Ben Cruachan

Parking for Ben Cruachan is limited. The best place is at the start of the walk, at the train station (small sign) where up to six cars can pull carefully over into a narrow, makeshift layby. If this is full, it is no longer possible to park at the Power Station Visitor Centre, but there is a proper layby about 700 metres further along the road towards Oban, on the right hand side. From the Railway Station sign walk up the path and then under the railway in a low underpass. Climb the concrete steps up the other side until a path on the left heads up through the trees, passing a wire fence. Continue on this path as it meanders through the oak, birch and hazel wood, climbing steeply in places. The Allt Cruachan can be heard flowing down the little gorge on the left. After the trees thin out, a deer fence with stile is crossed and the path, with great views back over Loch Awe, continues up towards the Cruachan dam.The path emerges onto a surfaced track, turn left and cross a bridge over the stream and continue up the track until the dam wall is reached. Here turn left up the zig zag path and then climb the metal staircase onto the dam itself. Turn left to cross the rest of the dam and immediately take the path on the right to short cut to the track heading round the west side of the reservoir. Follow the track along the side of the reservoir until you reach the end. Just before the end of the track a small cairn marks a path heading up to the left. However this path is the boggier of the two and it is better to continue over the stream and then climb immediately left on the second path. The path climbs steeply following the rugged ground until Coire Dearg is reached. From here it is a short and steep pull up an eroded stony path to the bealach. There is a small lochan here.From the bealach follow the eroded stony path to the right which climbs steeply all the way to the summit of Cruachan. Near the top, the route passes through boulders until the final summit marked by