Cruach Tairbeirt after a Glen Loin warm-up

[Chris Mac]

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

Having just done the Glen Loin Loop with the Stray Cats, a nice 17km/11 mile walk up the glen and back, Iain and I departed the group and set off for Arrochar and Tarbet Station.

On the drive along I told Iain tales of an old Caillich that I had read about that others have encountered on this walk, most recently Malcy and Jaxter. As we parked in one of the legal and free car park spaces that doesn't say anything about being reserved I had an uneasy feeling of being watched...

Someone on the station platform was watching us, as predicted, but surely they were getting the train, what's the interest in us? We saddled up and set off for the tunnel under the bridge to find it was blocked off for forestry work. Muddy footprints at a hole in the fence showed it was clearly still walkable and then it happened, suddenly the Caillich appeared and warned us off heading up the track while also flexing some parking attendant chat about not being able to park in a free parking space.

We tried to ignore the apparition and it seemed to do the trick as the noise faded and we settled our nerves, looking at our options... jump the fence and walk the hill or return to face the Caillich. There was no choice, we scarpered up the path and hillside into the woods. As we reached above the railway level we heard a cackling behind us, something about not understanding her words of warning. Ignoring the wails we set off again and crossed a track, onto a path and into a section being felled:
DSC_0129 IMG_20190323_141719 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

The path turned right and over a small burn. Luckily a path was visible on the felled branches heading up where it looked like the path would be anyway:
DSC_0130 IMG_20190323_141819 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

I'm not going to lie, our legs were burning a bit already at this point but then we had just finished a very long warm-up walk so it could be forgiven. One thing for sure though was that it felt great to feel the burn again, we had missed it. Ben Lomond and Loch Lomond were already stealing the view on the ascent:
DSC_0131 IMG_20190323_141824_1 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Iain, doesn't take kindly to Caillichs!
DSC_0133 IMG_20190323_142144 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

We headed into the forest where it was nice and atmospheric, picking our way up a few half paths and routes through the tree lines before we came out onto more open hillside.

Something I was expecting them became visible on our left and Iain was overjoyed when I pointed it out and he got a surprise view of Ben Arthur peeking over the trees:
DSC_0136 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

By now Iain was also beginning to admit that he now sees the appeal in the wee hills a lot more as like I have said for ages they afford the best view of the surrounding hills. Iain's been up the big Arrochar hills countless times so it was a refreshing change for him going up the baby Cruach Tairbeirt.

Luckily we had picked a prime view point between two giant lochs and it would also turn out to be my 40th sub-2000 hill as I would realise later:
DSC_0140 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Loch Lomond stretching out to the south:
DSC_0141 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Cnoc Coinnich, The Brack and Loch Long:
DSC_0143 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

"Wow look at Narnain from here" said Iain and yes it may well be it's best side:
DSC_0144 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Ben Arthur's unmistakeable outline:
DSC_0146 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Looking up the hillside we realise we're already not too far off the summit, another great thing about the wee hills, bite size chunks and a mini-adventure. Combine several to make a big day out equivalent to a Munro. Modular hills for hikers. I checked later and the total stats for us doing the Glen Loin Loop and Cruach Tairbeirt would be 21km with 1070m of ascent, the equivalent to Beinn Bhuidhe!

We view the route ahead and the OS map, it looks like the gulley is the way to go:
DSC_0148 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

The Brack, the Cobbler and Beinn Narnain again on our left as we continue up to the summit, we're both loving this new angle of some of our favourite local mountains:
DSC_0150 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Beinn Narnain and Cruach nam Miseag:
DSC_0153 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Ben Arthur, looking a bit like a crab along with the cloud behind it:
DSC_0154 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

DSC_0155 IMG_20190323_144336 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Although there is a grassy path it's fairly boggy and we soon encounter loads of frog spawn:
DSC_0156 IMG_20190323_144421 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

DSC_0156 IMG_20190323_144438 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Trying out the macro mode:
DSC_0157 IMG_20190323_144619 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

The path continues and is an enjoyable short but slighly mushy hike, the view behind to two hills I climbed this time last year:
DSC_0160 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Past the craggy gulley section it's now just grassy hillside up to the summit:
DSC_0162 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Loch Long now in view:
DSC_0163 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

More spawn in a puddle:
DSC_0163 IMG_20190323_145001 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

The view south:
DSC_0164 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Approaching the summit:
DSC_0170 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Trig point now in view:
DSC_0171 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Loch Long again:
DSC_0172 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Sunlight on the loch:
DSC_0175 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Cnoc Coinnich and The Brack:
DSC_0176 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Arthur, Narnain, A' Chrois and Ben Vane:
DSC_0180 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

The scrambly bumps before the summit of Ben Vane can be seen here:
DSC_0183 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Loch Sloy, surprisingly high up when seen from here:
DSC_0184 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Is that rain?
DSC_0186 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Another favourite mountain, Ben Vorlich looks the best from the north or south where you get to appreciate the profile of the Little Hills:
DSC_0188 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Rain incoming at the north of the loch:
DSC_0189 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

DSC_0192 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

More rain on Loch Long:
DSC_0193 IMG_20190323_150059 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Looks like the Kilpatrick Hills and Duncolm are getting wet too:
DSC_0193 IMG_20190323_150103 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Time for a few wide angle summit shots, south:
DSC_0193 IMG_20190323_150112 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

North:
DSC_0193 IMG_20190323_150119 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

The Arrochar Alps:
DSC_0193 IMG_20190323_150131 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Loch Long:
DSC_0193 IMG_20190323_150142 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Loch Lomond:
DSC_0193 IMG_20190323_150150_1 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

I took a 4k video from the summit which you can view at https://flic.kr/p/2edEJK7.

