An Caisteal & Beinn a' Chroin - Crianlarich Hills - Jan 2005

An Caisteal, Beinn a' Chroin Information

An Caisteal are Beinn a' Chroin are brilliant hills taking the title of one of my best walks ever!  Let me just say these hills are my Everest I've failed on them 3 times ( not documented on the site).  Anyway about the hills, An Caisteal is called this due to having a classy castle like bit near the top ( which isn't actually the real summit I thought it was) which is a nice site and good to see.  The middle of the Crianlarich Hills these can easily be combined with Cruach Ardrain or Beinn a Chabhair.  I recommend the latter if you want to try this as otherwise the walk would be huge.  Beinn a' Chroin is a brilliant looking mountain, looks like an impassable wall from Glen Falloch.   I really enjoyed this climb (although it was in perfect winter conditions) but I think it would make a fine summers walk too.  

An Caisteal, Beinn a' Chroin Route

Ok after trying this hill four times I have finally been able to complete it here is my route;

Park at the large layby on the A82 its on the right hand side coming from Glasgow  look out for the white markers.  Climb over the style and walk through the bog heading down to the railway bridge trying not to wind the cows up too much.  Go under the railway bridge  and follow the road up.  after about 15 mins Sron Garbh starts up on the right.  There is no path up it (I don't think?) so make your way up it best you can.  This is a real thigh buster 5000 and views are pretty much non existent i.e. your basic slog!  attain the summit of this and thus the start of the Twisten Hill ridge.  Head along this (path starts now) to a distant An Caisteal.  Views are good throughout.  Beinn a' Chroin looks particularly good from here.  a last bit of tough climbing take you to "The Castle" have fun on that and head on more along the ridge for about 10 mins to the real summit.  Views are great of Loch Lomond, Ben Lomond and my soft spot hill Beinn Chabhair ( I don't know why I like it so much) and yeh Ben More but I'm not writing that on every page I write.  Beinn a' Chroin looks un penetrable( seriously) especially in winter conditions I was really wondering how I was going to get up.  anyway just head along the semi visible path down to a col at about 800m ish, a ledge half way up the hill marks its weak point.  head up the path while its there and skirt along the ledge and reach Beinn a' Chroin's summit ridge where I was seriously nearly blown away!  You may think your at the top but you aint keep walking along the ridge passing 1 , 2 ,3, 4 summits before you reach the true one ( furthest away need you ask!) again take in the views.  Head down Beinn a' Chroin's north ridge following a path taking you right down and into the valley beneath.  Find the start of the River Falloch and walk along the side of it where the ground is flattest although this whole area is one big bog.  You want to try and walk down the left hand side of it since you will be joining up a land rover track that Farmer Joe uses to feed the sheep about half way down the valley.  Follow this road alllll the way back! there we go Everest climbed :)  

Weather this day was as they say "fan daby dosy" look at that sky in the pics...jealous? perfect winter conditions clear blue sky, lots of snow, no wind ( until we reached the summit of Beinn a' Chroin) just what you want!

An Caisteal, Beinn a' Chroin  Photos / Images / Pictures

Extra special treat - See these hills in a panorama taken on the boxing day failed trip HERE ( sorry for rubbish resolution )

       First view of An Caisteal after topping Twisten Hill             Classy photo of An Caisteal again now fully on the ridge

       An Caisteal yet again this time from Beinn a' Chroin        nice view eh?  first hill Beinn Chabhair Arrochar Alps behind

       Getting blown away on the summit of Beinn a' Chroin                  Beinn a' Chroin as seen from the valley walk out    

So how did I manage to fail so many times?

1) Was the mistiest day ever don't know why I even tried it, ending up climbing wrong hill doh!

2) Fell over near the start and hurt my leg couldn't be bothered going on so turned back. 

3) Boxing day this year amazing conditions but I didn't have enough gear and got to Twisten hill and nearly froze so gave up again.

4) success muhahahahhahahaah!

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