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munros
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An Caisteal (995m, Munro 147)
Beinn Chabhair (933m, Munro 244)
Beinn a'Chroin (942m, Munro 233)
Beinn Tulaichean (946m, Munro 220)
Cruach Ardrain (1046m, Munro 87)
Stob Binnein (1165m, Munro 18)
Ben More (1174m, Munro 16)
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ascent
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3400m (11,200ft)
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distance
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30km (19m)
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time
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running : 6:20hr, walking : 13hr*
*Naismith's rule : 4km/h distance + 600m/h ascent
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main route summary
Ben More and Stob Binnein are landmarks from the Central Belt. Ben More is a bulky hill from all directions, whereas Stob Binnein has a more defined shape with it's sliced-off top. These two high peaks, combined with the five neighbouring smaller peaks make for one fairly long route. There are four major dips in the route, with the last of these - the haul up Stob Binnein from the head of Benmore Glen - demanding all the strength that is left in your legs, having just done the five previous munros. Lower down, the hills are accessed via good tracks and paths, though depending on the weather, some of the ground can be saturated. Higher up, most of the route across the ridges is on obvious paths. Crossing the connecting dips however is done mostly over pathless grassy ground and will require navigation skills in mist.
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profile
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location
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start
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Car park on A82, 2km south-west of Crianlarich (grid ref : NN370240)
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finish
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Ben More Farm (grid ref : NN415260)
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maps/guides
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GPX data
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download GPX file of this route
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| terrain |
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easy |
| difficult |
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| navigation |
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easy |
| testing |
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| effort |
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stroll |
| long day |
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| scenery |
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ok |
| stunning |
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main route outline
Getting there
Crianlarich lies at the junction of the A82 and A85 where the roads coming up from Glasgow and Stirling meet the road coming down from Fort William and Oban. The start of this route is from a long lay-by, 2km south-west of Crianlarich on the A82. The finish is at Benmore Farm, 3km east of Crianlarich, therefore a bike or shared transport would be helpful in cutting down the time on the return along the road.
An Caisteal
From the lay-by, go through the gate, over a ence on your right and head south-east over a saturated field (often containing a bull and cattle). Now on the track, go under the rail-bridge and cross the wooden bridge over the River Falloch. Head up this track for around 1km to a burn, then turn south over more saturated ground to cross a fence and start to climb up gentle grassy slopes. Further up, the ascent steepens, the ground becomes drier and a path is picked up and followed south. The path is followed for 2km over a few bumps to a narrow bit, keep to the crest, don't be tempted by a path off left (east) - it will take you to more difficulties. The summit has a small cairn just a few minutes further on from this easy bit of scrambling.
Beinn Chabhair
Leave An Caisteal and head south on the path and drop to around c910m. When the ground flattens, turn south-west and drop down on wet, grassy, steep ground to the bealach below. A faint path is picked up to cross the bealach and go around the lochan (not marked on the OS map), then start heading directly up Beinn Chabhair, initially following a burn. Easy, wet ground gives way to steep terrain further up, though no difficulties are encountered to reach the summit crest where a path is followed to the cairn.
Beinn a'Chroin
Return to the bealach below An Caisteal, then head east-north-east over more wet, grassy, pathless ground up to the col between An Caisteal and Beinn a'Chroin. Once at the col, pick up and follow the path heading south-east. Errosion has taken it's toll on the path, but stick with it as it zigs, then zags around the western side of Beinn a'Chroin, then turns eastwards onto the tops. There's been a bit of debate over which top is the summit, however, the path heads over the western top to the cairn on the east top. The views from the tops looking south are good, with the eastern one having the finer of the two.
Beinn Tulaichean
From the Beinn a'Chroin's eastern top head north on a faint path and drop around 200m to around c750m where a wide gully heads off down right. Go down this, cross the burn and drop to the wide bealach with some old iron fence-posts below Stob Glas. Cross this, and contour around the base of Stob Glas, over grass, boulders and a slabby ledge to reach the burn below Beinn Tulaichean. Head east up grassy ground to attain the broad ground connecting Beinn Tulaichean with Cruach Ardarain, then turn right (south-east) to reach Beinn Tulaichean's summit. This is a fine point to look onto the three highest peaks on today's route.
Cruach Ardrain
Return north-west and climb up Cruach Ardrain on the obvious path. Cruach Ardrain has two cairns with a slight dip between them. The main summit is the north-east top, which has a large cairn sitting on it. Excellent views from this.
Stob Binnein
Head north-east from Cruach Ardrain's main summit, down steep ground on an obvious worn path that zig-zags through some loose ground to the safety of the bealach below. From this bealach turn east for 500m, dropping around 50m of height, then head north-east for 1km over wet grassy ground to the bealach below Stob Binnein. Don't head directly to the summit of Stob Binnein as higher up, the ground is just too steep to make for easy progress. Instead head for the northern arm of this mountain, around halfway between the summit and the bealach. It's a fair slog up to this and once on the arm, it's still a climb up 150m. A suprisingly small cairn marks the top, but the views are wonderful.
Ben More
Return down the northern arm of Stob Binnein, cross the bealach and head up Ben More via the obvious worn path. Further up there is one little awkward move just before reaching the flat top with its large cairn and trig point. There's ground dug out around the trig point to shelter out of the wind. When up here, you're on the highest peak south of Glen Dochart - this is a fantastic view point.
