It's off to the Scottish highlands for some stunning ridge walking courtesy of Ben Cruachan above Loch Awe.
Walking Route: Ben Cruachan, western Highlands,
Scotland
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Loch Awe > Ben Cruachan >
Stob Diamh > Loch Awe
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Distance: 8 miles (13
km)
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Height Gain: 4741ft (1445
m)
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Overview: The superb ridge of the Ben
Cruachan massif gives a choice of traditional horseshoe
routes, and this route completes a circuit around the dammed
south corrie.
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Maps: Explorer 377
Online: Streetmap
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Strenuousness: 2
Technicality: 1
Photo Grade: 3
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Start Point: NN078
268
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A classic pyramidal peak with four radiating ridges, Ben Cruachan
dominates the area between Loch Awe and Loch Etive and the road from
Tyndrum to Oban.
The superb ridge of the Ben Cruachan massif gives a choice of
traditional horseshoe routes, and this route completes a circuit
around the damned south corrie containing the Cruachan Reservoir.
For winter walkers there's also the option of saving time by
taking the cycleable track from Lochawe village to the
reservoir.
Section 1 - Loch Awe to Ben Cruachan
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Distance: 3.1 miles (5km)
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Height Gain: 3566ft (1087m)
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Starting from the Visitor Centre (park nearby as parking at the
centre is discouraged) at the power station in the Pass of Brander go
under the railway bridge then turn right immediately uphill.
The path starts off through woodlands, keeping to the right of the
stream to eventually reach the dam
of Cruachan Reservoir.
Now head north alongside the reservoir for a mile on a good track.
At the far end of the reservoir turn left at a cairn and start the
climb up to a bealach
between Meall Cuanail and Ben Cruachan.
On reaching the bealach turn right onto the south ridge of Ben
Cruachan. The path here is less distinct as it negotiates the boulder
strewn ridge on the climb up to the summit of Ben
Cruachan and the OS trig point.
The views from the summit include south over Loch Awe and north to
Ben Starav and Loch Etive.
Section 2 - Ben Cruachan to Stob Garbh
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Distance: 2 miles (3.2km)
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Height Gain: 1092ft (333m)
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From the summit of Ben Cruachan continue north initially, over steep
ground almost to low grade scrambling levels. After a short descent
turn right onto the east ridge of Ben Cruachan and a series of large
inclined slabs.
Cross the slabs and keep to the ridge crest as you progress east.
Pass the summit of Drochaid Ghlas on your left (optional short round
trip) to a cairn.
Stob Diamh from Steven Russell's Munros
album
Instead of taking the difficult, and potentially dangerous, direct
descent towards Stob
Diamh move south east then east on an obvious path. The path
now continues through more large granite boulders to the summit of
Stob Diamh.
From here turn right to follow the south ridge to the summit of
Stob Garbh a few metres away.
Section 3 - Stob Garbh to Loch Awe
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Distance: 2.9 miles (4.7km)
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Height Gain: 82ft (25m)
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From Stob Garbh continue along what is effectively the south ridge of
Stob Diamh for several hundred metres, following the ridge crest
downhill.
As the ridge starts to climb again towards Beinn A' Bhuiridh turn
right, aiming for the stream that crosses left to right in front of
you. Now follow the stream downhill, almost to the reservoir.
Cross the stream and turn left to join a well marked path
alongside the east side of Cruachan Reservoir. This path leads back
to the descent through the trees to the starting point.
