The A’Chir ridge on the Isle of Arran is considered by many to be the finest Scottish mountaineering ridge located outside of the Isle of Skye. A long approach, heart stopping exposure, technically absorbing climbing, abseils and complex route finding make this one of most exciting ridge traverses around - and it's not even a Munro! This route is best tackled only by experienced climbing teams. The A' Chir ridge (pronounced A-Kier) boast over 1.5km of scrambling and climbing with difficulties gradually building to a climax at the Le Mauvais Pas (AKA ‘The Bad Step’). Its huge granite towers and seamless slabs present the keen mountaineer an irresistible and memorable mountaineering challenge and as if it couldn’t get any better it’s also located far from the road on one of Scotland’s most beautiful islands. The ridge itself is located along the western flank of Glen Rosa in the heart of the island.
Detailed description
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Difficulty: SevereDistance: 9.47 miles (15.24 km)
Total ascent: 878m
Steepest Gradient: 40% (1 in 3)
Time: 7 – 9 hours (Walking)
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Additional Information
Start/Finish:Glen Rosa Campsite, NS000376
Nearest town:
Brodick
Terrain:
A damp and boggy approach is quickly exchanged for hard and rounded granite along the ridge top. In terms of technical difficulty the traverse is beyond standard scrambling grades, involving at least Moderate grade rock climbing and one abseil.
Seasonal variations:
Winter conditions are an extreme rarity on Arran due to its location near the coast and so far south however a true winter ascent would probably be III/IV with some of the difficulties probably by-passable/abseiled. During dry conditions granite is a very gripy rock, however can become quite treacherous in very damp or wet weather.
Weather and Hill Conditions: mwis: West Highlands
Public transport:
Brief description of how to get close to the start of the route using public transport - trains, bus, etc
Guidebooks:
Dan Bailey's Scotland's Mountain Ridges (Cicerone) book has a great description of the route described here. https://www.cicerone.co.uk/scotland-s-mountain-ridges For an account of a traverse, also see my blog: http://wainwrightclimbing.blogspot.com/
Maps:
OS Explorer 361 (1:25,000), OS Landranger 68 (1:50,000), OS Landranger 62 (1:50,000), OS Landranger 63 (1:50,000), OS Landranger 69 (1:50,000) Directory Listings:
Find more Listings near this route Tourist info:
Brodick (01770 303 776)