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Steven Fallon Scottish Mountain Routes
Steven Fallon Scottish Mountain Routes
 
  cruachan
munros Beinn Eunaich (989m, Munro 156)
Beinn a'Chochuill (980m, Munro 172)
Stob Daimh (998m, Munro 119)
Ben Cruachan (1126m, Munro 31)

corbetts Beinn a'Bhuiridh (897m)

ascent 2100m (6,900ft)
distance   18km (11m)
time running : 3:45hr, walking : 8hr*
 *Naismith's rule : 4km/h distance + 600m/h ascent



main route summary

Some easy slogging up two munros, then some fine ridge walking, culminating in a tricky step just below the main summit of Ben Cruachan. Having a fairly isolated position, the long distant views from Ben Cruachan are superb. It does help to have a bike at Loch Awe, by St Conan's Kirk for the last 3km back to your car.


profile
location
start/finish nr head of Loch Etive (grid ref : NN137469)

maps/guides  Covered by 1 OS Landranger or 1 OS Explorer map :
OS Landranger 50 - click to buy from Amazon OS Explorer 377 - click to buy from Amazon Pocket Mountains - Central Highlands - click to buy from Amazon Pocket Mountains - Classic Hill Runs and Races - click to buy from Amazon

GPX data download GPX file of this route

terrain
easy Mainly grass on Eunaich and Chochuill, more tricky on Cruachan difficult
navigation
easy Some care in mist, particularly coming off Cruachan testing
effort
stroll Quite a bit of effort required long day
scenery
ok Fine views from the summits stunning
main route outline

Getting there
3km west of Dalmally on the A85, there is a junction with the B8077- take this and park by the bridge on the west side of the Allt Mhoille. Parking is limited, so you might have to park nearer the junction.

Beinn Eunaich
Cross the bridge and go through the gate up the track towards Castles Farm - there's usually quite a few cows and the occasional bull here. Just before Castles Farm, a track heads off left (north-west) through a couple of gates and starts to climb. After just over 1km, a small cairn marks the start of a steep path up the west side of Beinn Eunach's south shoulder. Ascend 250m, then the ground flattens and the path continues north, then north-east-north over grassy ground to the summit cairn.

Beinn a'Chochuill
From Beinn Eunach's summit, head initially west-north-west over some boulders and gravel towards the grassy bealach separating the two munros. A wide bealach, this dip can hold deep snow when winter drifts hit. Climb up a grassy ridge to a wide grass-covered area and turn west then north-west to head over easy ground to Beinn a'Chochuill's cairn.

Stob Daimh
Leave Beinn a'Chochuill and head south-west downhill over grassy ground, steepening on approaching the Lairig Noe. Head directly uphill, initially over wet slippy ground, then boulders on a steep slope and finally up loose gravel to reach the ridge west of the top Sron an Isean. Continue south-west down and up on a fine ridge to reach the small cairn on Stob Diamh.

Ben Cruachan
Pick up a good path zig-zagging west-south-west downhill to the bealach. The ground gets more bouldery as the path turns and heads for Drochaid Ghlas. This top can be by-passed, but by doing so, great views to Ben Cruachan and Taynuilt Peak will be missed. Continue south-west on bouldery ground to the next drop and a flat walk, before the rise that continues up Ben Cruachan. The path carries over steep bouldery ground with some occasional easy scrambling in bits on a fine ridge. A small drop is reached and a bad step downwards blocks the way. The rock is grippy, so with care, should present no problems in dry conditions. A bit more easy scrambling and the trig point is at last reached. Wonderful views are to be had in all directions, with the views all the way to Ben More on Mull and north up Loch Etive towards Ben Nevis being particularly stunning.

Return
A path leaves and zig-zags south down a boulder field to a small lochan (not marked on the OS Landranger map). Turn left, cross a fence-line and head directly down a well worn path into Coire Dearg. The path gets wet and slippy and really mucky further down as it reaches the track at Cruachan Reservoir. Follow the track to the dam, cross it and head down the hydro track back to the village of Loch Awe and a pavement most of the way along the road will take you back to the car.



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