Scramble Route - A Chir Ridge, Arran

A'Chir Ridge, Arran - Scottish isles

Grade: 3

Possibly the finest island ridge traverse outside Skye - Arran gives top quality scrambling and superb views without long walk-ins.

Equipment: Ropes and protection strongly recommended.

Online Map link

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.