Ben Cruachan, Stob Diamh - Cruachan Hills - April 2004

Ben Cruachan, Stob Diamh Information

Ben Cruachan has got a hefty load of history behind it, in 1965 we needed power lots of power, what do you need for hydroelectric power ?...rain and mountains. Bingo! Scotland got that in abundance so like many of the mountain ranges in Scotland massive dams and reservoirs were made to create some power.  Cruachan is special since the actual hydro electricity making bit ( terminology letting me down here ) was set up in a huge cavern hollowed out from Ben Cruachan now that's a lot of digging.  If your into your dams, Munros could be just up your street The Laggan and Treig hills are built around Two very impressive dams.  A good book called "power in the glens" I think, is  pretty interesting if your in to it.  Yes I know it I'm sad but its quite good.  Anyway back onto the hills These two hills are separated by a huge ridge connecting several peaks and gives great views of the Cruachan Reservoir  it is not a hard walk but a bit of a slog up Stob Diamh unless you make it interesting ( see route) Once on the ridge you get good views of Ben Lui ( I'm getting fed up of writing that you can see Ben Lui everywhere) and great views of Bridge of Orchy and Crianlarich Hills.  To finish your day off have a stop at the good old Green Welly Stop ( I should be on commission).  

Ben Cruachan, Stob Diamh Route

Start off by driving up the A85 to Oban and go past the Tyndrum hills After 10 minutes or so you will see Cruachan its an unmissable big pointy git calling your name.  When you get to the town Loch Awe there's a street on your right called Old School Road go up there and there's a lay by where you can park.  If you go down to the Cruachan power station visitor center you'll notice there's a two hour maximum stay... doh.  Not all the sweet talking in the world were we allowed to park there so old school Road is your best option.  Follow the road up from the car and it leads you eventually to Cruachan Dam.  its quite obvious where Cruachan itself is but Stob Diamh which you climb first is not.  Its the wee pointy one you see sticking up right in the middle.  The route I was supposed to take meant you were to go up the right side of the dam and climb Stob Garbh ( how many Stob Garbh's are there at all?) which takes you straight onto Stob Diamh  this looked a bit boring so I went up the left side of the reservoir and attacked Stob Diamh straight on with some fun rock climbing bits nearer the summit.  A bit more dangerous yet more fun.  Ok got to the summit took the summit photo looked at the map for the first time that day, doh wrong hill, I was only on the actual summit of Stob Garbh but was only a quick 10 min decent and re-accent to get onto out proper hill and if you were doing it the the proper way climbing Stob Garbh first you would have been on it anyway ( yes me trying to make my screw up sound good) anyway its pretty obvious where your going next and there is a path near enough all the way over the ridge.  Upon the ridge the summit Drochaid Ghlas is slightly to the right of the ridge and involves 100 m or so more climbing ( as seen on the photo) we didn't bother with this as it is not a Munro and the views you can get form that are the same as that from the ridge.  Nearer the end of the ridge with Cruachan's summit in your sights there is a wee hairy  bit where you have to scramble over some rocks as the path your following heads into a cliff drop, don't want to go down there! after a quick scramble over the rocks its an easy climb to the summit.  Brilliant views from here down Loch Awe and a very impressive Stob Dearg behind you failing to make Munro status due to being so close to Cruachan.  A bird of prey, big eagly thing or Peregrine Falcon according to bird master Euan who was with me, nearly hit me in the face... watch where your going bird.  Again we decided to go a different route from the original route we planned which was to head down the side of the hill over Meall Cuanail its obvious to see, but we decided that we didn't see the point of doing it since the views had already been seen from Ben Cruachan, yes ok we were knackered no more excuses.  Anyway we dodged it.  we headed down heading towards the bealach connecting onto Meall Cuanail but at the lowest point of the bealach we cut down following a path to the reservoir.  Since there was a path other people must have done the same as us.  Meall Cuanail looks very steep glad we wriggled out of that.  once your heading down off the bealach watch out its quite rocky and the path seems to turn into a river every so often hmm weird that.  once your down your right back where you started well if you do my route anyway and its a gentle stroll back down the side of the reservoir and along the never ending road back to the car ( seemed like that to me).    

UPDATE: I climbed Stob Diamh again today (22nd Jan) coming up the back way this time excellent winter climb up 60 degrees ice slopes great route but the thing is I lost my phone up there somewhere if anyone finds it could you email me.  I know its a long shot but hey you never know and I did like that phone.

Ben Cruachan, Stob Diamh Photos / Images / Pictures

        Stob Diamh ( straight ahead ) from Cruachan reservoir.                      The Cruachan ridge from Stob Garbh.  

     "Bird Master Euan" taking the fun way up to Stob Diamh        Snowy Cruachan with Stob Dearg peaking out behind

The only picture I could get of that annoying bird

OS Maps: Lochranger 50 Glen Orchy

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