walkhighlands

Share your personal walking route experiences in Scotland, and comment on other peoples' reports.
Warning Please note that hillwalking when there is snow lying requires an ice-axe, crampons and the knowledge, experience and skill to use them correctly. Summer routes may not be viable or appropriate in winter. See winter information on our skills and safety pages for more information.

BEN CRUACHAN -a killer of a ridge walk

BEN CRUACHAN -a killer of a ridge walk


Postby blueyed » Tue May 29, 2012 9:41 pm

Route description: Ben Cruachan and Stob Daimh

Munros included on this walk: Ben Cruachan, Stob Daimh

Date walked: 26/05/2012

Time taken: 10 hours

Distance: 14 km

Ascent: 1500m

23 people think this report is great.
Register or Login
free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).

we decided for a ben cruachan ridge walk very spontenously - while laying in bed and making plans for the weekend (weather permits).. i thought about glencoe, of course, but couldnt be bothered to drive all the same way all the time and as the days are nice and long i was keen on a nice and long walk. 'let's do cruachan' i said and my partner just agreed :) later she saw a route profile and had some doubts about 'so much up and so much down' but never really said we should reconsider... therefore ben cruachan it was :) we invited our 2 'best trip mates' to join us...
saturday 7am we left edinburgh. when we reached dalmally the sun was already up and hot. we were tempted to leave a car at the power station at loch awe but then saw couple of cars parked just at the stairs to the train station. there is enough shoulder to accomodate 6-8 cars, it also is wide enough to serve as an ample car park.
after applying thick layer of sun screen we left towards the adventure.

so, towards the stairs to the pass under the rail tracks (mind yeeer head) then few more steps and the path begins. at first the path goes via old woodland and as the day was nice and bright - i really liked that - old oak trees, lovely juicy green leaves, smell of flowers. there is a couple of small viewpoints along- to loch awe. then the path steepened and instead of high oaks and birches, it leaded via open, low woodland. the path was very narrow and the branches were brushing us hard (we remembered to check ourselves later on in case we had any ticks, as it was that sort of environment that ticks like the most)

after about 45mins we arrived to the edge of the woodland and had a very tricky, wobbly, high stile/ladder to cross over the fence.

the stile/ladder
Image

it was ok but i guess in some time it will just collapse with somebody on it, as it was quite wobbly and not properly attached to the ground either.. so beware guys :) however there is an alternative to the ladder/stiles, just on the right hand side - a gap in the fence -animal pass. it is big enough for a person to go thru (checked) so if you dont feel comfortable with the ladder/stile, you can easily use that option.

anyway, after passing the first obstacle we walked further, along the stream which we decided we will enjoy on our way back :) after further 20 mins we reached the dam.

the dam on cruachan reservoir
Image

i knew about the dam and power station and pylons but still i felt a little bit dissapointed with the lack of wilderness. of course comparing with the cairnwell munros we walked earlier in the year, the cruachan reservoir area seemed to be never touched by humans :lol: but i just felt that this place would have so much more potential and atmosphere and magic without all the iron and concrete work..

we tackled the dam from the left hand side (as advised on WH) climbed the ladder and found ourselves admiring amazing views to the cruachan ridge (drochaid ghlas) and the reservoir itself

Image

'amazing!!!' i thought, but then i added 'but pictures will be boring, lacking the clouds!'. well, there always is something to complain about :lol:
we walked the dam (to the left) and noticed a donation point for oban mountain rescue team. 'we'd better donate, who knows, we might need them one day'. the donation box also marks the beginning of the path going along the west bank of cruachan reservoir. the path soon joins the track.

the track along cruachan reservoir
Image

i liked that bit - after quite a steep ascent to the dam there was a nice flat moment which allowed us to rest a little and gather our strength before the proper ascent to ben cruachan.
where to leave the track and start ascent? easy to find - the place is marked with 'not such small' cairn and a big stony arrow (still, if you're me, you can almost miss it hahaha), just before the end of the reservoir.

the arrow, leave the track here
Image

after leaving the track we found ourselves walking a grassy slope which in 'normal conditions' would be quite boggy, but the weather gods were good to us and as it hadnt rained for more than a week now, the grass was dry and crunched under our boots. nice :) soon the path joined a small stream with a series of tiny waterfalls...

