📌 Road pass between Ardgartan & Cairndow, Argyll & Bute
★★★
Safe passage by road between most of Scotland and much of coastal Argyll is blocked by the Arrochar Alps – a range of hills far smaller than their European counterparts but still with plenty of ruggedness of their own. Rest and Be Thankful is the summit of a scenic road pass well worth driving for the views alone, even if you aren’t using it to get somewhere. Beinn an Lochain, Ben Donich and several more of the “Alps” are all well seen (and climbed) from the road, with an equally fine view down Glen Croe (not to be confused with Glencoe!) from the top. This pass has been the way across since 1752 when soldiers constructed a military road over the bealach here – imagine the effort involved in ascending before cars were invented and the reason for the name becomes obvious. The pass is still vulnerable in poor weather: although the road doesn’t reach a particularly great altitude, heavy rain causes frequent landslides and rockfalls at all times of year, despite multi-million pound preventative efforts. In case of closure, a winding but more reliable single-track diversion (ironically using the exact line of the old military road) offers a potential work-around, provided it isn’t threatened by landslides itself.
Glen Croe side of the pass from the summit – the road in the foreground is the diversion route 
Northbound ascent through Glen Croe 
Southbound descent through Glen Croe 
Southbound descent through Glen Croe 
Top of the pass seen from Ben Donich 
Loch Restil, the top of the pass & Glen Croe seen from Beinn an Lochain 
Road past Loch Restil seen from Beinn an Lochain 
Glen Kinglas side of the pass seen from Beinn an Lochain
🌍 Location
📌 East end is at Ardgartan
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NN 275032
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 56.189630,-4.782117
△ Summit is at:
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NN 230075
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 56.226569,-4.856743
📌 West end is at Cairndow turnoff
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NN 184113
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 56.259517,-4.932923
🚌 Buses cross the pass, with a bus stop at the summit
🚗 Surfaced A-road, suitable for all vehicles, with various car parks / laybys – including a big one at the summit
📝 Key info
▶ 16 km / 10 mi | ▲ 260 m
⌚ Almost always open, except for occasional weather-related closures – snow in winter, or landslide risk after heavy rain
🎫 Free
