Details
Region: Arran Isle – Argyll & Bute
Location: 2.3 miles northwest of Brodick Calmac ferry terminal, Brodick, Isle of Arran, Scotland, UK KA27 BHY
DEN Rating: 8/10
Trail Length: 1.4 miles total
Trail Type: out and back, longer loop hikes available
Hike Time: 60 – 90 minutes total
Trail Difficulty: fairly easy 3/10
Elevation Gain: 200 feet
Trail Surface: dirt, rocks
Popularity: 8/10
Family friendly: yes
Pet friendly: yes
Handicapped Accessible: no
Swimming: yes
Camping: unimproved camping area at trailhead
Restroom: none
Open Hours: open 24 hours
Season: spring – fall
Pass or Permit: none required
Managed By: National Trust for Scotland
Select photographs in this article are available as custom prints. Click on the shopping cart icon to see print media and sizing options. Click on the square icon for a full-screen view of the image.
Glen Rosa is an extremely scenic glacially-carved valley on Isle of Arran. Splashing down from the south side of Goatfell (the highest peak on Arran), cold and clear Glenrosa Water drains the glen and features a few beautifully turquoise swimming holes – the most famous and probably most scenic of these being Blue Pool itself. This gorgeous and easy hike turned out to be more about the journey than the destination; a journey I very much desire to embark upon again!
There are many different possible hiking routes through the area which include Glen Rosa and Blue Pool as their is a whole network of trails. Probably the most popular is the loop hike which starts near Arran Distillery and follows the Goatfell Trail before branching off through a gorge and then connecting to Glen Rosa Trail above Blue Pool. As usual I was short on time, trying to pack in as much as possible into my 8 hours on Arran, so I opted for this shorter out-and-back route which does cut a lot of distance out as well as avoiding a more dangerous stretch of walking along the highway which has no sidewalk. If you have a vehicle I suggest skipping the loop and parking at the Glen Rosa campsite or even past it at the trailhead.
Mist clears from Goatfell and its companion peaks on a beautiful summer morning in Glen Rosa on Isle of Arran, Scotland.
Glen Rosa and Goatfell
Mist clears from Goatfell and its companion peaks on a beautiful summer morning in Glen Rosa on Isle of Arran, Scotland. I got up and hit the trail early, reaching this view looking up the glacially-carved glen before the trail got busy. Arran is often described as Scotland in miniature, with highlands and glens in … Read more
I woke up early. Well…early for me. In early summer the sun rises before 4AM so it had already been daylight for a few hours when I arrived at the trailhead. There was already another group on the trail just ahead of me as I past through the gate and started walking. The trail is far flatter and easier than I expected it to be; the majority is more of a walk than a hike. About ten minutes into the journey the trail rises to a nice viewpoint with a bench and you really start to see how majestic and beautiful Glen Rosa actually is. Soon the glen bends and Goatfell emerges in the distance. On the morning I visited I was treated to the extra spectacular sight of fog clearing around the peak and rays of light coming through the clouds!
After passing a pretty pool the trail climbs gradually up to a bridge next to a cascading waterfall on a side stream. There is a nice small waterfall on the main Glenrosa Water with a small swimming hole at the base and views of Goatfell right here. Beyond the bridge the trail becomes a bit more narrow with some rocks here and there. A few minutes past is Blue Pool on the right, which is small, unsigned, and can be easy to miss. It has a flat rock on its downstream end (head to this spot) and a small cascade falling into it. Part of why I want to go back so badly is my camera battery died just as I got to Blue Pool!!! Amateur hour on my part. As such I do not have a photo to show you of this bonnie wee pool. Schucks…guess I’ll have to go back!
If I’m being real, I was a bit underwhelmed due to how small Blue Pool is, but the color of the water is just perfect and the upstream view looking up the glen to Goatfell is sublime. Any points this place may have lost because the pool was not much were gained back by the tremendous grandeur of the glen overall and the ease of the journey. The further you go the more incredible it gets! Beyond the pool the trail continues to climb up the glen, increasing in difficulty substantially as it climbs toward the summit of Goatfell. I went about five minutes past Blue Pool then turned around. That view just keeps getting better.
As I returned down the track I passed group after group heading up into the glen. I did not expect Glen Rosa to be such a popular hike but it makes sense…it is, after all, an easy walk/hike through gorgeous country which is also close to town and the ferry terminal. I very strongly recommend doing this hike early in the morning like I did. The earlier the better. You will get parking right at the trailhead and be able to get further up into the glen more quickly all while missing the crowds.
Cautions
There are very few things to caution you about on this one. No big dropoffs, sketchy spots, or nasty plants. Just stay on the trail and you should be fine! The trail does increase in difficulty by a notch once past the bridge. The glen has almost no trees so there is no shade and also no cover from rain or wind. Check the forecast and dress appropriately, and bring water with you. Definitely wear sunscreen if it is warm and sunny out. Also it’s Scotland so midges can be an issue when conditions are right – bring midge spray. The stream itself is fairly small but it is cold and swift so swim with caution.
Getting There
From Brodick, head north on A841. Turn left onto The String (the road which bisects the island), then turn right after only about 450 feet onto the small lane signed for Glen Rosa. Keep right at all possible turns. The road becomes a gravel single track with a few passing places. It is passable by an average car. You’ll come to the Glen Rosa campsiite and carpark in about 0.7 miles from The String, with the trailhead another 0.2 miles up the road. There is very little parking at the trailhead.
Photographer’s Tip
There’s a strong potential for patchy lighting on sunny days. A used my zoom lens and tripod a decent amount.
Links
https://www.britainexpress.com/scotland/Arran/glen-rosa-walk.htm
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/scotland/north-ayrshire/glen-rosa-circuit–2
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/scotland/north-ayrshire/glen-rosa-falls-and-blue-pool
https://ayrshireandarran.com/glen-rosa-walk
https://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/arran/glen-rosa.shtml
https://www.arran-geopark.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/4.-Glen-Rosa-web.pdf
https://www.nts.org.uk/stories/reforesting-glen-rosa
