Sunderland Walking Club , May 20th 2016 onwards

Accommodation/Information

Crianlarich SYHA, Station Road, Crianlarich FK20 8QN Hostel Tel: 01838 300260 Glen Dochart Caravan Park Luib, Crianlarich, Tents and caravans FK20 8QT

Tel: 01567 820637

There is a range of accommodation available in the Crianlarich and Hotels/B&B/Self Catering area which can easily be viewed via several good internet sites.

Tyndrum Information Centre Main Street, Tyndrum, Tourist Information Centre the Isles & the Trossachs FK20 8RY

Tel: 01838 400246

Maps

OS Landranger 50 – OS Explorer 377 – and Glen Orchy OS Outdoor Leisure 39 – Loch Lomond North Harvey British Mountain Map – Loch Lomond and the Trossachs Outdoor Atlas

Meeting place

Meet 9.15am at station car park.

Note: Due to the nature of the arrangements for this week - several cars being used, people spread across a wide range of accommodation, and variable mountain weather - it is not practicable to plan a daily schedule of walks in advance. The walks for each day will therefore be decided on the morning at the meeting place, and will depend on weather conditions and availability of volunteer leaders. It is the responsibility of each individual to be at the 9.15 a.m. meeting in order to ensure they have input into the decisions on which walks they would like to see take place.

Suggested routes Because of the large potential walking area around Crianlarich, the following are only a small sample of the walks available in this area, and they can all be modified (shortened or lengthened), depending on the people in the party and the weather. An excellent website for further information on walks of all standards is www.walkhighlands

NOTE: are marked with *

Crianlarich - Glen Dochart - Tyndrum * and Beinn a’Chleibh* Distance: 6 miles Ascent: 3,300ft (1006m) Park at 239278, follow the path to the river Lochy and find a suitable place to wade across and head for the underpass at GR239276 where the Eas Daimh flows beneath the railway. Follow the path up through the trees with the burn on the right and head towards Ciochan Beinn Laoigh to reach the North ridge of Ben Lui. Follow the ridge to Ben Lui summit and then continue South West to Beinn a’Chleibh (Bin a Chlayv). Head off the end of the ridge and descend towards the forest, picking up the track back to the railway underpass at GR243267. * and Ben Dubhchraig* Distance: 11 miles Ascent: 3,288ft (1002m) Park at 343291, cross the A82 and follow the tarmac road to the Drochaid Bhan (white bridge), cross over and follow the path up the right hand side of the Allt Coire Dubhchraig and climb up through Coire Dubhchraig to the main ridge. Turn left on the ridge and head to the summit of Ben Dubhchraig (ben doo-craig), then return by following the ridge along to the summit of Ben Oss. Again, return along the ridge to the point where it was first attained and descend via Coire Dubhchraig back to the car. Beinn Challum* Distance: 7miles Ascent: 3,000ft (914m) Park 357277 near the A82. Go up through Kirkton Farm and follow the patchy path to the summit of Beinn Challum (ben cha-lam), return the same way. * and Beinn a’Chroin* Distance: 9 miles Ascent: 2,600ft (792m) Park on the A82 at 368238. Cross the bridge and follow the path up Twistin Hill to reach the summit of An Caisteal (An Castail). Continue along the summit ridge SSE then NE to Beinn a’Chroin (Ben a Kroin). Follow the ridge to the end and then descend N into Coire Earb and follow the west bank of the River Falloch back to the cars.

Cruach Ardrain* and Beinn Tulaichan* Distance: 9 miles Ascent: 5,165ft (1574m)

Walk along the A82 Glasgow road to 382245. Cross the stile and the railway bridge, then head over muddy terrain SE for Grey Height. Continue along the ridge over Meall Dhamh to (Kroo-ach ardrain). Take the ridge south to Beinn Tulaichean (Ben Too-leach-an). To return, either head back the same way, skirting the summit of Cruach Ardrain, or across to the Cruach Ardrain-Stob Garbh col then descend NW to a forestry track which comes out on the A85 a little to the east of Crianlarich.

Beinn More* and/or * Distance: 7.5 miles Ascent: 4,379ft (1335m)

Park at 414258 near Benmore Farm. If preferred, there is a lay-by a little to the east on the north side of the road. Cross the stile and climb SE to the summit of . Continue to the col then climb Stob Binnein (stobinyan). Return to the col and go NW down to the Benmore Burn and follow it back to the road. Note either Ben More or Stob Binnein can be completed on their own, either by climbing as described above, or ascending via the Benmore Burn.

Bridge of Orchy area

Stob a’ Choire Odhair* and Stob Ghabhar* Distance: 11 miles Ascent: 4,550ft (1387m) Park at Victoria Bridge 272418. Walk along the road to Forest Lodge, take the track westwards to 257425, then the stalkers’ track up the east bank of the Allt Toaig. Cross the Allt Caolain Duibh burn and follow the broad ridge northwards to the summit of Stob a’Choire Odhair (stop a corrie oor). Descend west to the bealach, continue uphill westwards for a few hundred yards, then pick up the ridge and follow this to the summit of Stob Ghabhar (stop gowar). Descend via the SE ridge to the stalkers track.

