Isle of Arran
Goat Fell Weather
Mountain forecast and current conditions · summit 874m
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 06:33
- Sunset
- 20:06
- Civil dawn
- 05:55
- Civil dusk
- 20:45
NOAA Solar Calculator · 5 September 2026
About the weather here
Goat Fell (874m) is the highest point on Arran and the most-climbed Corbett in Scotland, walked from sea level at Brodick by a good path through the Brodick Castle grounds and up the east ridge to a granite summit. Starting from the sea makes it a bigger climb than its height suggests, and its position on an island in the Firth of Clyde gives it weather that changes faster than almost any mainland hill.
What to expect
Goat Fell is a maritime mountain. Cloud forms on the summit out of clear sky as moist air is pushed up from the sea, and the top can be in mist while Brodick beach is warm. The upper east ridge and the summit boulders are exposed to the south-west with the whole Firth of Clyde in that direction. Rain arrives from the west with little warning and clears just as fast. The granite is grippy dry and greasy wet.
Wind exposure
High on the upper ridge and summit. The forest and glen give shelter for the first half; above the treeline the east ridge is open, and the summit is a pile of granite boulders with wind coming straight off the sea. The ridge north to North Goat Fell and the Saddle is narrower and more exposed still.
Winter conditions
Goat Fell is climbed in winter more often than most Corbetts because the island is mild, but the summit ices, the granite boulders become treacherous under snow, and the ridge beyond the summit is a winter mountaineering route. Snow rarely lies long but arrives suddenly. No avalanche forecast covers Arran; the steep corrie slopes on the north and west sides should be treated with respect when snow is lying.
Outside the SAIS network. No Scottish Avalanche Information Service forecast covers Goat Fell; SAIS forecasts six areas only. In winter, judge snow stability on the hill from first principles.
Official forecasts
Always check an official mountain forecast before setting out. Current conditions displayed above are from the Open-Meteo API and are indicative only.
Hills in this area
| Hill | Height |
|---|---|
| Cir Mhor | 798m |
| Beinn Tarsuinn | 826m |
| Caisteal Abhail | 859m |
| Beinn Bharrain - Mullach Buidhe | 721m |
Frequently asked questions
- Why does Goat Fell weather change so fast?
- It is a mountain on an island, with sea on every side. Moist air pushed up the hill forms cloud on the summit quickly, and fronts coming in from the west reach it before they reach the mainland. A clear morning in Brodick is a hint, not a promise.
- How exposed is the Goat Fell path?
- Sheltered through the castle grounds and the forest, then open on the east ridge and fully exposed on the granite summit. The wind off the Firth of Clyde hits the upper hill with nothing in the way.
- Is there an avalanche forecast for Goat Fell?
- No. Arran is outside the SAIS forecast areas, and the page says so rather than pointing at a mainland forecast. When snow is lying, judge the steeper slopes yourself.
- Which forecast covers Goat Fell?
- The MWIS West Highlands forecast linked on this page names Arran in its area; the Met Office mountain forecast gives summit conditions. A Brodick forecast tells you about the ferry, not the summit.
Weather for other locations
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