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Home   Back To Mountain Selection   Glossary
Ben Cruachan & Stob Diamh
Quick Facts
This is the summed total of all the climbing within a route and is a good indicator of the strenuousness of a route.
Total Ascent
1904 m

An estimate of the time taken based on a derivation of Naismiths rules. Our calculation is based on the horizontal and ascent components of a climb, we do not make a reduction for descent.

Registered users can customise these walking times by specifying their own walking and ascending speeds. They can also add a fixed time period for stoppages.

Route Time
7.5 hrs
The horizontal distance of the route.
Route Distance
19.99 km
 

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
Only £6.29  (£11.69 Laminated) from  

A brief summary of this route.

Our summary will always contain one of easy, moderate or hard to indicate the severity of the route.

 Notes
Moderate climb on mixed terrain. Ben Cruachan is an excellent mountain with a craggy summit, but no scrambling is required.

Here we provide the nearest town to the start of the route where you will find basic services.

We then give directions from that location to the route start. Your approach route may differ.

 Travel Information

Head to: Lochawe

At Lochawe village (A85) park to commence route.

Route Waypoint Map

The total ascent is 1,904 metres. Allow 7.5 hours to complete this 19.99 km route.

In winter months please check the local snow conditions at sais.gov.uk.

The hillphones service can inform you of stalking activities in the area.

Usually the shortest way to climb the mountain, making best use of tracks and paths to gain altitude. Route navigation requires map reading skills and an ability to navigate with a compass.

The information given here will enable you to annotate your map and plan your route. We do not give anecdotal descriptions on where to find the paths, worn by the feet of previous mountaineers.

Where the access routes are few or the ridge is narrow, paths are generally obvious. On open ground, following paths without using your compass may get you lost in poor visibility.

 Route Information
Waypoint Detail
  Park your car in Lochawe village SW of St Conan's Kirk
  NN11442670 Distance
Altitude
90 m
1
Follow path W towards the Falls of Cruachan
NN08542686 Distance
3.25 km
Altitude
250 m
2
Continue on path NNW to dam
NN08152810 Distance
1.42 km
Altitude
390 m
3
Cross to west shore of dam and continue N on road
NN08242942 Distance
1.75 km
Altitude
430 m
4
Leave road close to its termination and ascend WNW to col (825m)
NN06952980 Distance
1.49 km
Altitude
825 m
5
Ascend N on winding path to summit of Ben Cruachan
NN06963047 Distance
0.90 km
Altitude
1126 m
6
Descend E and follow curving ridge
NN07853041 Distance
0.91 km
Altitude
950 m
7
Continue NE to summit of Drochaid Ghlas
NN08333073 Distance
0.64 km
Altitude
1009 m
8
Continue E on ridge to summit of Stob Diamh
NN09473085 Distance
1.27 km
Altitude
998 m
9
Head S to Stob Garbh
NN09543024 Distance
0.64 km
Altitude
980 m
10
Descend S to col (730m) north of Beinn a' Bhuirdh
NN09532886 Distance
1.45 km
Altitude
730 m
11
Continue descent W turning SW to join track by water side.
NN08292824 Distance
1.55 km
Altitude
400 m
12
Head S to join ascent route and return
  NN11442670 Distance
4.75 km
Altitude
90 m

A selection of weather forecasts local to this route.

