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A'Chir Ridge, Arran - Scottish
isles
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Grade: 3
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Possibly the finest island ridge
traverse outside Skye - Arran gives top quality scrambling
and superb views without long walk-ins.
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Equipment: Ropes and protection
strongly recommended.
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Online Map link
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Views: 4
Technicality: 3
Exposure: 3
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GIBBER FACTOR* 3
*out of
five.
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Overview Arguably the finest island ridge traverse outside Skye.
Famous as 'Scotland in Miniature', Arran gives top quality scrambling
and superb views without the long walk-ins typical of mainland
routes.
Arran Panorama - Ben
Bloggs
Approach The normal approach is by the standard 'tourist'
route from Brodick, winding its way through the trees and onto the
lower slopes of Goat Fell.
The final stretch rises steeply, but the footpath avoids the
outcrops and saves the scrambling element for where it's necessary
further on.
Route
Although the scrambling is spread throughout the ridge traverse, with
sections of walking in between, the route covers the traverse as a
whole from Goat Fell to the south western tips of the Glen Clova
Horseshoe.
Head north from the summit of Goat Fell, and instantly onto
the ridge to North Goat Fell (unnamed on the OS map). This is where
the scrambling really starts, but downwards!
North Goat Fell top - Peter
Kemp
The ridge splits at North Goat Fell, with the left-hand ridge
dropping steeply on badly eroded and unstable ground towards The
Saddle 1200ft below. The re-ascent beyond The Saddle takes a well
marked path, mostly walking, with optional scrambles on the steeper
sections to a prominent gap between the summit of Cir Mhor and the
Rosa Pinnacle.
Traverse right then straighten up to tackle the final wall
directly, or stick to the path to avoid the scramble altogether and
walk to the summit.
Beyond Cir Mhor a long, narrow, ridge snakes south west,
initially on easy ground but always with big drops to the side. The
major obstacle is the famous 'Bad Step', where descent and re-ascent
are equally difficult.
The drop from North Goat Fell - Marcus
Crompton
Start the descent on the right, with a sloping terrace giving an
exposed descent to the foot of the step. With the far wall being the
preserve of climbers, rather than scramblers, take an indistinct path
around the base of the wall for 20 yards before striking upwards over
potentially slippy grass.
Ahead a chimney provides a steep, but protectable route upwards.
The holds are good, on solid granite, with a handy flake providing
protection, but the exposure is still very obvious.
Once out of the chimney climb the large boulder to a groove.
Follow this groove up and round to the right to gain the crest of the
ridge, with protection again advised on the final exposed moves.
Ahead lies the block summit of A'Chir, with superb views east down
Glen Sannox, south down Glen Rosa and west as far as Arran's western
coastline.
Descent
From the high point of A'Chir the route eases, with little more
than exposed ridge walking between here and Beinn Tarsuinn. Just
before Beinn Tarsuinn the ridge splits, with the left branch taking
in Beinn Chiliabhain and a shorter return to Glen Rosa.
Cir Mhor - boggyandfoggy
Taking the right hand fork the ridge continues, first uphill to
Beinn Tarsuinn's summit then onwards to Beinn Nuis. Both options ease
as you descend from the ridge, finally joining a path alongside Garbh
Allt as it heads down into Glen Rosa. Now cross Glenrosa Water to
take an obvious path back into the trees above Brodick Castle and
down to your start point.
Caution Scrambling is potentially
dangerous and, particularly at the higher grades, requires technical
skills and equipment to minimise the risk. We suggest that you take
professional instruction or climb with an experienced
partner.
