13 - The global pattern of urban change

• Tourist attractions in Arran's glaciated upland areas

  • Goatfell - Arran's highest mountain and most popular natural visitor attraction
  • A'Chir ridge - a knife-edged glacial arête that divides two corries, Arran's most exciting and challenging ridge
  • Glacial troughs - deep and wide, U-shaped valleys like Glen Rosa, Glen Sannox and Glen Catacol with glacial striations and polished rock surfaces
• The glaciated Isle of Arran is reached easily from the Scottish coast, making it a popular destination for day-trippers
• Activities for visitors in Arran's upland areas

  • Climbing
  • Running
  • Biking
  • Paragliding
  • Abseiling
  • Helicopter tours
• Negative impacts (costs) of tourism in Arran's upland areas

  • Footpath erosion at 'honeypot' sites
  • Reliance on tourism as a large part of island's income
  • Congestion, especially at popular times of year
  • Injuries and fatalities from underestimating the challenge
• Positive impacts (benefits) of tourism in Arran's upland areas


  • Creation of new visitor attractions and jobs
  • Generating around £160 million revenue annually
  • Helping to tackle the island's ageing population problem
• Footpath erosion management


  1. National Trust for Scotland establishing a mountain path team

  2. Restoring mountain paths using paving stones and locally sourced natural materials

  3. Maintaining mountain paths for future generations using low environmental impact techniques
• Arran Mountain Rescue Team

  • Funded by grant aid and public donations
  • Staffed by unpaid volunteer experienced hill-walkers and mountaineers
  • On call 365 days a year to provide search and rescue assistance
• Seasonal tourism management


  1. Purpose-built visitor attractions to encourage winter visits

  2. Local businesses collaborating on a new website to promote Arran as a short break or one-day holiday destination
• Around 400,000 visitors generate around £160 million for the Arran economy annually
• Almost four out of every five tourists visit Arran again, showing people often fall in love with the upland scenery and want to return
• Successful management of footpaths and visitor numbers

  More walkers becoming exposed to risk in upland areas, leading to a record number of mountain rescue call-outs in 2015
• The costs of footpath repairs are high, up to £140 per metre
• Some privately owned upland land still suffers from eroded footpaths despite management efforts
• Some local people are unimpressed with the increased visitor numbers and prefer when there were fewer visitors and more peace and quiet