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Munros
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Beinn Dubhchraig (978m, Munro 175)
Ben Oss (1029m, Munro 101)
Ben Lui (1130m, Munro 28)
Beinn a'Chleibh (916m, Munro 281)
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Corbetts
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Beinn Chuirn (880m)
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Ascent
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1700m (5,600ft)
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Distance
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18.5km (11.5m)
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Time
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walking : 7:30hr*, running : 3:05hr
*Naismith's rule : 4km/h distance + 600m/h ascent
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Main route summary
Ben Lui is a spectacular mountain with excellent views and due to its shape, is easily identified from other summits.
In winter, a cornice establishes itself over the northern coire - Coire Gaothach and the peak is famed for its winter climbing.
In the gully below are the remains of an aircraft which crashed into the mountain in 1941.
The surrounding hills are less dramatic, but grass covered slopes make for an enjoyable walk.
There is a fine little lochan on the western crest of Beinn Dubhchraig - an excellent place to pause and take in views.
Good tracks lead in from Tyndrum and Dalrigh to the north-east and from Glen Falloch to the south-east.
If doing the main route described, the day is finished off with a brilliant run down through muck, forest and water.
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profile
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location
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start
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Dalrigh on A82
(grid ref : NN343292)
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finish
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A85, 9km west of Tyndrum (grid ref : NN238279)
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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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| meanings |
Ben Lui (Beinn Laoigh) : 'calf hill'
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Beinn a'Chleibh : 'hill of the creel or chest'
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Beinn Dubhchraig : 'hill of the black rock'
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Ben Oss : 'hill of the loch outlet or elk hill'
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| main route outline | print route |
Getting there
On the A82/A85, 1km south east of Tyndrum, there is a junction is marked Dalrigh, turn in here and sharp turn left into a large car-park with some information boards. Alternatively, start from the car-park at Tyndrum lower station, note that parking is more limited here and you may have to park by the Tourist Information Centre instead.
Beinn Dubhchraig
Leave the car-park and aim westwards along a good track, initially past some houses. Turn right, keeping to main track, over a wooden bridge, past the junction with the West Highland Way and under the railway bridge. Follow track for 3km until just before the green buildings of Cononish. If you are heading in from Tyndrum station, cross the railway and follow the track through dark forests to Cononish. At Cononish, just before the large green sheds, there is a wooden bridge over the River Cononish. Go across this bridge and aim south uphill over wet grassy ground. After crossing a fence line and 300m of ascent the gradient easies and Beinn Dubhchraig comes into view. Continue uphill on grassy ground following the occasional iron fence post to reach the lochans at 900m. Turn south-east and follow path over some boudlers to Beinn Dubhchraig's cairn. The view south down to the hills around Loch Lomond is particularly lovely.
Ben Oss
Return to the lochans and follow path around the south side of the lochans. Aiming west, the path zig-zags through boudlers down to the bealach. The path then widens, but travels over lower ground, therefore at some point leave it and aim uphill over grassy ground to reach the northern shoulder of Ben Oss. The last section prior to the summit is an easy trudge over fine gravel. From the summit, it still seems a long way to Ben Lui !
Ben Lui
From Ben Oss, initially aim south, following a faint path over grass and occasional boulders. Gradually the path, which disappears now and then, turns west and the wet ground of the bealach at the head of Coire Laoigh is reached. The path becomes more obvious as the bealach is crossed and starts to climb and turn north. At around 1000m, there is a path heading north east, this is an exit route down Ben Lui's east shoulder, there is some plane wreckage down here. On approaching Ben Lui's summit the ground becomes more bouldery and is a place to take great care especially in windy conditions. Stop here for a while and take in the views and, if in winter, watch the climbers coming up Coire Gaothach.
Beinn a'Chleibh
Aim north-west towards the north-east top, then turn west-south-west downhill.The ground initially is loose, then grassy and possibly wet and slippy. Follow a well defined path scarred up the north eastern arm of Beinn a'Chleibh. This munro has a small cairn and some fine views out towards Ben Cruachan.
