Dan Bailey's Top 5 Top End Ridge Scrambles

© Dan Bailey

There's something uniquely satisfying about a good ridge. First they draw your eyes. Seen from a distance a mountain's ridges are generally among its biggest and most obvious features, their aesthetic soaring lines catching the light and holding the attention. As you trace the jagged skyline it's impossible not to wonder what it's like up there, imagining yourself an ant-like speck among the pinnacles. So go and find out.

Loch Cruite from the East Ridge of Brandon Peak  © Dan Bailey
Loch Cruite from the East Ridge of Brandon Peak
© Dan Bailey

Up close the climbing can be superbly varied: short steep walls, airy ledges, intricate bits weaving around gendarmes, the stark simplicity of knife-edged arêtes. Fun is the name of the game, spiced with a wee space-walking thrill courtesy of the gulf of air dropping away on either side. These are the most old fashioned of mountaineering routes and the challenges they offer tend to revolve around route finding, exposure and weather rather than gymnastic technicality. The individual moves usually matter less than the overall feel, the sense of having an adventure in a high, beautiful place. Ridges are as much an aesthetic experience as a physical exercise.

On the pinnacles of Sentries' Ridge  © Dan Bailey
On the pinnacles of Sentries' Ridge
© Dan Bailey

In summer conditions the mountaineering ridges of Britain and Ireland range in difficulty from grade 1 scrambles on classic hillwalker's rounds like the Snowdon Horseshoe, to low grade rock climbs (Tower Ridge, Diff; Needle Ridge, VDiff; Eagle Ridge, Severe). I'll look at the easier hillwalker's ridge scrambles another time; for now I'm sticking with the upper reaches of the scrambling scale. Scrambling is often said to be the transition zone between walking and climbing, but where exactly it blends into climbing proper is hard to pinpoint. That grey blurred area around top end scrambles and Moderate grade rock climbs is fertile ground for ridge fans. With plenty of excitement but little technical difficulty routes at this level have something for everyone, from ambitious scramblers looking to push themselves to climbers just out to enjoy classic mountain days. But walkers in particular should remember that these are mountaineering trips, and many people will need a rope and gear (and the appropriate skills) to take them on safely - even if the kit only comes out occasionally. More so perhaps than on better-protected pitched rock climbs, falling off scrambles is generally a very bad idea.

Right, enough doom and gloom. Here are five of my favourites cherry picked from across Britain and Ireland, every one a cracker; and there's plenty more where they came from of course.

I've given these routes their own dedicated UKH ticklist too - see here.


East Ridge, Brandon Peak, Kerry

On the upper ridge  © Dan Bailey
On the upper ridge
© Dan Bailey

Grade Moderate (maximum) or 1 / 2 (minimum)

Distance 7km

Ascent 800m

Time 4 hours

Start / finish Layby near a bridge on the dead-end road from Cloghane, beside the turn-off to a farm (Q491084)

Maps OSI Leisure map (1:25 000) Brandon Mountain

Guidebook The Ridges of England, Wales and Ireland, Dan Bailey (pb Cicerone)

Accommodation Mount Brandon hostel in Cloghane www.mountbrandonhostel.com 00353 (0) 66 7138299

Looming over the sands of Dingle Bay, the Mount Brandon range is one of Ireland's most spectacular, reaching 950m only a few kilometres from sea level. The eastern aspect is the massif's best side, a row of deep-scooped corries, huge headwalls of layered sandstone backing a string of lakes. The intervening ribs between the hollows provide enjoyable routes to the summits on the main ridge. crag(14137)?> is the third highest in the range but a charismatic hill in its own right, and its East Ridge an attractive line. The twisting Connor Pass road provides perhaps the most informative distant view of the route. From here it's clearly a game of two halves, the steep terminal nose leading to a more laid-back upper crest. True to its appearance the bulk of the scrambling comes low down on the route, where scattered buttresses of sound rough sandstone provide a variety of pitches that can be taken head-on or avoided at will. If you've brought a rope or are willing to solo the first tier provides an unmissable 15m Moderate pitch up an immaculate cracked slab; and there's plenty more entertainment above this if you go looking for it. In its upper reaches the ridge eases into rough rocky walking, though this too is superb. A quick descent is possible (and that's what the stats in the info box reflect), but for a longer day consider closing the loop with Mount Brandon's easier but more famous scramble, the superb Faha Ridge (grade 1 / 2).

