Top 5 Scrambles in Scotland
Iain Thow is a walking guide and expert author of two of our pocket scrambling guides, Highland Scrambles North and Highland Scrambles South. With some finer days ahead, he’s selected five of his favourite scrambles from his many hours spent in the mountains to help you pick your next adventure.
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One of the main attractions of scrambling is the continuous movement. I find the most satisfying scrambling days are those that link together several individual routes to form a logical day out. The setting is equally important, so each of the routes in this selection traverses hills of character in some of Scotland’s most iconic mountain landscapes.
Foinaven
Foinaven isn’t exactly a busy hill, and only a small proportion of its visitors make it to the wild corries on the north-east flank. Using the North Face of Cnoc Duail and Coire Duail Slabs as an approach to the impressive Ganu Mor Slabs makes for a tremendous day out. I was blown away by Coire Ghrannda when I first arrived – we sat by the lochan and marvelled at the acres of rock, with the vast expanse of the Ganu Mor Slabs being the obvious challenge. Although it’s never technically hard, it is very sustained and would be quite intimidating if the friction weren’t so fantastic. The beautiful patterns on the rock are an absolute joy.
Liathach
I suspect the Fasarinen Pinnacles of Liathach would be on almost every scrambler’s list of favourites, and for good reason. Traversing from west to east allows you to tackle the best sections upwards and start with the delightful South Ridge of Mullach an Rathain. Liathach is the place that first hooked me on mountains and remains my favourite hill. It offers drama, exposure, a stunning setting high above the sea, and a unique quirkiness in the pinnacles that captivates me every time.
The Ardnamurchan Ring
The complete round of the Ring Intrusion is a scramble measured in kilometres and is visible from space! It involves 800 metres of scrambling up and 300 metres of scrambling down over a 1500-metre day, on endless rough gabbro. Ardnamurchan always feels special, especially as you round the corner above Camus nan Gall, and the Ring’s circuit has a logical flow that’s irresistible. Seize the opportunity if you can—your fingertips might not thank you, but your soul will be richly rewarded.
Aonach Dubh, Bidean nam Bian
Start by ascending the Barn Wall Route (which earns a Moderate grade for a move or two), then cut left to tackle the Right Edge on Far Eastern Buttress. Cross the saddle to the West Face and climb the upper sections of A Minus and D Buttresses on pristine, pockety rhyolite. Conclude by traversing Stob Coire nan Lochan and descending the Gearr Aonach Zigzags for a 500-metre scrambling day. Bidean nam Bian naturally lends itself to linking scrambles, with its numerous hidden corners making it an inexhaustible playground. The steep slopes below provide wonderfully airy positions for such short routes. Despite being one of the hills I’ve visited most frequently, I’m still discovering new things to do on it.
A’ Chir Traverse, Arran
Pushing the limits for scrambling as the crux descent is exposed Moderate (usually done as a roped pitch or abseiled past) but the rest is splendid scrambling with a huge amount of variety. I love the olde-worlde feel of A’ Chir – you can imagine it strewn with tweed-clad Edwardians thrutching up cracks and performing gymnastic feats. It’s a sustained stream of constantly surprising problems in an imposing situation that never fails to give a satisfying day out.
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Find all these scrambles and more in Highland Scrambles North and Highland Scrambles South
Images: All © Iain Thow apart from the last image © Nate Webb.