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Home   Glossary

Cruach Ardrain

Munro
Quick Facts
This is the height of the mountain above sea level. However, on the climb, it is the ascent that matters, i.e. the sum of all the uphill parts of the route.
Altitude
1046 m (3431 ft)

This is the standard notation used on Ordnance Survey Landranger maps.

Each reference consists of two letters identifying a 100,000 metre square block then three digits defining the Easting and finally the three digits defining the Northing with reference to the South West corner of the block.

NN166712 is the grid reference for the summit of Ben Nevis. Where you are given the map number ( For Ben Nevis = 41) it is acceptable to omit the two initial letters e.g. 166712. (Instructions on how to read the references are given on the OS maps).

Grid Ref.
NN40922123
An indication of this mountains height rank within its class. Where two mountains share the same height they are ordered alphabetically.
Stature
87 of 283 Munros
The number of ascent routes currently available on Munromagic.
Routes
1
Mountain names are usually in Gaelic, the native language of the Scottish Highlands, or have been derived from the old Scots and Norse languages. We give the most commonly accepted meaning, but accept that some of these are disputed.
Meaning
Stack of the high region
 

The UK is covered by 204 Ordnance Survey Landranger 1:50,000 scale maps. Maps numbered 1 to 86 cover Scotland but for the highest mountains (Munros) only 23 maps are required. The name given roughly describes the area covered by the map.

You can click on the map name to purchase the map for £6.29 including postage which is one of the cheapest prices we have found.

OS Landranger Maps Required
  50   Glen Orchy & Loch Etive
  56   Loch Lomond & Inveraray
Only £6.29  (£11.69 Laminated) from  

A description of the characteristics of the mountain including any hazards of which you should be aware.

  Description
Cruach Ardrain is a very craggy "Y" shaped mountain with two parallel long ridges running NW towards Crianlarich either of which can be used for access.

The more W of the two NW ridges is the normal access route from the track in Coire Earb to Grey Height (685m) then SE to ascend the W face of the mountain, or more usually onto the SW ridge for an easier ascent.

It is not recommended that you approach Coire Ardain through commercial pine forest to the MW as this takes you onto very muddy paths.

The more E of the NW ridges can be accessed from the path in Benmore Glen to the E, however, this route is very steep in places and not recommended. A third ridge runs SE to Beinn Tuliachean with a spur SW to the very craggy Stob Glas (815m).

Hazards you may encounter on Cruach Ardrain include
 Steep slopes on or near ascent routes.
 Crags on or near ascent routes.
 Crags near summit.
 
General Considerations
 Temperature decreases by 1degree C for every 100m of ascent.
 Wind usually increases with altitude.
 Visibility can change markedly with cloud level.
 River/Stream levels can increase markedly in one day.
Picture Gallery for Cruach Ardrain

Cruach Ardrain from Ben More

© Gordon Miller
Image by Gordon Miller

Cruach Ardrain (left) and Ben Tullaichean (right) from Beinn a' Chroin. Ben More and Stob Binnein lie behind.

© Bill Wales
Image by Bill Wales

Cruach Ardrain in the centre and Stob Binnein to the left from the slopes of twistin hill.

© Donny McKie
Image by Donny McKie

Cruach Ardrain in the snow from SE

© Stephen Maddocks
Image by Stephen Maddocks
View All 28 Images for Cruach Ardrain

A selection of weather forecasts local to #GetMountain.Top_Name#.

Ordnance Survey digital maps are also available to members.

  Weather & OS Maps
West Highlands
by MWIS (PDF format) 		Ben Lomond
by Accuweather 		West Highlands
by Met Office 		Ben Oss
by Metcheck
Cruach Ardrain Area Map
Legend  Munro  Corbett  Graham  English/Welsh Top  Accommodation

A selection of local accommodation options who advertise with Munromagic.com.

  Where to Stay
Results by distance from Cruach Ardrain
4.9 km
The Crianlarich Hotel
Crianlarich
6.4 km
West Highland Lodge
Crianlarich, Perthshire
9.7 km
Aros Beag
Tyndrum
10.3 km
Suie Lodge Hotel
Glendochart, nr. Crianlarich
12.1 km
Glengarry House
Tyndrum
15.8 km
Rosebank House
Main Street, Strathyre, Perthshire
16.4 km
Leitters Farm
Balquhidder Station, by Lochearnhead
18.9 km
Clachan Cottage Hotel
Lochside, Lochearnhead
20.1 km
Arichastlich (self catering)
The Old House, Arichastlich, Glen Orchy, Argyll
20.2 km
Rowantreebank B&B
Main Street, Arrochar, G83 7AA
21.0 km
Burnbrae B & B
Shore Road Arrochar
22.5 km
Rowardennan Hotel
Rowardennan, Loch Lomond
24.2 km
Inverbeg Holiday Park
Inverbeg Holiday Park, By Luss, Loch Lomond, Argyll
25.6 km
Craigroyston
Dalmally, Dalmally
28.7 km
Achray House Hotel & Lodges
On Loch Earn, St Fillans, Perthshire
For information on camping visit
ScottishCamping.com who also produce
a map of scottish camp grounds.

