Ben Cruachan - Argyll & Bute, Scotland.
Posted by: 
creg-ny-baa
N 56° 25.611 W 005° 07.909
30V E 368524 N 6255626
Iconic mountain in the south-western highlands of Scotland, the highest of a range of peaks above Loch Awe.
Waymark Code: WMVPRC
Location: Northern Scotland, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 05/15/2017
Views: 2
Ben Cruachan is a well known mountain that is situated at the northern end of Loch Awe, the longest loch in Scotland.
The pointed summit is the highest in Argyll & Bute and towers above a whole ridge of peaks that run west to east above the Cruachan Dam and Reservoir, where the mountain is usually climbed from.
The mountain summit is of rocky boulders, one of which is the highest point, even higher than the summit cairn and the remains of the trig pillar which occupy the summit area.
The views on a clear day not unexpectedly take in a wide area of this part of Scotland, from Ben Nevis to the north and a good deal of the Western Islands.
STEEPNESS: From any direction the route to the summit is steep, but apart from the inaccessible north side there are not any technical difficulties.
TERRAIN: Mostly boulders which in dry conditions provide easy going. Faint paths have formed that usually seek out the best route between the worst of the terrain.
ACCESSIBILITY: The summit is less than three miles north of the A85 road which runs along the northern edge of Loch Awe and various lay-bys are to be found along the north side of the road in the vicinity of the Falls of Cruachan where the ascent of the mountain starts. The quickest route heads up the side of the falls to the massive Cruachan Dam and along the west side of the reservoir to its northern end where a path heads west up to a col between Meall Cuanail and Ben Cruachan. From here it is a straight climb north to the summit.
NAVIGATION: The quickest route mentioned is the easiest way up in mist with a path to follow, the longer route along the ridge from the east requires care as does the route from the west over the peak of Stob Dearg that lies west of the summit.
DANGER: The usual route is the most straightforward other than the steepness up to the summit and loose terrain on the zig-zagging path. The route from the east requires some handwork in places just before the summit. NB: A thirty foot ladder is required to be negotiated on climbing up to the top of the dam but this can be avoided by following the dam access road to the east.