About halfway along Loch Lubnaig, from a layby a signpost points a popular to these hills through Glenample
Approaching the hills from the south makes for a fine circuit, but much longer than the main route
Race route up Stuc a'Chroin Ascent : 1500m, distance : 22km
Stuc a'Chroin race is a popular hillrace taking place on the first weekend in May
Meall nan Fearna and Ben Vorlich
Ascent : 1225m, distance : 13km
Start from Ardvorlich as described in the main route and head up the track. After just over 1km and just after crossing a burn there is a split in the track.
The main route heads right, but turn off left to bag Meall na Fearna.
The path is much fainter than the main Ben Vorlich one, but follow it for around 2km, then turn east uphill over pathless grass and heather covered ground and reach Beinn Domhnuill.
Turn south and ahead is a pleasant trudge over heathery ground to reach Meall na Fearna, with the last few metres being a bit bouldery.
Head west from the Corbett's summit down to the pass between Glen Vorlich and Gleann an Dubh Choirein, then pick up a line of fence-posts to follow to Ben Vorlich's summit.
Stuc a'Chroin from Edinample
Ascent : 900m, distance : 12km
From just south of Lochearnhead, drive along the minor road on the south of Loch Earn for just over 1km, to where there is a fairly new bridge by the Falls of Edinample. Park up the side of the forestry track heading uphill. Head up the track, which after an initial steep incline, is fairly flat. On approaching Glenample Farm, you are directed onto a path on the west bank of the burn, away from the farm. Once past the farm, a sign re-directs you onto the track after crossing the burn by bridge. Follow the track for just under 1km to where it turns and starts to drop. Leave the track and head up steep heathery ground to get onto the broad north-western arm of Stuc a'Chroin. A path is picked up and followed to the cairn on the northern minor top, from where the line of fence-posts are followed to the summit.
Return by the same route.
Beinn Each and Stuc a'Chroin from Loch Lubnaig
Ascent : 1175m, distance : 13km
About halfway along Loch Lubnaig, there is a layby on the hill-side of the road by Ardchullarie More house. A signpost points the way up through the forest towards Glenample. Follow the track up the glen to near the watershed, then turn right and head up heathery ground following fence-posts to reach Beinn Each.
An obvious path continues north, crosses Bealach nan Cabar and approaches Stuc a'Chroin's summit from the south-west.
Return to Bealach nan Cabar, then drop directly to Glen Ample and return to Ardchullarie More.
Race route up Stuc a'Chroin
Ascent : 1500m, distance : 22km
Stuc a'Chroin race is a popular hillrace taking place on the first weekend in May. From Strathyre, heading up Beinn Each to Stuc a'Chroin and return, the record stands at just under 2hours !
The well marked route starts from the forestry cabin on the south side of the village of Strathyre and heads up the forestry tracks. Upon reaching the end of the track, a rough faint path heads steeply and directly uphill. The ground levels out, becomes marshy and the route follows a line of fence-posts to near Meall Mor. Before this minor summit, you are directed down a steep descent through thick heather to the watershed in Glen Ample. Another very faint, rough path follows a line of fence-posts uphill to reach more open ground and Beinn Each's summit. The race continues on an obvious well-worn path along the crest, crosses Bealach nan Cabar and a minor summit, then approaches Stuc a'Chroin from the south-west.
Returning to Bealach nan Cabar, runners are directed down to Glen Ample to the watershed, from where they retrace their tracks back to the start.
More info in my book
'Classic Hill Runs and Races in Scotland'
or on
Stuc a'Chroin Race website or
Scottish Hill Racing
Meall nan Fearna and Ben Vorlich
Ascent : 1225m, distance : 13km
At the south end of Callander's village centre a sign points to 'Bracklin Falls'. Drive up this road for around 3km to it's end and park.
Now on foot or by bike, head past Braeleny Farm and follow the track north. You'll pass an unusual memorial
on the way. 2km into the route, the track meets up where two burns join. On some OS maps a bridge is marked - this is no longer here, you'll have to wade across !
Continue up the track to the buildings at Arivurichardich, then pick up a faint path heading north.
A fence is crossed
a col is reached, then drop to Gleann an Dubh Choirein.
Steep slopes next onto Ben Vorlich's south-east shoulder and a faint path is traced to the summit crest
, the summit trig point is a couple of minutes further on.
A line of fence-posts and path run westwards from the crest of Ben Vorlich. From the trig-point follow these to drop down to Bealach an Dubh Choirein. The path crosses the bealach then ends up at the foot of the northern face of Stuc a'Chroin.
Ahead is an easy scramble over boulders and loose ground with occasional stretches of path to follow. Climb up this and reach the cairn on the minor northern top. If you can't face the scramble, then from Bealach an Dubh Choirein pick up a path heading west-south-west, initially dropping slightly and cross some grassy ground to reach the start of a steep but hazard-free incline. Climb up this and reach the crest of the north-west shoulder at around c850m, then turn left (south-east) and attain the cairn on the minor northern top.
A memorial plaque is embedded in the cairn
. From the cairn, follow the line of fence-posts south to the main summit and its two cairns.
A faint path is followed south-east down Stuc a'Chroin's shoulder to the fence
and return by the way in.
