The dramatic landscape of the Goatfell area reflects the underlying geology. Some 60 million years ago, molten granite pushed up the ancient Dalradian metamorphic rocks, forming a large dome that was then sculptured by glaciation to reveal the granite and form the landscape. Successive glaciations then shaped the landscape to what you can see today with Glen Rosa: a textbook U-shaped glaciated valley with corries, aretes, hanging valleys and horn peaks. The resulting ridges and peaks surrounding Glen Rosa make for excellent walking and climbing.
The many geological features of interest have contributed to Arran being designated a UNESCO Geopark.
