Beinn a'Chrulaiste is well seen when driving north on the A82 towards Glencoe, but its rounded, bulky outline goes unnoticed next to the magnificence of Buachaille Etive Mor on the other side of the road. This quieter hill does however make perhaps the greatest viewpoint for its celebrated neighbour.
Summary
Boggy and pathless with a slight scramble on the descent.
Terrain
NN259546
Grid ref
10.5km/6.5 miles
Distance
Grade
Safety warning: Hillwalking when there is snow or ice lying requires ice-axe, crampons and the ability to use them. Some featured routes can become technical ice climbs. Check out our Winter Skills information provided by the Mountaineering Council of Scotland.
Users'
rating
There is a bus service along the A82 between Glasgow and Fort William
Open Traveline Scotland
Public transport
1. Leave the King House car park by heading north along the track which runs between the hotel buildings to meet a single track estate road after about 200 metres. Turn right here, heading over a stile onto the estate road. Follow this until just short of the Allt a' Bhalaich. Turn left here and head up the very boggy ground beside the river.
2. The lower section of the ridge which leads northwest is craggy, so continue beside the stream until around NN259564 from where it is much easier to head WNW up to join the ridge. After a short, steep initial climb the sometimes wet ridge slowly curves round to the right to approach the summit.
3. The convex slope continually hides the summit and it is a releif when the trig point finally comes into view. From here the views over Rannoch Moor, the Blackwater Reservoir, the Mamores and Ben Nevis, Glencoe and, in particular, Buachaille Etive Mor have to be seen to be believed.
4. To the south-east is Ben Alder range across Rannoch Moor. It is possible to return via a loop around Coire Bhalach, but the route described here heads down the west ridge to Alltnafeidh. Head downhill on the very broad and ill-defined ridge, first WNW, then west, then southwest to reach the tiny lochan on Stob Beinn a' Chrulaiste.
5. Beyond here the ridge becomes well defined and there is a very short scramble close to the left edge. At the foot of the hill is a wire fence; follow this to the left to descend to the West Highland Way. From here it is a 3.7 km walk along the well made route to return to the King House, with plenty of further opportunity for admiring the rock architecture of the Buachaille along the way.
This walk was researched and photographed by A Milne.
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