The summary information of one or more ascent routes that include Cruach Ardrain.

Click on the route title to load the full content for that route.

  Routes that include Cruach Ardrain
  Ascent Distance Time Including... Description Rating
1 1480 m 15.82 km 6 hrs Cruach Ardrain and Beinn Tulaichean  A moderate route with some steep slopes and crossing an unbridged stream (easier in dryer weather).  
 

Pictures submitted by members on the summit of Cruach Ardrain

  Baggers Gallery for Cruach Ardrain

A rather smug looking me at the top of Cruach Ardrain with the twin peaks of Ben More & Stob Binnean stealing the show. Seconds later the rumble of thunder would send me and my climbing friend running for cover.

© Andrew Blair
Image by Andrew Blair

Cruach Ardrain in icy condition

© Nick Cranendonk
Image by Nick Cranendonk

Bruce & Paul April 2009 up the easy way from the south. Good luck if you try from the north as it looks nigh on vertical from here. Thanks to the couple we met at the summit for taking this shot, and finally getting my mate Paul in as he normally shoots

© Bruce Donachie
Image by Bruce Donachie

Looking back from Beinn Tulaichean towards Cruach Ardrain - Feb 2008 a day of clear skies and temperature inversions

© James Blair
Image by James Blair
View All 30 Baggers Images for Cruach Ardrain
The logging section stores any entries for Cruach Ardrain in your own log. From here you can
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  Logging
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If a member has uploaded a tracklog as part of their personal route log and opted to share it then it will be presented here.

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 Shared Members Track Logs
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Post a few words about Cruach Ardrain or read what others have had to say.

 Comments
 
Showing the most recent 5 of 14 comments. Would you like to view all 14?
Cameron Gair
wrote on
August 9, 2009
Climbed with my son from Car Park on A82 in around 5.5 hrs round trip. Stuck to the Munromagic route reaching Cruach Adrain in around 2 hrs 15 mins and then onto Beinn Tulaichean which was fairly easy before returning by same route. Crossed the rickety bridge and up the boggy path next to the fence at the edge of the cut-down forest to reach the ridge. The walk along the ridge is fairly easy although up and down a bit before a steep climb to join the path which connects Cruach Ardrain and Beinn Tulaichean marked by a very small cairn. Weather poor with wind, rain and low cloud. GPS was useful.
Kevin Woods
wrote on
July 1, 2009
Instead of starting from the A82 car park by the River Falloch, an ascent to Grey Height can be made directly from Crianlarich, by starting from the park by the Youth Hostel. A path can be followed out of Crianlarich, where following signs will take you onto the forestry tracks. Following the track upwards - take a right, a left then a cairn will mark a turn off point on the right. A rough path can be followed onto Grey Height. I've used this path several times now and is practical if using the trains. Others seem to be ascending this way as well given the numbers I've seen on it.
Andrew Blair
wrote on
June 15, 2009
13/06/09 - Climbed solo from Keilator Farm railway underpass. Skirted forest using track then crossed river via a very 'rustic' bridge. Steep climb to Grey Height almost killed me but was probably down to hangover & lack of breeze. Onwards to Meall Dhamh where I met chap from Strathaven Climbing Club who accompanied me to Cruach Ardrain. Thunder cleared us from summit before we could admire Ben More & Stob Binnein for too long. Continued solo to Beinn Tulaichean where I began to fade on the return leg as a result of the pain from the massive shin blisters I had developed wearing my new boots.
Kevin Woods
wrote on
September 7, 2008
Climbed 2008-09-07 with Ben More, Stob Binnein and Tulaichean - made for a long day out. Approaching the summit from Stob Garbh was problematic, to an extent. This side is incredibly steep and although the path runs straight up the rather daunting looking face without many problems, a few moments had me pausing for inspiration. That was, with some pretty huge and steep drops behind. Unless you are comfortable with such exposed moves, it's probably easier to traverse around to the southern slopes and climb up from there. Otherwise, the ridge to Tulaichean was superbly simple - a nice walk.
Peter King
wrote on
July 25, 2008
Climbed with Ben Tulaichen in cloud with occasional welcome sunny breaks. Basically followed the "Munro Magic" route which sensibly avoids the start through the forest. Varied the route by heading directly ESE for top of Cruach Ardain from approx NN40102150 (shorly after descent and reascent following Meal Damph) the path is less well used than the "bypass" route but is safe and clear, this avoids back tracking between waypoints 6 and 7 on Munro Magic route.
 
 

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  Route Write-Ups
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