 Weather
West Highlands
by MWIS (PDF format)
Glencoe
by Accuweather
West Highlands
by Met Office
Ben Cruachan
by Metcheck
Images of Ben Cruachan & Stob Diamh
Route 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 the route start.
3.7 km
Railway Cottage
Falls of Cruachan, Loch Awe
4.6 km
Craigroyston
Dalmally, Dalmally
8.5 km
Roineabhal Country House
Kilchrenan Taynuilt Argyll
8.6 km
The Brander Lodge Hotel & Bistro
Bridge Of Awe
20.1 km
The Old School
Dalavich, Taynuilt, Argyll & Bute
21.8 km
Glengarry House
Tyndrum
23.5 km
Aros Beag
Tyndrum
25.6 km
West Highland Lodge
Crianlarich, Perthshire
27.0 km
The Crianlarich Hotel
Crianlarich
28.9 km
Rowantree Cottage, Bed and Breakfast
Arrochar
28.9 km
Rowantreebank B&B
Main Street, Arrochar, G83 7AA
31.0 km
Glencoe Independent Hostel
Glencoe, Nr Ballachulish, Argyll
31.8 km
STRATHASSYNT GUEST HOUSE
Loanfern, Ballachulish, NR. Glencoe, Highlands.
32.2 km
Tigh Floraidh
2 Strathcona Cottages Glencoe Argyll
36.9 km
Inverbeg Holiday Park
Inverbeg Holiday Park, By Luss, Loch Lomond, Argyll
37.7 km
Birchbrae Luxury Self Catering Lodges
Birchbrae, Onich, Fort William
45.7 km
Rosebank House
Main Street, Strathyre, Perthshire
46.3 km
Leitters Farmhouse
Balquhidder Station, by Lochearnhead
46.4 km
CRAIGBUIE Guest House
Main Street, Killin
46.6 km
Calluna
Heathercroft, Fort William, PH336RE
46.6 km
Ashburn Guest House
Achintore Road, Fort William
47.2 km
Stobhan
Fassifern Road, Fort William
47.7 km
Farr Cottage Lodge and Activity Centre
Corpach, Fort William
50.3 km
Coorie Doon
Old Banavie Road, Banavie, Fort William
52.5 km
Seangan Croft Self Catering
Seangan Bridge Banavie Fort William Scotland
54.3 km
Glenloy Lodge
Muirshearlich, by Banavie, Fort William
55.9 km
Spean Bridge Hotel
Spean Bridge, Inverness-shire
56.3 km
Distant Hills Guest House
Roy Bridge Road, Spean Bridge
56.3 km
Seaview Cottage
Salen, Aros, Isle of Mull
57.5 km
Àite Cruinnichidh
1 Achluachrach, By Roy Bridge, Near Fort William, Inverness-shire
58.0 km
Achray House Hotel & Lodges
On Loch Earn, St Fillans, Perthshire
58.8 km
Pennyghael Hotel
Pennyghael, Isle of Mull, Argyll & Bute
58.8 km
Old School House, Tulloch (Rushyglen Ltd)
Tulloch, Roybridge
58.9 km
Torr an Daimh, Tulloch (Rushyglen Ltd)
Tulloch, Roybridge
59.2 km
Glencaig self catering holiday cottage
No 6 Stronaba, Spean Bridge
65.9 km
Fortingall Hotel
Fortingall, by Aberfeldy, PH15 2NQ
71.7 km
Highland Perthshire Lodges
Glenoulandie, Foss by Pitlochry, Perthshire
76.5 km
Invergarry Lodge
Mandally Road, Invergarry
76.5 km
Ardgarry Farm
Faichem, Invergarry, Inverness-shire
79.2 km
Drynachan Bed and Breakfast
Invergarry, Inverness-shire
84.6 km
Laggan Hotel
Laggan, Newtonmore
87.0 km
Crubenbeg House
Falls of Truim, Newtonmore,
93.6 km
Eagle View Guest House
Perth Road Newtonmore
93.8 km
Woodlands (self-catering)
by Shiel Bridge, Inverness-shire
94.0 km
Netherwood House
Glen Road, Newtonmore
95.1 km
Croft Holidays
Croft Dhu, Newtonmore
For information on camping visit
ScottishCamping.com who also produce
a map of scottish camp grounds.
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Rating & Reviews

 Rating & Reviews
Rated:
 from 6 votes
Click Stars to Vote
Your Rating
Written by Sc Joss on 10 May 2010:
Having done it clockwise from the road below dam, I can see the point of going anticlockwise- better view- although this will leave you with quite a long/steep descent from summit of BC. depends on whether you like to go up steep or down steep. The main thing- do it on a clear day, it would be a real shame not to get any view at all!!
 
Written by Craig Dunderdale on 02 Aug 2008:
Great Horseshoe, don't get locked in the Hydo Car park, park on the main road. Steep initially but levels out at Hydro Damn, I did it anti clockwise and really enjoyed it, no difficulties 6.5hrs.
 
Written by Carl Sugden on 28 May 2003:
A classic horseshoe and a great ridge. You get a good view of the entire ridge by taking in the Corbett Beinn a Buridh at the start of the east-west traverse. A good day out.
 
Written by Derrick Graham on 01 Apr 2003:
An excellent day out with the reward of a fine ridge walk and views west to Mull as well as the usual inspiring vistas to North, East and South. As a variation start from under the dam -some parking on the A85 if you are early. Its a steep pull at first before levelling out to the dam, then do the route anti clockwise thus saving Ben Cruachan to the end of the ridge-its well worth it although you may be walking into the weather. There are no real difficulties although care should be taken on the ridge in poor weather conditions.
 
Disclaimer. The details provided above are an aid to planning an expedition, but all distances, altitudes and bearings must be considered approximate. You must navigate with the appropriate map, a compass, your navigation skills and common sense, MunroMagic.com accept no responsibility for your interpretation of our route information.
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