Image

..then crossed it and led us up to the coire dearg

at coire dearg
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-idI35QTZXIM/T8PJoS5X9gI/AAAAAAAAIk0/G36_gkkd-dI/s1600/DSC_6850.jpg

from here it was only a matter of climbing steep slopes towards bealach an lochain. it wasnt that easy: first- that was a steep bit, second - path was made of small, scattered rocks, loose and escaping from under the soles. not very pleasant ascent, i must admit. with a little bit of wind- all the tiny drops of sand and dust ended up in my eyes.

anyway, soon we reached bealach an lochain (with views to meall cuanail)
Image

the bealach with a small lochan was most enjoyed by the fellow walker's dog -which happily jumped to it for refreshing :) here we had a small break, enjoyed the views and continued up towards the summit of ben cruachan

looking back towards the reservoir
Image

we stopped just below the summit to have some lunch and a noon nap on the warm grass- we werent in any hurry, so we made sure we enjoyed every minute of the day.
Image

soon we were back on track and continued towards the summit. about 1/3 way up the path dissapeares and you have to make your way thru the rocks. this time the rocks are bigger and easier to walk on but still you have to give so much attention to where you put your feet that you forget about the tiredness.

Image

we reached the summit of our first munro of the day -ben cruachan about 4hrs after we left the car (but as i said, we took our time). views were spectacular (but again i missed some dramatic clouds...). from the summit we could see as far as ben more (on mull), mountains of arran, glen etive, ben starav, mountains of glencoe, ben nevis, rannoch moor, ben lui, arrochar alps...

glen etive, glencoe, ben nevis
Image

looking west towards the ridge
Image

down to cruachan reservoir and loch awe
Image

closest neighbour - stob dearg
Image

summit cairn of ben cruachan
Image

and me, busy :)
Image

after few minutes of rest, few drops of water.. we decided to move on and walked towards the famous slabs
Image

here you go, the slabs. from afar they look tiny, from closer they look massive :)
Image

at first i tried to tackle them straight up front, but soon realised that my boots might not cope with its steepness and plainness. i walked around and discovered that few metres further there is a very easy route up them - stairs actually.

on top of the slabs
Image

i read that i have 2 options from this point -either go down and follow lower path along the ridge or continue the upper way -up the slabs - which i did (and it was very easy).

looking towards drochaid ghlas
Image

ridge walk was very nice and easy, we reached drochaid ghlas in no time

looking back to ben cruachan
Image

our next aim was the second munro of the day -stob diamh. it was an efford this time. the day was hot, we were tired already and the ascent was longer than i expected

Image

stob diamh, summit
Image

next summit along the ridge, the last one was stob garbh
Image

that was an easy one, we passed it quickly and continued towards lairig torran

looking back to stob diamh
Image

the two possible routes of descent are: 1. along the path which starts at stob garbh or 2. along lairig torran. WH advises to take the lairig torran descent. i found this way longer and very boggy, again -in 'normal conditions' it would be a swamp. the descent path going from stob garbh was well defined and dry (from what i saw) and i would recommend this one.

down lairig torran
Image

ben cruachan & reservoir from 'almost the bottom' of lairig torran
Image

anyway, the two routes met about 2/3 way down to the reservoir. from here, the path was flatter, easier to follow and walk for our tired feet. another 15 mins and we were back at the dam, then the wobbly stile/ladder, woodland and the car park. in the meantime, as we planned, we had a break at the stream, put our knackered feet to cold water. such a great idea it was! recomment it very much :)

i was VERY VERY VERY glad to be down, at last. after the 10 hrs of walk in hot sunshine i was exhausted, but happy. the car was like an oven :(
on our way back we stopped in the best feeding parlour in argyle - tyndrum 'real food'. unfortunately, midges stopped there too, we had to crowd inside.

