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Home   Glossary
Cruach Ardrain Title Image
Meaning Stack of the high region
Altitude 1046 metres (3431 feet)      (Munro)
Grid Ref. NN40922123
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  56   Loch Lomond & Inveraray
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Cruach Ardrain
(Click to enlarge)

Cruach Ardrain from Beinn a' Chroin. Ben More and Stob Binnein are visible behind.

© Bill Wales

Image by Bill Wales
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Mountain Description
Cruach Ardrain is a very craggy "Y" shaped mountain with two parallel long ridges running NW towards Crianlairich 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.
Available Routes
  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). 3 / 5
Baggers Gallery Submit a Picture (M)

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

From the Grey Height 16/11/2008

© Ethel Jessett

Image by Ethel Jessett

RG on Cruach Ardrain

© Richard Goodman

Image by Richard Goodman

Me on cruarch ardrain. on and elvis

© Mackenzie Barker

Image by Mackenzie Barker
Weather & Maps, etc ...
Links to the nearest available forecast to Cruach Ardrain.
Ben Lomond
by Accuweather
West Highlands
by MWIS (PDF format)
West Highlands
by Met Office
Ben Oss
by Metcheck
View Location
(Detailed Ordnance Survey maps are available to registered users)
Proximity Search       
Enter a distance (1-99 km) to find other mountains in this area.
Find Mountains within km of Cruach Ardrain.
Comments Submit A Comment (M)
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.
Showing the latest 3 comments. There are 13 available to members.
Local Accommodation Options
Showing the nearest 10 of 46 within 100Km of the summit of Cruach Ardrain. Would you like to view all 46?
4.8 km Glenardran House - Crianlarich , FK20 8QS   Tel: 01838 300236
4.9 km The Crianlarich Hotel - Crianlarich, FK20 8RW   Tel: 01838 300272
10.3 km Suie Lodge Hotel - Glendochart, nr. Crianlarich, FK20 8QT   Tel: 01567 820417
12.1 km Glengarry House - Tyndrum, FK20 8RY   Tel: 01838 400224
12.2 km West Highland Lodge - Crianlarich, Perthshire, FK20 8RU   Tel: 01838 300 283
15.8 km Rosebank House - Main Street, Strathyre, Perthshire, FK18 8NA   Tel: 01877 384208
18.9 km Clachan Cottage Hotel - Lochside, Lochearnhead, FK19 8PU   Tel: 01567 830247
20.1 km Arichastlich (self catering) - The Old House, Arichastlich, Glen Orchy, Argyll, PA33 1BD   Tel: 01838 200 399
20.2 km Rowantreebank B&B - Main Street, Arrochar, G83 7AA, G83 7AA   Tel: 01301 702318/07933030957
20.4 km Killin Hotel - Main Street, Killin, Perthshire, FK21 8TP   Tel: 01567 820296
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