Early Mountaineers – Cir Mhor

 | Overview

Technical Rating

Moderate/Challenging  

Easy scrambling, elements of exposure, some rough terrain, but with some optional sections of more exposed scrambling for which surefootedness and a head for heights is required.

Endurance Rating

3  

Sustained steep ascents and descents, long-distance, stamina required, suitable for fit walkers. Have you had recent experience of walking for 6-8 hours? Have you recently walked up (and down) a mountain of over 1000m (3000ft) in height without physical distress? Do you regularly play an aerobic sport pretty much every week? If your answer is "No", we'd guess you'd be happier doing a walk rated a level lower than the one you’ve just read! As noted previously, we're into FUN so we don't want you to miss out by overdoing it.

 | Photo Gallery

 | Walk description

The walk starts gently with a height gain of 200m over 5km up Glen Sannox, however the next stage gives over 250m of height gain over a single kilometre in to Coire na h-Uaimh. Here the lines of first ascents by the likes of WW Naismith, JH Bell and others will be pointed out on the North Face before climbing out of the back of the coire to traverse the summit of Cir Mhor where, weather permitting, all Arran’s ridges will be available for view. A steep descent to the saddle at the head of Glen Rosa from where the route descends the glen, from which more distant views of another early challenge, the A’Chir ridge and the slightly later playground of the Coire Daingean face should be visible along with the challenges of the Rosa Slabs, developed in the 1960’s.

Route Profile

 | Advised Kit List