Scrambling and Mountaineering
Rugged Ridges and Spectacular Situations, Scotland's Mountain Scrambles have it all!
We are spoiled for choice with incredible mountain scrambles in Scotland. Scrambling enters the grey area in between walking and rock climbing, and can provide an exhilarating, engaging and very memorable adventure. It is often an amazingly fun way to reach the top of a mountain, fortunately so enjoyable that you won’t even notice the effort. Some of the most popular scrambles in Scotland include:
- Tower Ridge on Ben Nevis
- The Cuillin Ridge on Skye (MORE INFO HERE!)
- Aonach Eagach in Glencoe
- Afterthought Arete in the Cairngorms
- Curved Ridge on Buachaille Etive Mor
- Stac Pollaidh in the Northwest
Scroll down for further information on the above list of scrambles!
A private guided day scrambling costs £260 for 1 person, or £290 for 2 people. This includes the hire of a harness and helmet.
Tower Ridge Scramble, Ben Nevis
Ben Nevis is well known as the highest mountain in the UK, but it’s incredible North Face is a better kept secret! Tower Ridge is one of Scotland’s most prized mountaineering routes. It is included in the book “Classic Rock” which is a collection of the UK’s “best” rock climbs. Tower Ridge provides 600m of impressive scrambling, culminating in the notorious “Tower Gap” just before the summit. The approach takes about 2.5 hours, followed by about 3 hours of scrambling. We have several options for descent, including “Ledge Route”, the tourist track, or completing a loop around the Carn Mor Dearg (CMD) arrete.
The Aonach Eagach Ridge, Glencoe
Gaelic for “the notched ridge”, the Aonach Eagach is Scotland’s most legendary grade II scramble which traverses high above the Glencoe valley. Famed as the narrowest ridge on mainland Britain, it links up two munros, and provides several spectacular sections of scrambling. The whole day is about 10km long, and when the weather is clear, the views are absolutely stunning.
Afterthought Arete, Cairngorms
A spectacular ridge that climbs for 150m above the beautiful Loch Avon, in the Northern Cairngorms. Graded as a “Moderate” rock climb, it blurs the line between scrambling and climbing, providing some more exposed sections, with big comfy ledges in between. The route faces south, and so we hopefully get to enjoy sunshine all day long. Combined with Twin Ribs and Fiachail Ridge, this makes for a brilliant day out starting from the Cairngorm Ski Centre Carpark.
The Cuillin Ridge, Skye
An epic playground of alpine proportions, with ten munro summits along the ridge. I have a separate page with information about the Cuillin Ridge:
Stac Pollaidh, near Ullapool
Stac Pollaidh is a picturesque mountain in the Northwest Highlands, a big dramatic lump of Torridonian Sandstone. It is a popular hill-walking objective although the true summit involves an airy scramble. The south face of the mountain provides brilliant rock climbing at a variety of grades and can provide an even more exciting route to the summit.