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Ben Cruachan. Cruach na Beinne. This mighty ben lends its name to the Cruachan Dam – a pumped-storage hydroelectric power station that sits deep in a cavern inside the mountain! But where does the ben get its name from?
Cruachan! was the battle cry for the famous highland clans Campbell and Maclntyre and have been stuck in the craggy hills of Ben Cruachan and brought through to the 21st century.
Ben Cruachan is the high point of a ring of mountains known as the Cruachan Horseshoe that encircles power station reservoir. With its craggy peaks, stunning views and rocky ridges – it is surely one of the finest Munros in the Southern Highlands.
Where is it?
You’ll find it between Loch Etive and Loch Awe, and at 1126m tall, this mountain is the highest point in Argyll and Bute. You can either go by car or train (each take around half an hour).
The ben is closest to the Falls of Cruachan train station where there is a lay-by on the right-hand side of the main road. This is the main parking for the mountain and the starting point is just beyond this parking area.
Difficulty
Due to the steep climb from road level and many rocky routes uphill, climbing Ben Cruachan certainly is a challenge. You need a decent level of fitness to be able to handle the crawling, scrambling and stamina to get to the peak.
But it’s worth it.
Climbing Ben Cruachan offers a unique spot above the clouds to catch stunning glimpses of the scenic countryside. The climb presents breathtaking views out onto the islands of the west coast. Now that’s one hell of a reward for hard work.
