Ben Cruachan & Stob Diamh

Friday, 3rd of June, 2011

Ben Cruachan - Stacked Hill - 1126m - Drochaid Ghlas - Grey Bridge - 1008m - Stob Diamh - Peak of the Stag - 998m - Stob Garbh - Rough Peak - 980m, (Ben Cruachan & Stob Diamh Munros)

Ben Cruachan is generally considered one of the finest Munro's in the southern Highlands, its pointed peak towers above rocky satellites giving really amazing views. The ridge walk to Stob Daimh makes a great circuit around the Cruachan reservoir - it really is a cracking walk!

We did this walk on our return journey from the Outer Hebrides - Having been subjected to mixed weather on the islands (hail in Lewis, sun in Harris and gales on the Uist's) we were rewarded with a stunning day after we spent the night in Oban. We had marked out a couple of walks in the Cruachan range but given that the weather was so perfect we went for the longest and most interesting walk. A super day.

View 2011-06-03 09:47 in a larger map

J. managed to track our route, which took just over six hours. The tracker says that the walk was 11 miles with a max elevation of 1558m, max speed 6.5 mph...

We started the walk by parking by the falls of Cruachan railway station. From the Railway Station sign we walked up the path and then under the railway in a low underpass, and climbed the concrete steps up the other side until a path on the left headed up through the trees, passing a wire fence. The path starts by meandering through oak, birch and hazel wood, climbing steeply in places. The Allt Cruachan can be heard flowing down the little gorge on the left. After the trees thin out, the path, with great views back over Loch Awe, continues up towards the Cruachan dam.

We then headed up to the dam and climbed a small near vertical ladder up onto the top of the dam itself before heading around the left hand side of the reservoir.

At the head of the reservoir we then branched off up a small track to the left and heading straight up towards the bealach below Ben Cruachan. The path climbs steeply following the rugged ground until Coire Dearg is reached. From here it is a short and steep pull up an eroded stony path to the bealach. There is a small lochan here.

After reaching the top of the bealach the path headed directly up to the summit of Ben Cruachan. Nearing the top the path gives way to a great expanse of boulders which gives some very entertaining climbing.

Looking back down towards the reservoir.

The final summit marked by a cairn and the stump of a former trig point. At 1126 metres this is the highest summit for miles around. The views are fantastic, particularly down over Loch Etive, and out to the west.

The weather was super so we really could see for miles. But it had made for a very hot climb and we were both pretty pink by the time we got to the top.

Views!

From here the route turns north east down a clear ridge which is pretty steep and rocky in places, seen behind B. at the summit of Cruachan.

J at the summit of Cruachan!

After the first dip, the route crosses a series of rock slabs, it looked as though these could be bypassed by heading downhill but as it was such a dry day we just headed over them being careful not to lose our footing. The ridge continues, stony in places, with wonderful views in all directions. The steep climb leads almost to the summit of Drochaid Ghlas, we made a short detour to reach the cairn marking the top, but this can be missed out.

Views!

Looking back along the ridge to Cruachan.

and looking further along the ridge towards Drochaid Ghlas.

Steep rocky slopes on the sides of the ridge.

On towards Stob Diamh. The ridge is a pleasant walk with a steep pull up to the summit of Stob Diamh, with great views back to the peaked summit of Ben Cruachan. At the Stob Daimh cairn - the second munro of the day - the clear horseshoe route from the Dalmally side can be seen.

Looking along the ridge.

J. at the Drochaid Ghlas cairn.

B. at the Drochaid Ghlas cairn.

J. at the Stob Daimh cairn - the second Munro of the day.

B. at the Stob Daimh cairn

From here we headed south along a clear ridge, crossing a bealach before the slight climb to Stob Garbh. After this the route descended easily to the bealach at the Lairig Torran where the route turns to the right and heads down the easier but boggier grassy slopes alongside a stream. As ever we missed the path going down and had to improvise a bit. It was a fairly tough downhill stretch - and we reached the car with pretty sore knees but was well worth it!

Nature spotting!

A prince?

Lunch: no luch on this walk but a full on egg / kipper/ porridge Oban breakfast!

New Kit: Have I mentioned J's shiny new orange walking top? .....