A' Chrois, Ben Vane, Loch Sloy and Ben Vorlich:
DSC_0194 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

You can see the track we were on earlier today way down below:
DSC_0196 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Next to the trig point is a clear rock that's the summit but nearby are another couple of mounds so we investigate for improved views. Looking back at the summit and trig pillar:
DSC_0197 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Rain staying put so far, that suits us but we should probably head off sometime soon:
DSC_0200 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Our move pays off as Loch Lomond opens up much more from this mound:
DSC_0202 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Iain on the third mound already:
DSC_0204 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

The Loch Lomond Grahams to the south, I tell Iain he'll love the views from them and we'll need to head up a few this year:
DSC_0205 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Summit:
DSC_0206 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Panorama south:
DSC_0206 IMG_20190323_150647 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

The next mound is on the way back down so a few final shots before we descend:
DSC_0206 IMG_20190323_150742 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

DSC_0206 IMG_20190323_150747 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Good timing, rain now hitting Ben Vorlich's summit:
DSC_0208 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

We follow the path back, not a bad view on the way:
DSC_0209 IMG_20190323_151920 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Somehow though we end up further left than where we ascended as I recognise a feature we passed being further along, checking the track confirms but the path continues down anyway and into the trees before joining up again, it was probably the correct way to go in the first place, the line further east on the Viewranger track at the start.

Exiting the woods we're back at the felled area:
DSC_0211 IMG_20190323_152907 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

Over and down the branch path we join the path again:
DSC_0212 IMG_20190323_153344 by Chris Mac, on Flickr

We pass some forestry work going on with not a single fuss raised at our presence and enter the woods before reaching the railway and tunnel and hopping the fence. Luckily the spooky Caillich was nowwhere to be seen so we rested on the ground outside the car then got packed up.

We figured out the total stats for the day and were well chuffed that it ended up fairlsy decent, equivalent to or more than some Munro's and despite only ascending a wee hill, yet again it delivered on the views and it was a brilliant day all round and one that was much required especiall;y for me after a testing start to the year. We drove back to Glasgow in high spirits and despite slightly tired legs a few days later since then it feels like the hill fitness is back already even after a break.

In summary if you fancy a fairly big day out but have climbed all the big Arrochar Hills and want something different then don't forget the sub-2000 Marilyns, especially Cruach Tairbeirt. Add a Glen Loin warm-up walk and you can say you climbed Beinn Bhuidhe. Sort of.

[PeteR]

A good report of this hill. I have to agree that many of the sub 2000 hills provide excellent walking, with superb views. This one is a great example of that. I was taken aback by the views the day I did it, also as an add-on to a walk earlier in the day.

Have to say I seem to have avoided the parking attendant when I parked up though.......

[Chris Mac]

A good report of this hill. I have to agree that many of the sub 2000 hills provide excellent walking, with superb views. This one is a great example of that. I was taken aback by the views the day I did it, also as an add-on to a walk earlier in the day.

Have to say I seem to have avoided the parking attendant when I parked up though.......

Thanks Pete, I should have known from it's position that it would be a superb viewpoint but I think Cruach Tairbeirt gets overlooked due to the popularity and ease of access to the other hills around it. It's also wee and haunted so that probably puts people off it too!

I thought it the perfect ending to the Glen Loin walk and a memorable sub-2000 hill number 40.

[warbeck]

attempted an ascent recently - maybe end of May. Dodged Callich, ignored signs, but couldn't find a way through the felled lumber.
Wonder if it is open again yet.
One of my favourite small hills.

[Sgurr]

Posted comments relating to Wrong hill* OOps

[Mountaineer]

Excellent route description. After toiling on a trackless sub2000 yesterday this was a great wee hill to break the journey home.

[steveo73]

Met the old Caillich this morning😖. Was up cruach tairbeirt for a camp last night and she appeared when I had just put my gear in the back of the van. She started with do you know this car park is for train passengers only? Fair enough I said sorry didn't know and left it at that.

Then she started on about the camping management zone and I should not be camping here🙄. I then politely told here that up on cruach tairbeirt was out of the camping zone and she basically told me I was talking rubbish.

I tried to show here a map of it on my phone but she wasn't interested. I was in the wrong and she was right end of story. I just said whatever and jumped in my van and drove off 😄