An Caisteal and Beinn a'Chroin

[StevieC]

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Stage 1: Take the correct route to the wee tunnel under the railway! Best route is to walk to the end of the lay-by nearest Crianlich, go through the gate and look for a path heading for the railway line. It will be boggy, but not half as boggy as trying to cut across the field!

Stage 2: Under the railway, over the bridge across the river Falloch and up the track heading south. Easy going


View from the bridge

Stage 3: After about 1km you reach a gate in a fence. Climb over stile and immediately head off to the right up hill. There is a clear path. A bit boggy in places and quite steep going.


View looking south from start of Twistin' Hill path

Stage 4: Head along the Twistin' Hill path, with An Caisteal looming ahead of you. Path sticks to the west side of the ridge and is quite easy going for about 1km until it starts to clime towards the summit. A bit of scrambling is required on the final approach.


Final approach to summit of An Caisteal


An Caisteal summit cairn, looking south

Stage 5: Descend south from summit to Bealach Buidhe. Care needed here - lots of scrambly bits and some boulders to negotiate towards the end of the descent.

Stage 6: Climb south-east up Beinn a'Chroin. Some tricky scrambling required here and some exposure.

Stage 7: Once on the main ridge of Beinn a'Chroin it's easy going, with some lochans dotted about and nice views. It's not obvious where the true summit is, but there's a cairn about half-way along the ridge which is probably it. You have to carry on east to the end of the ridge to pick up the descent though, so no chance of missing it.


Lochan on Beinn a'Chroin

Stage 8: Continue east along the summit ridge, descending briefly and crossing a small stream before ascending to the easternmost top. This top has the most substantial cairn, but as I say it looks like the cairn in the middle of the summit ridge is the true summit.


Summit ridge of Beinn a'Chroin from east top

Stage 9: Descend off Beinn a'Chroin. From the east top follow the path due north to descend the north ridge. The path heads towards a crossing point on the River Falloch, near a confluence with another stream. Once over the river, the path becomes a boggy nightmare which requires total concentration if you want to avoid becoming thigh-deep in muddy/peaty slurry. I almost managed it but fell at the last hurdle. Eventually, after about two kilometres of slogging through the bog, the "path" meets up with the track - and you will never be more grateful for seeing a landrover track in your life! Once on the track it's a pleasant stroll back to the lay-by, with only the gate mentioned at Stage 3 to negotiate.