Beinn Dorain* and Beinn an Dothaidh* Distance: 8 miles Ascent: 3,600ft (1097?m) Park at 297396. Climb up by the south side of the Allt Coire an Dothaidh to the col. Turn south for Beinn Dorain (ben doa-ran), then return to the col and take a diagonal NNE line to the summit of Beinn an Dothaidh (ben daw- ee). Return to the col again and then descend back to Bridge of Orchy.

Arrochar area

Ben Arthur () Distance: 7 miles Ascent: 2,959ft (902m) Park at 294050 and take the well trodden path on the opposite side of the road which zig zags up through the forest and then runs along the north side of the Allt a’Bhalachain burn. At 268058 take the path which branches off WNW to the summit of Ben Arthur. Return either by the same route or via Lochain a’Chlaideimh. * Distance: 7 miles Ascent: 3,000ft (914m) Park at or near 324098, walk back down the road and take the Hydro Board track to Coiregrogain. From here follow the ESE ridge up to the summit of Ben Vane, return by the same route. Ben Vorlich* Distance: 6 miles Ascent: 2,959ft (902m) Park at Ardlui station (318154), take the second underpass to the south of the station and climb the heather slopes up to Coire Creagach. Take the NW side of the stream and ascend to the main ridge NNE of the summit, then turn left to reach Ben Vorlich. Return the same way. Ben Narnain* and Ben Ime* Distance: 7 miles Ascent: 4,000ft (1219m) Park at 294050 and take the path ascending steeply from the road, up through the forest and climb the broad ridge over Cruach nam Miseag and on to the summit of Ben Narnain. Continue NW to Bealach a’Mhaim and then on to the summit of Ben Ime. Return to the Bealach and then take the path south to Lochain a’Chlaideimh and then follow the well worn footpath down the burn back to the road.

Loch Awe

Cruachan Horseshoe Distance: 8.5miles Ascent: 4,900ft (1494m)

Park at the Falls of Cruachan railway station (080267) on the north side of the road. Follow the track steeply up the east side of a burn to the Cruachan Dam then follow the track along the West side of the reservoir, taking the left hand path at the end, up to Coire Dearg. From here there is the option to include Meall Cuanail and return to Coire Dearg or just head straight up to *, then follow the ridge along to Stob Diamh* (Stob Dyv) and descend back to the dam via Stob Garbh. From the dam, retrace the route back down to the station. Longer and shorter variations of the route are possible.

Beinn Eunaich* and Beinn A’Chochuill* Distance: 8.5 miles Ascent: 3,871ft (1180m) Park at 137287. Follow the track to Castles then climb north over Stob Maol to (Bin Ayneech). Descend W to the col then continue along the ridge of Beinn A’Chochuill (Bin Cho-chil) and make a way south to the easy track which continues back to Castles.

CRIANLARICH HILLS The Crianlarich Hills stretch out along Glen Falloch from Inverarnan at the head of Loch Lomond at one end to the town of Crianlarich at the other and offer 7 superb Munros including Ben More and Stob Binnein the highest peaks in the area. The Crianlarich hills can be reached by Glasgow in around an hour via the A82 and from East via the A85. The region can be split up easily into 4 good days’ worth of hill walking although it has been heard that some people have completed the entire load in one day. We dont recommend this is you would like to be able to use your legs afterwards! At the north east end of Glen Falloch to the east of Crianlarich itself sits Ben More and Stob Binnein the highest in the range and makes a great day out. The next group of Cruach Ardrain and Beinn Tulaichean will take up another day. An Caisteal and Beinn a Chroin follow on behind with at the start of the Glen which is generally climbed on its own. There is very good access to the hills via the A82 with a lot of parking spots available dotted along the road. MUNROS IN CRIANLARICH HILLS An Caisteal - Beinn Chabhair - Beinn Tulaichean - Ben More (Crianlarich) – Cruach Ardrain – Stob Binnein ======An Caisteal - DESCRIPTION An Caisteal is usually climbed in a route with Beinn a Chroin to make a fantastic day out on the hills. An Caisteal lies just off the A82 running up through Glen Falloch with ample road side parking at various lay-bys. “The Castle” as its known refers to near the summit where a series of castellated rocks give some brilliant scrambling opportunities for the every day walker! An Caisteal is one of the most recognisable of the Crianlarich hills when driving along the . From the summit there are fantastic panoramic views of Beinn Chabhair and the rest of the Crianlarich hills right up to Glencoe/ Lochaber if you are lucky. For hills so close of the central belt An Caisteal has a character that is not often seen until you are a lot further up the Highlands!

Beinn a Chroin - DESCRIPTION Beinn a Chroin is normally climbed along-side An Caisteal to make a medium days walking. Beinn a Chroin is right in the middle of the Crianlarich hills in a line that follows the A82 up Glen Falloch.

