Ben Cruachan is one of the finest Munros in the southern Highlands, its pointed peak towering above its rocky satellites giving great views. The ridge walk to Stob Daimh makes a great circuit around the Cruachan reservoir.
Summary
Steep and rocky paths with a small section of easy scrambling. The descent is a grassy slope which can be boggy in the final sections.
Terrain
NN080267
Grid ref
14km/8.75 miles
Distance
Grade
NB. Hillwalking when there is snow on the hills requires an ice-axe, crampons and winter skills and experience.
Parking by the Falls of Cruachan railway station
[Map
of start point, satnav coords and directions]
Start
Maps
Users'
rating
Train (Falls of Cruachan station) and bus service to Ben Cruachan power station visitor
centre.
Open Traveline Scotland
Public transport
1. Parking for Ben Cruachan is limited. The best place is at the start of the walk, at the train station (small sign) where up to six cars can pull carefully over into a narrow, makeshift layby. If this is full, it is no longer possible to park at the Power Station Visitor Centre, but there is a proper layby about 700 metres further along the road towards Oban, on the right hand side. From the Railway Station sign walk up the path and then under the railway in a low underpass. Climb the concrete steps up the other side until a path on the left heads up through the trees, passing a wire fence. Continue on this path as it meanders through the oak, birch and hazel wood, climbing steeply in places. The Allt Cruachan can be heard flowing down the little gorge on the left. After the trees thin out, a deer fence with stile is crossed and the path, with great views back over Loch Awe, continues up towards the Cruachan dam.
2. The path emerges onto a surfaced track, turn left and cross a bridge over the stream and continue up the track until the dam wall is reached. Here turn left up the zig zag path and then climb the metal ladder and go through the gate onto the dam itself. Here turn left to cross the rest of the dam and immediately take the path on the right to short cut to the track heading round the west side of the reservoir. Follow the track along the side of the reservoir until you reach the end. Just before the end of the track a small cairn marks a path heading up to the left. However this path is the boggier of the two and it is better to continue over the stream and then climb immediately left on the second path. The path climbs steeply following the rugged ground until Coire Dearg is reached. From here it is a short and steep pull up an eroded stony path to the bealach. There is a small lochan here.
3. From the bealach follow the eroded stony path to the right which climbs steeply all the way to the summit of Cruachan. Near the top, the route passes through boulders until the final summit marked by a cairn and the stump of a former trig point. At 1126 metres this is the highest summit for miles around. The views are fantastic, particularly down over Loch Etive, and out to the west to the prominent pointed summit of Taynuilt Peak (a 'Top' of Ben Cruachan) and the sea and islands beyond. From here the route turns north east down a clear ridge which is rocky in places; looking back the summit peak of Cruachan looks very impressive.
4. After the first dip, the route crosses a series of rock slabs, these can be bypassed on a path heading downhill here but it is necessary to climb back up to regain the ridge afterwards. The ridge continues, stony in places, with good views in all directions. The steep climb leads almost to the summit of Drochaid Ghlas, a short detour can be made to the top, otherwise continue by turning right and descending at the cairn just before the final pull up Drochaid Ghlas. The descent path is loose in places and steep.
5. From now on the ridge is a pleasant walk with a steep pull up to the summit of Stob Diamh, with great views back to the peaked summit of Ben Cruachan. At the Stob Daimh cairn - the second munro of the day - the clear horseshoe route from the Dalmally side can be seen. Head south from here along a clear ridge, crossing a bealach before the slight climb to Stob Garbh. After this the route descends easily to the bealach at the Lairig Torran where the route turns to the right and heads down the easier grassy slopes alongside a stream.
6. There is a path down this steep slope, but the start can easily be missed and it can be picked up further down by heading down the gentlest ground if necessary. Follow the path as it crosses the stream and traverses boggy ground above the reservoir. Eventually the path meets a track at an entrance to the power station tunnel where a stream emerges from the tunnel. Follow the track uphill slightly and then down below the dam to the point where the road forks and the right hand branch heads to the bottom of the dam. Here you can go straight ahead down a grassy slope to join the outward path back to the railway station and the start of the walk.
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Route profile
