.

Even on the main paths, people can and do get lost. The route can be easy to miss in poor light or winter conditions, and every year some walkers are caught out without a torch or the navigation skills needed to relocate themselves. Sometimes these callouts can be resolved with simple phone guidance and a hasty party meeting them partway; other times, they can escalate into complex, time-consuming searches involving the whole team.

Goatfell may not be the biggest or most remote of Scotland’s mountains, but it demands respect. With preparation, the right equipment, and a little mountain sense, it offers an unforgettable day out. Without them, it can quickly become a place where things go badly wrong.

Lucy Wallace, Arran MRT