Although slightly less well known than its popular neighbour An Caisteal, Beinn a Chroin does have a good character to it which you definitely feel when you are pulling up its western ridge from Caisteal. This is a superb part of the walk and where the views really start to open out. Beinn a Chroin forms a natural wall at the head of the glen and due to this the wind seems to get funnelled through and can make for some very blustery conditions which have been testified on many occasions by us! Parking is available at several lay bys along the side of the A82, there are quite a few dotted along so you should be able to get a spot somewhere.

Beinn Chabhair - DESCRIPTION Beinn Chabhair heads up the Crianlarich Munros near the start of Glen Falloch. It is a fantastic little hill nestled away behind other hills making it only really visible from further up the glen. The hill has some brilliant features including the Beinn Glas waterfall and incidentally the Beinn Glas burn itself following it right to the source. Beinn Chabhair’s north western summit ridge is a fantastic place to be, there are a whole heap of scrambling opportunities and a chance to see Lochan a' Chaisteil a superb little lochan where you can grab your lunch. Beinn Chabhair is typical of the southern highlands hills with a grassy lower slopes leading to craggy outcrops for the last couple hundred metres of climbing. Beinn Chabhair is usually climbed on its own but there is no reason you cannot combine it with some of the other Crianlarich Hills to make a longer day out as they are all connected by a series of cols and bealachs. For most people the walk up (and down) starts right at the door to the Drovers Inn a fantastic little pub with a lot of history behind it. A visit here is a must!

Beinn Tulaichean - DESCRIPTION Beinn Tulaichean is normally climbed with Cruach Ardrain. The hill is well hidden and it could easily just be classed as the southern top of Cruach Ardrain. However it has managed to obtain its own status and who are we to rock the boat. One of the best things Beinn Tulaichean has going for it is the fantastic views you get of the Cruach Ardrain summit ridges. Seeing the array of ridges from this angle is a bit different from those which most see from Glen Falloch and definitely brings a bit of variety. Another good use of Beinn Tulaichean is to use it as a crossing point if you are trying to accomplish many of the Crianlarich Munros in one go. Its southern ridge connects to Beinn a Chroin and as mentioned above its north ridge connects up to Cruach Ardrain saving a long descent / re- ascent between the two. Beinn Tulaichean is only 946m (3104ft) so is definitely not the largest of the Munros and really is outclassed by its neighbour Cruach Ardrain. It therefore we are afraid to say, really is only a baggers hill

Ben More Crianlarich - DESCRIPTION Ben More is the highest peak in the area...its huge!

Ben More is the 16th highest Munro (3852ft) and this height gives you a great vantage point for the Southern Highlands. It is a brute of a climb with the most common approach being via the north west ridge parking on the A85 road.

One of the most recognisable sights in the southern highlands is the Ben More – Stob Binnein Bealach called Bealach-eadar-dha Beinn. This high crossing involves a large descent / re-ascent but don’t let that put you off. Both hills have fantastic features and a visit to each of them is a must. Ben More sits slightly off Glen Falloch just east of Crianlarich village itself. Starting at Ben More Farm is usual for most but there are numerous routes including starting at Inverlochlarig to the south. Ben More’s north facing slopes have a tendency to retain a lot of their snow until well into the spring / summer which is very uncommon in this area.

Cruach Ardrain - DESCRIPTION Cruach Ardrain is a fantastic Munro. Although it sits next to the beasts that are Ben More and Stob Binnein it still manages to look large and impressive. As you drive past Crianlarich towards Bridge of Orchy and Glencoe it is always Cruach Ardrain that first pops out and is visible for a long time as you drive north. The north west face of Cruach Ardrain is its best feature. This is known as the Y gulley and offers some superb scrambling opportunities. Cruach Ardrain is normally climbed in conjunction with Beinn Tulaichean, however the descent / re-ascent to Tulaichean is minimal and will not strain you too much. Cruach Ardrain's lower reaches are encased in forestry and is a tricky process to pick your way through the trees, so leave at least some time for getting lost that’s all we can say !

There are bits and bobs of parking just south of Crianlarich or there is also parking available in Crianlarich itself. Due to the close proximity to the road, Cruach Ardrain is not an overly long day on the hills but definitely will be a memorable one !

Stob Binnein - DESCRIPTION Stob Binnein is another high Munro in the area sitting at 3822ft it is the 18th highest Munro and is a prominent landmark throughout the southern highlands. Stob Binnein is normally climbed in conjunction with Ben More via a huge connecting bealach Bealach-eadar-dha Beinn. Stob Binnein is a pin point summit you really will be pushed to find a sport to get your lunch on the top if the hill is busy. There are other routes up Stob Binnein such as starting from Inverlochlarig in the south which should lose a bit of the crowds if there is any. Parking is available on the A85 just past Benmore Farm or Crianlarich has a stop on the Glasgow to Mallaig train line if you would prefer this. Which ever route you take up Stob Binnein it should be a memorable day on the hills...Tiring but memorable!