NICE ONE, but omg, such a killer of a walk!

more pics here: http://www.around-scotland.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/ben-cruachan-ridge-walk-ben-cruachan.html

enjoy!
User avatar
blueyed
Hill Bagger
 
Posts: 482
Munros:50   Corbetts:13
Fionas:5   Donalds:4
Sub 2000:7   Hewitts:4
Wainwrights:5   
Joined: May 20, 2010
Location: edinburgh

Re: BEN CRUACHAN -a killer of a ridge walk

Postby monty » Wed May 30, 2012 11:00 am

Loved that Blueyed. Its seems such an age since I was up there. Just superb photos with fantastic views. :D
monty
 

Re: BEN CRUACHAN -a killer of a ridge walk

Postby madasa mongoose » Wed May 30, 2012 12:36 pm

Great report. We were 'next door' cooking on Beinn a'Chochuill and Beinn Eunaich on Saturday using the views of Cruachan as an excuse to stop. Been a long time since I was last up there but your photos have inspired me to return again. Perhaps when the temperature is not oven ready :D
User avatar
madasa mongoose
Munro compleatist
 
Posts: 141
Munros:267   Corbetts:1
Joined: Apr 13, 2012

Re: BEN CRUACHAN -a killer of a ridge walk

Postby kev_russ » Wed May 30, 2012 1:32 pm

Superb pics :thumbup:
User avatar
kev_russ
Mountaineer
 
Posts: 395
Munros:198   Corbetts:77
Fionas:27   Donalds:33
Sub 2000:14   Hewitts:7
Wainwrights:9   
Joined: Mar 17, 2009
Location: Edinburgh

Re: BEN CRUACHAN -a killer of a ridge walk

Postby Gary1904 » Wed May 30, 2012 2:08 pm

I done this two weeks ago, oh my god was i sore at the end of it lol ..... what a fantastic climb though, well done :) good pics too :)
User avatar
Gary1904
Munro compleatist
 
Posts: 28
Munros:9   Corbetts:1
Joined: May 23, 2012

Re: BEN CRUACHAN -a killer of a ridge walk

Postby Jonay » Wed May 30, 2012 2:45 pm

Love the depth of blue in the sky - are you using a polarised filter?

Great pictures - and a fantastic looking walk - well done!
Jonay
Stravaiging
 
Posts: 64
Munros:14   Corbetts:4
Fionas:2   
Sub 2000:3   
Joined: Jan 26, 2012
Location: Aberdeenshire

Re: BEN CRUACHAN -a killer of a ridge walk

Postby laconic surf » Wed May 30, 2012 2:46 pm

Nice one blueyed. A terrific report - one of the best on these two hills. Have been pondering when to do this pair - think it will be sooner than later, hopefully on a decent day like you guys. I'll come back to this report when i do, some great pointers on how to tackle them. Well done 8)
User avatar
laconic surf
Munro compleatist
 
Posts: 538
Munros:100   Corbetts:1
Fionas:6   Donalds:19
Sub 2000:32   Hewitts:2
Joined: Feb 18, 2012
Location: East Lothian

Re: BEN CRUACHAN -a killer of a ridge walk

Postby ChrisW » Fri Jun 01, 2012 5:35 am

fantastic photos and a cracking report throughout, love the noon nap on the warm grass.....that's my kind of hiking :lol:
User avatar
ChrisW
Rambler
 
Posts: 4941
Munros:18   Corbetts:5
Fionas:3   
Sub 2000:6   
Joined: Jan 25, 2011
Location: Cochrane- Alberta - Canada

Re: BEN CRUACHAN -a killer of a ridge walk

Postby past my sell by date » Sun Mar 12, 2017 7:33 pm

Great report and pics. Sorry to be picky but isn't the photo before the cairn "Looking East along the ridge"?
I was a bit confused at first :)
To do all the tops in a day is a huge undertaking. I went anticlockwise from the dam doing Stob Diamh first. Long way round to the main top and I felt too tired to do either the Taynuilt peak (Stob Dearg) or the other top Meall Cuanail but I plan to go back for them.
past my sell by date
Mountaineer
 
Posts: 1068
Munros:282   Corbetts:86
Fionas:27   Donalds:6
Sub 2000:8   Hewitts:146
Wainwrights:159   
Joined: Apr 24, 2013

23 people think this report is great.
Register or Login
free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).




Can you help support Walkhighlands?


Our forum is free from adverts - your generosity keeps it running.
Can you help support Walkhighlands and this community by donating by direct debit?



Return to Walk reports - Scotland

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: dazza4994, Jenl, JimmyJo941, mishaptitsa, Scottbevy101, Strathlassie, WCCT and 72 guests