Return
Return to the bealach between Beinn a'Chleibh and Ben Lui, then follow the initially steep path into Fionn Choirein. Leaving the boulders behind, the ground becomes grass covered but can be extremely wet. Don't bother looking for the path marked on the OS map, just run down the path on the east side of the burn. Into and through the forest is fast and great fun - expect to get mud covered ! Cross the Eas Daimh where it meets the burn coming down from Fionn Choirein - this can be tricky in spate. Further down cross the railway and wade across the River Lochy - an opportunity to clean all the muck off ! Reach the car-park where you've hopefully arranged a lift or left a bike to get back to Dalrigh.
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Ben Lui from the slopes of Beinn Challum
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Ben Cruachan from Beinn a'Chleibh
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In Fionn Choirein looking up to Ben Lui
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Very windy on Beinn Dubhchraig's summit
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Heading in along the Strathfillan track, looking to Ben Lui
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Looking down Glen Kinglass to the Ben Lui group
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Beinn Lui from Beinn a'Chleibh
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Ben Oss and Ben Lui from Beinn Dubhchraig
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The summit of Ben Lui looking east to the Ben More group
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Winter climbing up Coire Gaothach
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Beinn Dubhchraig and Beinn Oss from Meall Glas to the north
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Beinn a'Cleibh with Ben Cruachan beyond
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A bike can be used from Tyndrum or Dalrigh up to Cononish, from where the Munros can be ticked off in a circuit. It is also possible to add in the Corbett Beinn a'Chuirn on this route.
Just to the north of Ben Lui is Beinn a'Chuirn, a shapely Corbett, not far short of Munro height.
Starting and finishing from Dalrigh or Tyndrum
Distance : 26km, ascent : 1800m
Taking a bike, cycle from Dalrigh or Tyndrum Station to Cononish. Climb up Beinn Dubhchraig and continue over Ben Oss to reach the bealach between Ben Oss and Ben Lui as described in the main route.
Start up Ben Lui, then at around 800m, contour on the western slopes over grass covered ground to reach the bealach between Ben Lui and Beinn a'Chleibh.
Follow a well defined path scarred up the north east arm of Beinn a'Chleibh to the summit cairn.
Return to the bealach then haul yourself up Ben Lui's western slopes.
From Ben Lui's summit aim south east to around 1000m and look for a path down off to the left, this may well be corniced over in winter.
Take this path, which follows the north east ridge off Ben Lui, down to a sheiling and the Allt an Rund.
On the way down you may find some remains of the aircraft crashed here in 1941 (more details on Aircraft crash sites of Scotland.
Cross the burn, and pick up the track which travels to Cononish.
Pick up your bike and cycle back.
Add in the Corbett Beinn a'Chuirn
Distance : 11km, ascent : 975m
Just to the north of Ben Lui is Beinn a'Chuirn, a shapely Corbett, not far short of Munro height. After rainfall, water heads down via the lovely Eas Anie waterfall to the south of the old gold mine above Cononish. You can still try panning for gold here !
Cycle from Dalrigh or Tyndrum to Cononish as already described. Continue on the track past the Cononish green buildings through one gate, then slightly further another gate which will probably be locked. Leave bikes here, and continue west up wet grassy ground. At around c550m, the ground begins to level out, continue up a gentle incline to the minor summit at 773m and pick up a line of fence posts. Follow the fence-posts northwards, initially loosing a bit of height and continue to the summit. The summit crest has two cairns 100m apart, the north-eastern is the summit. Return by the same route.
Instead of returning, you could continue onto the other Munro tops by heading south-west to the top of Garbh Choirean, then south downhill to the bealach below Ciochan Beinn Laoigh. From there slog up the north-west ridge of Ben Lui to its summits.
North
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Glen Orchy Corbetts
Weird rock dykes with gold and fine runnable terrain on grass and by forest over 3 Corbetts
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South-east
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Crianlarich Munros
Distinctive landmark mountains. Bag all 7 munros in fairly long route. Or take more time on three separate outings
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South-west
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Beinn Bhuidhe
A hill to leave for a fine day as the views from the summit are excellent and the terrain will have you lost in mist
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West
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Ben Cruachan group
Some fine ridge walking. Having a fairly isolated position, this group have long distant views from their summits
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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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Bridge of Orchy 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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Bridge of Orchy Bunkhouse
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Crianlarich Youth Hostel
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