How To Hike Ben Cruachan, Scotland
With towering peaks, a horseshoe ridge, and epic scenery, the summit of Ben Cruachan is an awe-inspiring place. The views are some of the best in Argyll, with Loch Awe shimmering below and the peaks of Glencoe just visible in the distance.
And whilst Ben Cruachan may not be considered as iconic as some others in the region, it’s easily one of best Scottish mountains - with incredible sense of remoteness often lacking on more popular trails. It’s more than a little challenging too, with steep inclines, uneven terrain, scrambles, and a narrow ridge.
Undoubtedly, hiking Ben Cruachan is an incredible experience.
So, fi you too would like to climb Ben Cruachan, this guide has everything you need to know, like the route, practical tips, and what to expect.
Ben Cruachan Essentials
Distance | 14km / 8 miles
Peaks | 2 Munro peaks – Ben Cruachan and Stob Daimh
When | Spring to autumn
Weather | check the Ben Cruachan weather before you go
Map | Glen Orchy & Loch Etive OS 50
Alternative | If you’d prefer to do a shorter and simpler version of this route, then hike to the first Munro peak and re-trace your steps back to the car (approx. 5 hours).
Where is Ben Cruachan?
You’ll find Ben Cruachan on the banks of Loch Awe in Argyll, on Scotland’s west coast. Sitting at 1,126m the summit of Ben Cruachan is both Argyll’s highest point and a Scottish Munro.
How difficult is Ben Cruachan
With steep and rocky climbs and descents, you need a decent level of fitness to tackle Ben Cruachan.
Whilst there’s rocky tracks and grassy trails in parts and the route is straightforward on a clear day, there are also pathless sections. And areas where the trail disappears into boulder fields. If you’re inexperienced at hiking then it could be easy to lose your way, especially if the fog or clouds roll in.
A standalone mountain in its own right, adventurous hikers can also extend their Ben Cruachan walk with a traverse over its narrow ridge to Stob Daimh, a second and slightly smaller Munro summit. But if you decide to extend your hike and tackle the second Munro, you’ll also need to traverse the ridge. Whilst it’s reasonably straight-forward, there are a few narrow sections, plus there’s a short scramble to actually get onto the ridge.
The entire circuit also takes around 8-hours to walk; it’s a long and unrelenting day. All things considered, Ben Cruachan is a challenging mountain to hike.
How Long to Climb Ben Cruachan
It takes around 7 to 9 hours to hike the Ben Cruachan circuit, and that’s both Munros on the circuit. But I would also recommend giving yourself plenty of time for this hike, including rest stops, lunch, and photos.
Alternatively, if you only want to climb Ben Cruachan and turn back, it’s considerably shorter and you’ll need around 5-hours.
Best time to climb Ben Cruachan
As with all Scottish mountains, the best time to climb Ben Cruachan is from late April to October. This is when Scotland has its best weather, the days are lightest, and there’s very little chance of snow on the summit.
My own cautionary tail - I climbed Ben Cruachan in early November on an incredibly clear day, and though the faint dusting of snow was walkable, I was close to running out of daylight.
No matter the time of year, I also recommend choosing a reasonably decent day to hike this route. With the steepness, rocky terrain, and how long the day is, bad weather would make this route very challenging - especially for the less experienced. The ridge would be treacherous in high winds and route difficult to find if the clouds low and visibility poor.
It goes without saying, but do NOT attempt any of Scotland’s mountains in winter, unless you have both the experience and the correct equipment.
For all those reasons, you’ll want to check the weather forecast before heading out. The best place to find the weather forecast on Ben Cruachan are:
Mountain Weather Forecast | updated hourly, this service provides the forecast for your specific mountain. My go-to weather forecast for Ben Cruachan.
MWIS | mountain forecast with lots of description on the the weather for west coast mountains, plus there’s a helpful app. On the downside, it isn’t mountain specific and slow to update.
Where to park for Ben Cruachan
It’s not essential to have a car to get to the hike start point (there is a train station in Loch Awe and another at Falls of Cruachan). But getting to Ben Cruachan by car will make life a lot easier.
From Lochawe Village, take the main road west towards the Falls of Cruachan train station, where you will see a small lay-by on the right-hand side of the road. This is the main parking for Ben Cruachan, and the start of the hike can be found just beyond the parking area.
The car park for Ben Cruachan is small and only fits approx. six cars. If it’s full then head further along the road (around 700 metres), where you’ll find a larger lay-by.
The Ben Cruachan Route
Start the Ben Cruachan hike at the underpass by the railway and follow steps into the woods. Simply follow this meandering but surprisingly steep trail through the birch trees and listen out for the Allt Cruachan river flowing down a small gorge on the left; watch your footing here and don’t get too close to the edge.
Follow the clear path towards the high concrete walls of the Ben Cruachan reservoir and climb the metal stairs on the left. You can walk out above the water on the metal viewing platform but return to the left to continue your hike.
Take a moment to look back at the great views over Loch Awe; ahead the towering peaks of Ben Cruachan looking particularly imposing in the background.
Munro #1 – Ben Cruachan
Continue around the reservoir and keep a close eye for a small cairn that signals where you should divert from the flat path and start hiking upwards. If you find yourself going around the reservoir, then you’ve gone too far.
The path starts to climb over rugged and stony terrain. It’s a steep incline, with loose and shifting rocks, higher up the route becomes somewhat challenging as the path disappears into a boulder field. It would be easy to roll an ankle here so walk with caution!
There’s a small lochan on the left, and then a very steep final approach towards your first Munro of the day – the summit of Ben Cruachan. Marked with a cairn, and the highest point on your hike at 1,126 metres, it’s from here you find an incredible vantage point, with views over Loch Awe, Glencoe, and the islands of the west coast.
Take time for a rest stop here – you’ll need it after the steep climb!
The Ben Cruachan ridge
If you’re looking for an easier hike, then at this stage simply turn back and retrace your steps.
However, if you’re hiking the whole Ben Cruachan circuit (which I’d highly recommend), then the next step is on to the ridge.
Ahead is a little challenging as the the trail is blocked by a series of rock slabs and you have a choice - either walk across these slabs. Or take a clear bypass path. Both options involve a small scramble - but the bypass path is the easier option and best for anyone who dislikes heights.
The trail then climbs back up onto the main ridge, which is rocky in parts but well-trodden; less experienced walkers should take it slow, although the ridge is reasonably wide. The views from this part of the route are absolutely incredible and well worth effort.
From here you’ll see your next Munro peak ahead.
Munro #2 – Stob Daimh
The hike up your second Loch Awe Munro of the day is an easy but steep walk over grassy slopes. Take a minute to look backwards over the ridge to the peak of Ben Cruachan and have a well-deserved pat on the back for the distance you’ve covered!
From the second Munro, it’s time to descend.
The Return Hike
After the second Ben Cruachan summit, the return route is via a grassy track.
It’s tough to see and if you miss it head downwards towards the reservoir (it’s an obvious marker), choosing easy going ground where possible. Eventually you’ll relocate the trail, which you’ll follow over a stream (look for the shallowest point) just above the reservoir.
From here, follow the trail back to the woods, the underpass, and finally, the car park.
The Ben Cruachan route
You can find the full Ben Cruachan route, map, and profile here.
Where to stay Near Ben Cruachan
If you’re travelling from further afield then I would recommend staying the night.
I stayed at the Ben Cruachan Inn which was was handily only a 5-minute drive away, and I really wouldn’t have wanted to drive any further. My feet were aching plus I was absolutely knackered - the roaring fire and G&T at the Inn were a life-saver!