Enjoying the crack, Kerry style  © Dan Bailey
Enjoying the crack, Kerry style
© Dan Bailey


Sentries' Ridge, Mynydd Mawr, Snowdonia

Heading for Mynydd Mawr's summit  © Dan Bailey
Heading for Mynydd Mawr's summit
© Dan Bailey

Grade 3 (with reservations)

Distance 6.5km

Ascent 500m

Time 4 hours

Start/finish Rhyd-Ddu station (SH572525), or the pay-and-display car park next door on the A4085

Maps OS Landranger (1:50000) 115; OS Explorer (1:25000) OL17; Harvey British Mountain Map (1:40000) Snowdonia

Guidebook The Ridges of England, Wales and Ireland, Dan Bailey (pb Cicerone)

Accommodation Snowdon Ranger YHA 0845 371 9659; Craflwyn bunkhouse, Nantgwynant (National Trust) 01766 510120; campsite in Dyffryn Nantlle

This may be a peripheral peak and its rock climbs might not appeal to the modern mindset, but for traditionalists it has an ace up its sleeve. The hardest – and among the best – of Snowdonia's higher grade ridge scrambles, Sentries' Ridge has the scale and atmosphere of a true classic. It's a big route for a wee hill. The only popular line on the tottering precipice of Craig y Bera on the hill's sunny southern flank, it reflects the futility of trying to define scrambling and climbing as distinct activities, and the limits of accurate grading. Though none of the route feels particularly 'technical' (it's only a scramble after all) the combination of awesome exposure and suspiciously wobbly rock inspire a thoughtful approach. Sentries' Ridge is certainly more serious than many Moderate and Difficult climbs, a fact that hillwalkers with no climbing background might bear in mind. This was the last route I climbed while researching a mountaineering guidebook, and it may have come close to being my last ever when I was narrowly missed by a dislodged rock at a point from which falling would be bad news (you missed Lorraine, better luck next time). Dire warnings aside Sentries' Ridge is an absolute must-do, from the distinctive pinnacled lower crest to the airy top-out. The name strictly refers only to the lower third as climbed in 1910, but since the upper sections flow naturally from this there's no point being pedantic.

Sentries' Ridge  © Dan Bailey
Sentries' Ridge
© Dan Bailey
Sentries' Ridge  © Dan Bailey
Sentries' Ridge
© Dan Bailey

Cam Crag Ridge and Intake Ridge, Borrowdale

Langstrath from Cam Crag Ridge  © Dan Bailey
Langstrath from Cam Crag Ridge
© Dan Bailey

Grade Cam Crag Ridge 2, Intake Ridge 3

Distance 9km

Ascent 650m

Time 4½ hours

Start/finish Stonethwaite (approx NY258141) or Seatoller

Maps OS Landranger (1:50000) 90; OS Explorer (1:25000) OL 4; Harvey British Mountain Map (1:40000) Lake District

Guidebook The Ridges of England, Wales and Ireland, Dan Bailey (pb Cicerone)

Accommodation Campsites at Seathwaite, Seatoller and Stonethwaite; Thorneythwaite Farm B&B near Seatoller 017687 77237; Borrowdale YHA 0845 371 9624

This one is a bit of a cheat since both routes are ridges only in name, but it's worth stretching the definition to include these two classic scrambles, creations of Lakeland climbing pioneer Bentley Beetham. Each offers enjoyable clambering on sound rock in an unspoilt mid-fell setting - ideal for a short day or when the tops are lost in clag. Located on different flanks of the same hill they are often done separately, but combining the two makes sense. Cam Crag Ridge is found on the Langstrath flank of crag(15242)], a row of rocky tiers scattered up the hillside in the form of what can with poetic license be described as a 'ridge'. Its demands can be varied to suit, the crux being a steep exposed corner on which beginners might appreciate a rope. Once that's in the bag enjoy a pleasant walk over the knobbly top of Rosthwaite Fell before descending into the hanging valley of The Combe. Intake Ridge is near the mouth of the valley, a series of steep little buttresses with some walking in between each but also some excellent and surprisingly exciting scrambling. The most memorable section is an airy traverse above the Glaciated Slab, a popular wee climber's crag. A rope doesn't go amiss here either.

