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Crianlarich 5

PostPosted: Wed Apr 22, 2015 8:22 pm
by Borderhugh
Up until last summer, I didn't care a jot about bagging the munros, but after a couple of days in Kintail I caught the bug. As is the way I have caught the bug whilst living in London and not when I was living in Scotland and Bavaria where the peaks were on my doorstep.

Whilst this maybe my first WH trip report, I am in no way new to this website and I just want to acknowledge all the great trip reports that get posted on this site. Wilkie Murray, Dooterbang, Petr Dakota, Mountain Love - your stuff is fantastic! They are a great source of information and inspiration to me and no doubt countless others.

For this trip I was planning to do the Crianlarich Hills and the Cruachan 4. This trip like so many others for me starts out with a long drive up, flight or train from London. This time I had opted to fly and retrieve my car (hiking gear wardrobe) from Southern Edinburgh and do a quick after midnight shop in Corstorphine to stock up. Sadly no booze! :(

I got to the Strathyre car park at around 2am and decided to try and curl up in my sleeping bag and see what rest I could get. Sadly I had drunk too much liquid en route which meant I was forever having to get out of my sleeping bag and relieve myself.

At 5.30am I decided to get going and drive the final bit up to Crianlarich to start walking. I had decided today was going to be an early season fitness test for me in preparation for longer days out that I am planning this year. My aim is to do at least 100 munros this year, weather-permitting.

I noticed there haven't been many takers for doing all 7 of the Crianlarich Hills but thought I would drop my bike off at Ben More Farm just in case the red bull was working wonders.

I got to the unsightly layby at Glen Falloch around 6am and started getting ready (this always takes ages) and had breakfast. I was so looking forward to a cup of coffee but managed to knock it over just as I had finished stirring it. :( I was off by 7am with good weather in prospect and great visibility up the glen.

Here are some photos that show my route and tell my story.


our_route.gpx Open full screen  NB: Walkhighlands is not responsible for the accuracy of gpx files in users posts



Twistin Hill from Sron Gharb
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Twistin Hill from Sron Gharb


The view north to the Central Highlands
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Summit of Am Caisteal
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Ben Lomond
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Arrochar Alps and Loch Long
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Looking to Beinn a Chroin from Beinn Chabhair
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Looking like a gnome on Beinn a Chroin
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Looking across to the bealach between Beinn Tulaichean and Cruach Ardrain
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The pull up from below Stob Glas was tiring!

Looking back to Beinn a Chroin
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By the time I got to the bealach I was feeling pretty tired and felt I would have been over-extending myself attempting Ben More and Stob Binnein.

The view across to Stob Binnein and Ben More
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The summit of Cruach Ardrain
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Knackered :)
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The route back to Glen Falloch via Meall Dhamh and Grey Height
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I got back to the car around 6pm. Where the time had disappeared to, I don't know but I had a great day out.

Re: Crianlarich 5

PostPosted: Wed Apr 22, 2015 11:38 pm
by Alteknacker
These are great hills, aren't they? Lots of character, and wonderful views. And some real pain pulling up the ascents, just to make sure you pay for the pleasure :D .

You had some excellent weather there - the pictures are just great. I did these last August via Ben More and Bidean, using a bike to close the circuit. I remember clearly the sinking feeling of looking down the big descents to the big ascents on the other side!!

Re: Crianlarich 5

PostPosted: Thu Apr 23, 2015 2:39 am
by Jock McJock
Fond memories of these hills as they were some of my first Munros. Nice to see some of the views I didn't get. Good going doing all 5 :D

Re: Crianlarich 5

PostPosted: Thu Apr 23, 2015 10:41 am
by Mal Grey
That's a pretty big day without the other two anyway, especially in terms of ascent and descent. Good effort, and nice report.

Re: Crianlarich 5

PostPosted: Thu Apr 23, 2015 12:59 pm
by rockhopper
Big walk but a cracking day for it :thumbup: Found the four excl Beinn Chabhair long enough esp as the weather was nowhere near as good as yours :roll: - cheers :)

Re: Crianlarich 5Wellit

PostPosted: Sun Apr 26, 2015 9:16 pm
by Wanderlust7
Well it seems you did have a long day in the hills after all and another 5 blue balloons off your to do list, we had lunch together on Being a'Chroin, a great drive home it was too, you will see the glen if you decide to do Stob Binnien from the south. Look forward to seeing your report of the Dalmally horseshoe.

Nice pictures if they were all taken with your iPhone? Thanks for sharing and to have met you.