Crianlarich Hill run

Travelled up past the top of Loch Lomond to the large layby outside Crianlarich. There are 7 munros in this group, my planned route was round 2 pairs, An Caisteal and Beinn A Chroin them Beinn Tullaichean and Cruach Ardrain, Low cloud and mist all the way up the Lochside. Started up the forest track for 10 or 15 minutes then a worn path leads off to the right that takes you onto Sron Garbh then to An Caisteal, after about 20 minutes the grey above changes to blue and I pop up into sunshine and mountains above a sea of clouds. Expected to be out for about 6 hours and a brisk walk is good enough on the uphills, run the flatter parts and the downs. Pass a few walkers on the way up, stop for a couple of pictures and take on some fuel on the top, I would repeat this routine on at the top of the other 3 munros. Good running down to Bealach Buidhe. It's only a short climb to the top of Beinn a Chroin with 1 wee scramble just below the summit plain, 3 tops here, takes twice as long to cross them all as it did to get to the top. From the third top a path leads down a grassy ridge towards Crianlarich, a short way down leave the path for a grassy gulley heading north on pathless ground towards Beinn Tulaichean, to minimise descent and reascent contour round Stob Glas as close as possible to the large cliffs and crags. Steady climb up grassy slopes to the ridge betwen Tulaichean and Ardrain. Tulaichean first then back along the ridge to Ardrian's twin tops, the higher one furthest away of course. Back towards the ridge then drop steeply down grassy slopes on one of two exit paths, they join together further down on the way to Meall Damh and Grey Heights on the undulating ridge towards Crianlarich, the path turns sharp left at a deer fence, down towards the glen, as dry as it gets today soon back at the forest track for a short run to the car after a seat in the River Falloch to cool off.

An Caisteal right, Beinn a Chroin back left

Ben Lomond from An Caisteal

Cruach Ardrain, left, Beinn Tullaichean from Beinn a Chroin,

Ben More and Stob Binnien behind

Ben More and Stob Binnien from Beinn Tulaichean

Cruach Ardrain from Beinn Tulaichean

Beinn Tulaichean from Cruach Ardrain

An Caisteal and Beinn a Chroin

Afternoon run over a couple of the Crianlarich Munros, started up the access track from the big layby just before Crianlarich. Jogged up to the gate then walk jogged the path towards to the col behind Sgurr Dubh on Twistin Hill, An Caisteals ridge. Onto the ridge more running up to the cloud covered top. Quick refuel then down to the high col before Beinn a Chroin. Short walk and scramble and run across Beinn a Chroins three tops.

Another short break before descending Beinn a Chroins North ridge and the run back beside the River Falloch to the finish in just over 3 1/2 hours.

Crianlarich hill run

Set off early for a run over An Caisteal, Beinn a Chroin and Cruach Ardrain. Stopped near the top of Loch Lomond for a picture of the Loch.

First time up these hills in good weather, not too hot but little wind and blue skies coming through the thin cloud. Ran from the car park a mile or so from Crianlarich. Ran up the forest road to the small path to An Caisteal, slowed to a steady trudge with a few jogs thrown in as the gradient eased once onto the ridge. Cool breeze on top, great views all round.

Ran off the ridge towards Beinn a Chroin, from the high bealach its only a short climb up to its triple summit ridge. Easy run down to the grassy gully and traverse under Stob Glas's towering crags, dropped a bit too low leaving a bigger climb than I should have up to the ridge between Beinn Tulaichean and Cruach Ardrain. Jog walked up the last few wee climbs to Cruach Ardrains busy summit cairn. 

Stopped for a few minutes to take in the views and grab a few pictures. Back along the ridge to the descent path I didn't find last time I was here, ran along the ridge over Meall Dhamh dropping down for a long traverse past Grey Height to avoid the boggy path back to the forest track. Sat in the river Falloch for a few minutes to cool off before the short run back to finish at the car in about 5 1/2 hours, great day. More pictures here.

Crianlarich 5

Returned to these hills after last Saturday's bail out due to low cloud. Waited until Sunday as the Saturday forecast not as good as Sunday's which was for Loch Lomond and Trossachs hills to remain covered in cloud with the odd sunbeam or two to and Central Highlands clear, persuaded myself these hills were central! About 10 when I started, lots of cloud, An Caisteal first, up into the cloud, not much wind so ok. Spoke to a walker who had come over Beinn Chabhair, he gave me confidence the col's were clear and should be able to pick out the ascent line to Chabhair. Dropped down to the pass between Caisteal and A Chroin and managed to work out how to get to Chabhair.

Turn right down a grassy gulley and right again to traverse along to the col crossover which was below the clouds thankfully then straight up steep pathless hillside in to the mist, recognised the top from my last visit in 2009. Met a couple of runners, one rather famous with a couple of wee dogs. Ran straight back down to the col pleased to drop out the mist about 50 yards from where I went up. Tussocky trudge back to the path to A'Chroin. A well worn path to A'Chroin zig zags through a few crags. would be quite airy in clear weather. Gradient soon eases and run walk to the top where I meet a few walkers I passed ascending An Caisteal, they are not sure how to get down and are about to go back the way they came, a big climb back over An Caisteal, managed to help them, A'Chroin has three tops and they didn't realise this! The exit path is from top 3, walked to top 3 with them and sorted their route out. The OS maps they have weren't as clear as my Harveys Superwalker. Used my phone app gridref to confirm exactly where we were, seemed to work perfectly.

 Gulley to Sron Garbh traverse

Next was a traverse under Sron Garbh, down a broad grassy gulley into pathless tussocky slabby terrain, then steep ascent of Beinn Tulaichean.

 Sron Garbh on the left, Tulaichean's ridge behind

A bit stop go up Tulaichean's steep sides as I start to tire. On top and turn right along the undulating ridge to the summit, cool breeze so didn't hang about and turned back along the ridge towards the final munro, Cruach Ardrain, kept going through a few ups until it was only downhill in front of me, must be the top! Set off down a steep twisty path, probably not the best route, I think I should have gone back along the ridge to pick up a path that would take me to the planned descent route down Grey Heights. Gradient eased and although I new roughly where I was gridref gave me a bit more confidence in the mist and set off around the Coire towards Grey Height, involved a wee bit of re-ascent, nothing too much.

 I should be up there

Good run down over a couple of minor tops and suddenly everything became clear, I was under the clouds Crianlarich down below, looking back the tops began to clear. Ran down to finish in about 8 hours, more pictures here.

An Caisteal

Hoped for run over 5 Western Munros didn't happen, set off hoping cloud would rise above the tops, ran along the new track then walked up the ridge to Sron Garbh, by passed its top on the way out, running along twistin hill, the last climb up to An Caisteal through some minor rocky scrambles, ran on from the top for a while, on a path but no visibility.

 Small lochain and some sheep by An Caisteals summit!

Gave up and ran back over the top and down the same route except over Sron Garbh's top, joining the outward track a bit further down. Good run and try out of these hills, ran Beinn Chabhair 6 or 7 years ago, will come back and try to combine a few more on a good day, finished in about 2 1/2 hours, more pictures here.