Pupils scale heights in Goatfell challenge
A group of nearly 40 children climbed Goatfell in a partnership between the Arran Outdoor Education Centre and Arran High School aimed at fostering healthier lifestyles and an appreciation of the outdoors.
The Arran Outdoor Centre in Lamlash, which specialises in a wide range of outdoor activities and education, provided specialist outdoor guides who accompanied the children up the 874-metre Corbett.
The event, now in its second year, saw 37 S1 pupils and four staff from the school meeting at Brodick at 8am for a kit check and to receive any additional equipment that they needed from the outdoor centre.
Shortly after this, the group divided into four smaller groups with two setting off from Corrie and two from Brodick. On a bright day devoid of rain, all of the mountaineers met at the summit and spent an enjoyable time taking in the views and celebrating their achievement.
While at the top of the mountain the group also – encouraged by an ethos of the Arran Outdoor Centre – did a quick scout around for litter and picked up the few items of discarded lunch wrappers left behind by other climbers.
The S1 pupils then divided into their smaller groups and continued their traverse of the mountain to finish at the opposite side from where they started.
Outdoor centre deputy manager Andy McNamara said: ‘For some, it was their first time on Goatfell, but for all it was a great experience. The most amazing part of the day was that the students were back in time for the end of the school buses. There can’t be many schools in Scotland where it is possible to get all of the first year pupils atop a mountain and back again as part of school day.’