Crossing the Glaciated Slab  © Dan Bailey
Crossing the Glaciated Slab
© Dan Bailey
Top-out to Intake Ridge  © Dan Bailey
Top-out to Intake Ridge
© Dan Bailey


A'Chir Traverse, Arran

A'Chir from the south  © Dan Bailey
A'Chir from the south
© Dan Bailey

Grade Moderate

Distance 15km

Ascent 950m

Time 7 hours

Start/finish Glen Rosa Campsite (NS000377) – limited car parking beside the track.

Maps OS Landranger (1:50000) 69; Harvey Superwalker (1:25000) Arran

Guidebook Scotland's Mountain Ridges, Dan Bailey (pb Cicerone)

Accommodation Lochranza YH 0870 004 1140; Glenrosa campsite in the mouth of the glen - basic but well positioned. Beware the mighty midge.

Arran's peaks huddle together like the towers of a giant natural fortress, their turreted tors and battlement-topped ridges rising high out of the wide blue Firth of Clyde. The crystalline granite weathers into shelving slabs and giant jumbles of curvy blocks, monumental rock architecture almost purpose built for scramblers. Standing at the heart of the massif, A'Chir is a fabulous little mountain that proves the truism about size not being everything. This knobbled dinosaur back provides a ridge traverse as entertaining as any in Scotland, with over one kilometre of engaging top-end scrambling enlivened by several harder bits. Route finding is key, and there are generally various options among the ledges, slabs and squat towers. Whichever way you take it there are places at which roping up will not seem a bad idea, particularly the infamous Bad Step. If the route is done south-to-north this can be abseiled. The quoted distance and ascent info assumes the shortest route concentrating solely on A'Chir but the scramble may also be included in an extended circuit of Glen Rosa taking in the awesome crag(13421)] and crag(13418)], the island's highest.

At the south end of A'Chir  © Dan Bailey
At the south end of A'Chir
© Dan Bailey
Descending A'Chir's Bad Step  © Dan Bailey
Descending A'Chir's Bad Step
© Dan Bailey


Brown's Ridge, Ben Hope

A tricky bit on Brown's Ridge  © Dan Bailey
A tricky bit on Brown's Ridge
© Dan Bailey

Grade 3

Distance 7km

Ascent 920m

Time 5 hours

Start/finish Layby on the Hope – Altnaharra road near a barn (NC462477)

Maps OS Landranger (1:50000) 9; OS Explorer (1:25000) 447

Guidebook Highland Scrambles North, Iain Thow (pb SMC)

Accommodation Tongue YH 01847 611 789

Sutherland has an empty spaciousness unknown elsewhere in Mainland Britain, its peaks rising out of the moorland as lone individuals with their own quirky characters. As the most northerly Munro Ben Hope enjoys a predictable popularity, but the bulk of the footfall centres on the out-and-back path up the hill's southern side. Sadly this is the least memorable facet of an otherwise dramatic mountain. There are other - much better - ways to skin this cat. For something rather more adventurous try Brown's Ridge on the monumental west face, a complex rambling cliff overlooking lonely Loch Hope. The first challenge is identifying Brown's Ridge among the many ribs, towers and gullies. From here things can only get better. This is a magnificent long scramble in an awesome setting, an airy rock crest with several points at which it pays to stop, think, and maybe uncoil the rope. With some steep greenery and the odd dodgy hold this is a route for the reasonably competent. Brown's Ridge tops out on the crest of the mountain's North Ridge, just below Ben Hope's own Bad Step (yes another one). This is a short but notably airy VDiff pitch if done direct, though it's easily avoided. A final quick romp along a blocky arête and the summit's in the bag. Descend via the normal route.

Foinaven from Brown's Ridge  © Dan Bailey
Foinaven from Brown's Ridge
© Dan Bailey
Loch Hope from Brown's Ridge  © Dan Bailey
Loch Hope from Brown's Ridge
© Dan Bailey

EWI  © Cicerone
EWI
© Cicerone
SMR  © Cicerone
SMR
© Cicerone

Details of these routes and many more can be found in Dan's books:

Scotland's Mountain Ridges and

The Ridges of England, Wales and Ireland








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