Glen Lochay Munros

The small town of Killin lies at the western end of Loch Tay. At the northern edge of the town, a bridge crosses the River Lochay, with roads running upstream on both sides. The road on the north bank is narrower but shorter, while the south-bank road passes the Moirlanich Longhouse, a National Trust for Scotland property well worth a visit.

Both roads merge further up the glen and continue to a car park reached after crossing a cattle grid and shortly before Kenknoch Farm. Driving beyond this point is possible, but parking past the car park is no longer permitted.

An approach from Glen Lyon is also possible, though the connecting road descending into Glen Lochay appears poorly maintained and in advanced disrepair, with potholes, erosion, and surface damage. Gates exist on the Glen Lochay side above Kenknoch Farm, with warning signage, though they do not appear to be locked.

From the car park, the road is followed further up the glen for just over 1km to a junction 1, often with cattle milling around. Turning right, a steep climb begins through an impressively over-engineered gate adorned with somewhat unfriendly signage.

The deteriorating road climbs around 100m before another junction 2 is reached, where it is left in favour of a hydro track heading west. This track crosses a bridge, passes over a pipe and a gravel area, then continues south-west for around 3km, passing through a few gates on the way.

The track curves westwards into a sheltered nook beneath a small dam on the Allt Bad Odhar 3. After crossing the bridge here, the track is left and a climb begins on grassy, pathless slopes, trending north-west. Faint trods appear intermittently, and the ground remains generally pleasant underfoot.

After crossing a short stretch of damp, flatter ground, the final rise leads onto Beinn Sheasgarnich’s broad crest 4. Turning right, a faint path follows the gently curving ridge north-east then north for around 1km, over grass and gravel, to reach the mountain's summit 5, marked by a rather dilapidated cairn.

The crest of Beinn Sheasgarnich is retraced to the point where it was first joined, after which the route continues south-west, still following a path. The path winds through minor landforms on Stob an Fhir-Bhogha, then begins a gradual descent, turning more westwards.

Steeper sections are bypassed as the path traverses around them before crossing the top of Sròn Tairbh, after which a descent leads towards the bealach 6 below Creag Mhòr, with the path fading into grass.

Rather than tackling Creag Mhòr directly from the bealach — a line that appears unappealingly steep — the burn draining the hill is crossed and its northern bank followed briefly before ascending on pathless grassy ground. The climb is straightforward, reaching Creag Mhòr’s northern crest at a height of just over 900m 7. From here, grass and boulders lead to the rolling summit plateau, where a cairn stands on the highest point 8. In mist, the topography can be slightly confusing.

A line is taken south-west between minor landforms, passing a small pool and picking up a faint path. This descends and curves southwards above Coire Cheathaich, crossing a broad bealach dotted with small pools.

As the path begins to climb south-east 9 towards Stob nan Clach - a Munro Top, so perhaps worthy of a short detour. The crest is left prior to the climb up this minor summit in favour of a descent across damp, grassy slopes, dropping roughly 250m to reach the head of Làirig Mhic Bhaidein 10.

Ahead, a line of crags guards Cam Chreag’s north-east face, though a weakness appears around halfway along. So, from Làirig Mhic Bhaidein, a direct grassy ascent is made uphill — steep but straightforward, with no technical difficulties. Cam Chreag's grassy crest is gained 11, followed by a pleasant 500m stroll north-west over undulating ground to the Corbett's summit 12.

Cam Chreag’s undulating crest is retraced to the point of ascent 11, then followed onward to a shallow grassy dip. Leaving the crest, a gentle descent begins southwards over grassy ground. Before steeper ground is reached, a line of old iron fence posts appears 13, alongside which a faint path forms.

This path trends south-west, losing height — steeply in places — before dropping to the damp Bealach Ghlas-Leathaid 14. On the far side, Beinn Challuim’s north-west shoulder rises, with the fence-post line marking its crest.

A faint path skirts steeper and rockier sections while keeping mostly to grass. Higher up, the gradient eases, and Beinn Challuim’s broad summit is reached, crowned by a large cairn 15. Although not the highest Munro in the group, Beinn Challuim often offers the finest views, thanks to its prominent position.

The best-known route up Beinn Challuim runs towards Tyndrum, and the path over Beinn Challuim's South Top in that direction is the clearest. However, to maintain the Glen Lochay circuit, a fainter path is followed eastwards from the summit.

This path generally sticks to the crest, descending mainly over grassy, undulating ground. In mist, navigation can become tricky.

Beyond a minor flat-topped rise 16, the descent steepens and twists down to the glen floor, where an estate track 17 is reached.

Crossing the track, damp, tussocky ground leads to the River Lochay 18. In most conditions this is a manageable ford, though wet feet are likely. No bridge exists nearby.

Across the river, a brief uphill hike reaches a zig-zagging track 19 which climbs Meall Glas’s hillside and is followed to near its upper end at a height of around 550m.

From the top of the track, a pathless grassy climb directly uphill gains Meall Glas’s north-west crest, around 500m from the summit. A gentle ridge walk then leads to the top 20.

The terrain east of Meall Glas is complex, but a clear, well-defined path provides reliable guidance. The path initially descends from Meall Glas's summit, then crosses a wide expanse of upland ground, before it begins to turn around a rise to reach a col 21.

A descent can be made directly from the col, or from Beinn Cheathaich 22, a Munro Top. In winter, it should be noted that a large cornice can form along Beinn Cheathaich's north-eastern spur.

Under Beinn Cheathaich faint paths can be found through the ever-thickening heather to drop into the Làirig a’ Churain 23, a pleasant grassy glen, with Sgiath Chùil rising steeply above.

Keeping right of landslip forms, a steep grassy climb leads onto the Sgiath Chùil’s crest at a flat area roughly 200m north of the summit. On an obvious path, a short climb over gravelly ground then reaches the summit 24, marked by a small cairn set among rocky outcrops.

Views are particularly fine towards the Crianlarich hills.

From Sgiath Chùil’s summit, a north-bound path follows the wide ridge over a minor top 25 and then the Munro Top of Meall a’ Churain 26, which carries a small cairn.

The path continues down the hill’s grassy northern shoulder, damp in places. After around 2km, approaching the rise of Creag an t-Seallaich 27, it becomes indistinct in thick grass, heather, and peat-bog. A small dam 28 is soon encountered, which is crossed from where a path leads to the top of a large water pipe 29 at the edge of forestry, where a track is met.

To shorten the return, the pipe can be followed downhill to rejoin the track lower down. The track then runs through partially felled forestry, crosses a bridge, and returns to the junction 1 below Kenknoch Farm, completing the circuit.