Goatfell Arran from Brodick Castle 19th May 2012

The Weather on Friday evening was pretty Grim, it had been raining all day Friday and wasn’t really the best time for a Camping trip. We had booked the Ferry (£90 quid ffs) so we had to go, anyway the weather forecast said it was going to improve so, off we went (leap of faith).

By the time we arrived at our Campsite at Kildonan on the south side of the Island, the rain had stopped this allowed us to get the tents up without getting soaked.
                            
                                          Tents up in Double Quick  time

As it transpires was the most beautiful of locations and overall a magnificent campsite with excellent facilities, and it has the fantastic Kildonan Hotel next door.
 
                                        Campsite (ailsa Craig and Pladda Island in view)

Bedroom of the Vango Airbeam 300

Pladda Island from our tents

After we had got the tents up we went to the beach for dinner and a few beers, it was bloody freezing even with a huge fire however Charlie cooked us a lovely pasta dish despite the biting cold wind.

                                Our Beach Campfire

Beers by the Campfire

Saturday morning we had been expecting the forecasted sunshine however, this was not to be the case, overcast and still freezing , we made our breakfast a hearty one at that on Charlies,s Tangia stove.

                                     Brekkie Slackers style

After our breakfast and headed off for the days climbing as the weather had brightened up significantly (albeit temporarily) just enough to give us a view of where we where headed.

                               Goat fell and the ridges from our approach

We decided to tackle Goat Fell from Brodick Castle side (you can also go up from the brewery side) the initial weather on the way to the top was good and we have great views of the summit of Goatfell, whilst not a very technical walk Goatfell is a difficult ascent as you reach the top, the last 100m or so being quite tough.

                                     A Busy path to the summit

As we hit the summit of Goatfell the famous scotch mist rolled in and we couldn’t see a thing (typical) so we hung around for a while but the weather never lifted ..until we were half way back down the hill..(arrrghh)
                                     Customary summit pics (can you believe the mist ?? )

Holy Isle and Lamlash Bay from Goatfell

Ridge approach to Goatfell summit from Corrie

An improving picture

After an Alfresco dinner on Friday evening we decided on a wee bit of luxury was in order for Saturday evening .

We booked ourselves the Japanese / Thai Buffet £15 in the Kildonan hotel, we had been told the buffet nites were really popular, now we know why, the food was out of this world and lots of it too , which was exactly what we needed after walking all day.

                                      
                                        The lovely Kildonan Hotel best Buffet meal  ever

On Sunday a.m. after another hearty breakfast we decided to Drive around the Island stopping At Glen Sannox, Corrie and Lochranza,

All in all a great weekend cant wait til next time !!!!


                                       Chef Chaz avec le Bangers Sunday Brekkie

                                      Good-bye to Seal Shore Camping

Goatfell from Glen Sannox

                                          Small Viking long boat in Corrie Harbour