Walks 6 & 7

WALK 6
Kilchurn Castle via Stronmilchan Village (2-3 hours)
Proceed as for Walk 5 and continue left after Dalmally Bridge. This is the old high road to Bridge of Awe, via the Brander Pass. The land-use pattern of a crofting township is clearly visible both to the left and right as the road leads you out towards Ben Cruachan and Ben Einidh. On the right, as the township ceases and the electricity pylons climb the hill, is the site of the Great House of Clan McGregor, who disputed unsuccessfully with the Campbells for supremacy in these glens.

The road does a dog-leg bend at the river Strae, where there are 2 more bridges. There is a beautiful pool at this point. The road turns SW and you soon reach the main Oban road. You turn LEFT here and make a run for it! over the bridge to the access point to Kilchurn. Watch out for traffic on the road and trains on the level-crossing. The 15th century castle, built for Black Colin Campbell, is largely a ruin but you can get access to the interior during office-hours in the season.

Walks 7, 8 & 9 are extensions to this walk.

WALK 7
Ben Cruachan's Lower Slopes (up to 3 hours)
Where the Stronmilchan Road joins the A85 Oban road just beyond Kilchurn Castle (Walk 6), there is a gate leading on to a track which skirts the mountain's lower slopes. This is a lovely walk in open countryside and need not be too strenuous.

After 30 minutes and two gates you see the course of a river going diagonally LEFT up towards Cruachan. Follow the river for a while (beautiful falls and pools) and you will see a footbridge onto the open slopes.

TURN BACK THEN unless you are used to climbing mountains!