Return
From the summit, head north-west, downhill on a worn path. Pick up an old wall and keep it on your left. The ground becomes sodden the more height is lost. At around c350m a track coming out of Benmore Glen is picked up and followed down to Benmore Farm. Just before the farm, at the gate, there is a stile to cross directly to the road, where hopefully you've arranged transport to get you back to the lay-by at the day's start.
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Stob Binnein and Ben More from a busy Tarmachan ridge
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The Crianlarich hills from the south-west
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Cruach Ardrain, An Caisteal and Beinn Chabhair from Ben Lui
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On the way up the Twisting Hill, looking to Ben Lui
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Beinn a'Chroin from Cruach Ardrain between snow flurries
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Cruach Ardrain and Stob Garbh from Beinn Tulaichean
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Tulaichean and Cruach Ardrain from Bealach-eada-dha Beinn
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Beinn Tulaichean from Cruach Ardrain
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Beinn Tulaichean from the eastern side of Cruach Ardrain
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The windy summit of Stob Binnein with Ben More behind
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Looking to the Crianlarich hills from Sgiath Chuill
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Sunset over Ben More and Stob Binnein from Lawers
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Alternative routes, splitting the main route into 2 or more shorter outings
Ben More and Stob Binnein from the north
Distance : 14km, ascent : 1350m
6km east of Crianlarich on the A85 there are some places to park and a track heads south-west from the road-side. Follow this track through the forest, uphill to open ground. Steep grassy ground continues up towards Sron nam Forsairean. Progress becomes easier higher up, though in winter, an ice covering on the gravel can become like a sheet of glass, making for tricky conditions. The summit with its cairn and trig point is reached.
Head south on an obvious path to drop 300m to the bealach, then climb Stob Binnein. Leave this summit and aim initially south, again on an obvious path. Climb up to Stob Coire an Lochain, then turn east-north-east and drop to a grassy bealach and the remains of the old wall and fence posts. From this bealach either head directly down into Coire Chaorach, or bag Meall na Dige first before heading down to the burn. A wet path is picked up to follow back through the forest to the road
In from Balquhidder Glen
Distance : 18km, ascent : 2200m
This is probably the best route to take if you only want to get up the four easterly peaks in this range. On the A84, 3km north of Strathyre, at a junction by Kingshouse Hotel, a road heads off to Balquhidder. Take this road and follow to its end, some 12km, where there is a parking area by Inverlochlarig. Cross the road and over a stile into the field, then start climbing north up a worn, wet path. The path improves further up and continues to Stob Coire an Lochain and Stob Binnein. Continue up to Ben More as already described, then return to Bealach-eada-dha Beinn, from where aim south-west to drop to the head of Benmore Glen. Climb up grassy ground around the base of Stob Garbh to the bealach between Stob Garbh and Cruach Ardrain, from where continue up a path to the summit of Cruach Ardrain. Leave the large summit cairn, then head south-west for 150m to another smaller cairn, then turn south on a path to head for Beinn Tulaichean. Aim south-east-south for 500m, then south to start loosing height. Keeping slightly to the west will avoid the crags and at around c800m, turn south-east to drop to the farm. A track goes through the farm to take you back to the car-park.
The western three or five
Distance : 16km, ascent : 1615m
Start as in the main route on the left and climb up An Caisteal and Beinn Chabhair to Beinn a'Chroin. From the eastern top of Beinn a'Chroin, head north on a faint path along the shoulder of the hill. Further down the ground becomes pretty saturated, but the path continues and joins up with the track to take you back to the starting point. To include Beinn Tulaichean and Cruach Ardrain, take the main route as described on the left to Cruach Ardrain, then head north-west and follow a path down then over Meall Dhamh and the Grey Height. The path drops to the edge of a forest - don't take the path into the forest, as it's really horrible further down. Instead, follow the edge of the forest west down to the River Falloch, where an old bridge (unmarked on OS map) is used to cross the river, and meet up with the track going back to the A82.
North
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Glen Lochay circuit
A fine circuit taking in 5 munros and 3 corbetts. This route can be a serious undertaking, so perhaps split it into smaller chunks with the alternatives described
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East
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Lochearnhead Corbetts
Many different possiblilties for accessing these hills, but from Edinchip they can be combined into a fine circuit
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South-east
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Ben Ledi and Ben Vane
Good access paths and fences to follow making for a popular route over these two hills near Callander
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South
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Ben Lomond
The most southerly Munro. Can be very busy, so recommended doing first thing in the morning when quieter. The views are superb and there's a hill race up it too !
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West
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Ben Lui group
A choice of good tracks in. With grassy ridges, an excellent runnable route over 4 Munros can be enjoyed on clear days.
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| Hotels |
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The Crianlarich Hotel
A warm welcome with an emphasis on good, reliable service and an enjoyable stay. We have an excellent purpose-built boot-room for all your gear, there are cosy log-burning stoves for chilly times, WiFi is provided and there is a fascinating little bookshop.
www.crianlarich-hotel.co.uk
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Drover's Inn, Inverarnan
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Monachyle Mhor Hotel
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Suie Lodge Hotel
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| Food |
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The Real Food Cafe
The award winning Real Food Cafe in Tyndrum, the gateway to the highlands. Our mission is to create an outstanding cafe offering a range of delicious and popular, freshly prepared food in a welcoming vibrant environment.
www.therealfoodcafe.com
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Campsites, Self Catering & Hostels |
Strathfillan Wigwams
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Crianlarich Youth Hostel
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Loch Lomond Cabin
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