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A tawny, craggy hill with a path climbing its ridge to a flattish top, under bands of grey cloud.
Crianlarich and Tyndrum

Cruach Ardrain

A Munro of 1,046 metres, number 87 of the 282.

On the hill todayI was up today
The hill

Cruach Ardrain stands over Crianlarich, "looming" over it in the park authority's word, in the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park.

Its flattish top has two cairns about 50 metres apart, and the eastern one is the true summit. Walkers bound from Crianlarich for Beinn Tulaichean, the next Munro, go over it on the way.

The start
Crianlarich. In the park authority's directions you go through the station tunnel, turn right rather than towards the village, and follow the path up Cruach Ardrain.
The other side
Paths also reach the hill from Balquhidder Glen, where the road ends at a public car park. No public transport goes there.
The ground
Deer management and farming may be going on, and the park authority asks walkers to keep that in mind.
Under snow
No avalanche forecast covers this hill, but that does not mean there is no risk under snow. The avalanche service's forecasts begin on 17 December 2026.
Summit
Grid reference NN 409 212. Of the two cairns, the park authority says the eastern one is fractionally higher and is the true summit.
Car park
Forestry and Land Scotland has a free car park at Crianlarich Community Woodland, on the south side of the A85 at the eastern edge of the village.
Bus and train
Crianlarich has a station and Citylink coaches from Glasgow. The park authority's directions to the path begin at the station tunnel.
Toilets and food
Crianlarich has public toilets and places to eat.
On the hill today
0° to 4°Drizzle on the summit, 1,046 m. Feels like −3° in the wind.

North-west wind to 12 mph, gusting 24
Rain, about 2 mm
Light from 7.51am to 6.16pm, ten hours

Sat 17Mostly clear−2° to 3° on top · 8 mph, gusts 19
Sun 18Clear−4° to 3° on top · 7 mph, gusts 14
Mon 19Drizzle−5° to 5° on top · 8 mph, gusts 18

A weather model's forecast for the height of the summit, not a report from the hill. Read the mountain forecast the evening before: West Highlands forecast, Southeastern Highlands forecast, Cruach Ardrain, Stirling.

October2026

MTWTFSS

Going another day?

Choose the day you mean to climb.Near or far: the light you will have, and what the summit is likely to be doing.

Photographs by Martin McNaught and Alistair Norris, via Google

Cruach Ardrain's flattish top actually consists of two mini tops, both with cairns and only about 50m apart.The Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority, which publishes the only account of the hill
Before you go

Carry

  • A paper map and a compass, and the skill to use them
  • Waterproofs, warm layers, hat and gloves
  • Food and drink
  • A head torch, a whistle and a first aid kit
  • A survival bag
  • Boots with a good grip

Under snow and ice this is a different day, with short light and the risk of avalanche. It needs an ice axe, crampons, winter boots and the skill to use them.

If something goes wrong

  • Dial 999, ask for the police, then mountain rescue
  • Give a six-figure grid reference: the summit is NN 409 212
  • Say how many are hurt, how many are with you, and your number
  • Register to text 999 before the day: text the word register to 999

The summit is optional. Turning back is the right decision whenever the cloud, the wind or the light say so.

How to call for help in the hills · Safety and skills for the hills · ThinkWINTER

From our readers

Nobody has written from Cruach Ardrain yet. If you were up, yours would be the first.

Tell the next person

Were you up? Three words is enough.A free account, a word for the weather and a line if you like.

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From the magazine
Read more elsewhere

For the route itself, take the map and read these.

Sleep and eat at its foot

Next along: Beinn Tulaichean, Stob Binnein, Beinn a' Chroin, An Caisteal. Checked on 9 October 2026. The facts on this page are the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority's and Forestry and Land Scotland's; the forecasts are the Mountain Weather Information Service's and the Met Office's. Height and position from The Database of British and Irish Hills, v18.3, adapted, CC BY 4.0. This page is not a route description and does not replace a map.