Beinn Cruachan
commands respect, for the traverse of its seven tops, with ascent of 4900
feet, is one of the classic expeditions of the Southern Highlands. The
traditional start lies near the old railway station at Falls of Cruachan.
A poor path leads up the west bank of the Allt Cruachan, passing through
woods of oak, hazel and birch to reach the access road to Cruachan dam.
This can be followed to the reservoir's western shore for the lower slopes
of Meall Cuanail, the first summit of the west-to-east round. This is seen
as a prominent rounded undulation on a broad ridge due south of the main
summit. Many prefer to do the round from east-to-west, however, to enjoy
longer the views to Loch Linnhe and the Firth of Lorn.
The eastern tops
From the dam, follow the reservoir's eastern shore, before beginning
the gradual ascent of the grassy embankments to a bealach and thence to
Stob Garbh, a cairned top perched on the headwall of the mountain's
eastern coire, Coire Creachainn. The traverse continues to the north of
this peak, across a short dip of 250 feet to the cairn of Stob Daimh, the
highest of the three peaks around the eastern coire. Those seeking only to
traverse these tops may prefer the alternative approach from the
Stronmilchan road, where a well-defined track, the route of an old
lead-mine railway, runs along the base of the hill to Coire Ghlais. The
streams in this hollow, and that of Coire Creachainn are crossed by
bridges (not marked on Ordnance Survey maps) to gain the long spurs of
Stob Garbh or Sròn an Isean. From Sròn an Isean, the climb to Stob Daimh
is steep and uneven and in mist traverse in the reverse direction requires
care, as the ridge line is difficult to detect.
Drochaid Glas
The next summit along the ridge, Drochaid Glas, lies directly above the
basin of the reservoir and the headwalls of a northern coire. This can
also bemuse, for beyond Stob Daimh a large boulder field is crossed to
reach its rocky knob, which has no cairn. To add to the confusion, the
summit lies slightly to the north of the main ridge line. In mist, careful
navigation is required to regain the crest, particularly when traversing
from west to east when it is better to leave the summit and retrace one's
steps for about 20 yards, keeping to the south side of the hill as the
turn to the east is made. This helps to avoid the possibility of making a
false start down the narrow. precipitous arête which falls towards Glen
Noe.
The western tops
To the west of Drochaid Glas, the crest of the ridge is narrower and
boulder-strewn, with large blocks appearing on the steeper ground below
the main summit, where there is an Ordnance Survey pillar.
The ridge continues to a saddle and the peak of Stob Dearg, often
referred to as the 'Taynuilt peak'. When descending to this gap in trust,
a move to the south should be made as if going to Meall Cuanail. Once
clear of the larger stones a westerly bearing can be taken to reach the
foot of Stob Dearg. This peak can also be reached on a direct ascent from
the Pass of Brander. Above the western end of the pass, follow the Allt
Cruiniche to open slopes below the col separating Stob Dearg from the hump
of Meall nan Each to the west.
A return to the Stob Dearg - Beinn Cruachan bealach, with some
re-ascent towards the latter's summit avoids the slabby face of Coire a'
Bhachaill. An easy descent due south then finds the short rise to Meall
Cuanail, and the softer grassed slopes beyond which, falling towards the
Cruachan darn, speed the return to the road by the Allt Cruachan.
Irvine Butterfield
Routes in The High Mountains of Britain and Ireland are reproduced by
kind permission of Irvine Butterfield. The Routes are provided from the PC
CD-ROM The Munros through Windows by Iain R White which includes walks up
every Munro and Top. Indeed it is the only publication to provide routes
up every Munro and Top. Routes up the 3,000 foot hills in the British
Isles furth of Scotland are also included.
