Stob na Cruaiche- a wanted hill

Participants: Neil and Ben
Where: Stob na Cruaiche, 739m/2,423', Graham, Map 41, NN 363571

There are a number of hills that I really want to climb, hills like An Sgurr on Eigg, Dun Caan on Raasay, and Beinn Ghoblach overlooking the Summer Isles. Stob na Cruaiche was also on the list. It sits in the middle of Rannoch Moor, an area of moorland, bog and water roughly 50sq. miles in area. I have of course climbed the Munros and Corbetts that fringe the moor but Stob na Cruaiche is something special- it sits wholly within the moor and must, I reckoned, be a superlative view point. I had thought about travelling by train to do this one but the fact that I would have had at least a couple hours wait at Rannoch station at the end of the day before the train back south persuaded me to go by car. I left the house at more or less the same time as the train left Glasgow and arrived at Rannoch station just before it.....

The start of the walk is signposted as a path to Glencoe. I could just see my target rising above the forest.....
 

 

The initial stages of the walk were pleasant along the shore of Loch Laidon looking across it to Beinn a Chreachain and Beinn Achaladair.....
 

 

The next mile or so was through the forest. This is the key to the route; a 4WD track not marked on the map that leaves the main forest track and rises steeply through the trees. It starts just after going through a gate and before a stream is reached with another "Path to Glencoe" sign beside it. This rough track goes all the way to the summit....

The next bit was quite wet underfoot and old fence posts had been laid down to help vehicles get through the mud. It must be an interesting drive in a 4WD! It put the building of the railway across the moor into perspective. The steep bit was quite short and looking back there was a good view down to the loch with Schiehallion in the distance.....
 

 

I was now out on moorland and it was a bit drier underfoot. A ridge ahead looked as though it might contain the top.....
 

 

Nope, from the ridge there was still a bit to go and some more ascent, still following the path, but I could now see the trig point on the horizon.....
 

 

The views had started to open out. This is from about the 2,000' contour looking to Beinn Achaladair (left) and the Blackmount (right).....

 

Approaching the summit I got the view that I was waiting for, towards Buachaille Etive Mor and the hills of Glencoe. It was a bit hazy but, hey, I couldn't really complain.....

 

It wasn't far to the top and a chance to take in the views. This is looking towards Ben Alder.....
 

 

This is back the way we had come with Schiehallion now looking a long way away, as was the start/finish point.....
 

 

This is the Black Mount with Glen Etive straight behind the summit boulder.....

This is across the moor in s general south-west direction with Ben Lui on the horizon. This shows the amount of water that there is on the moor.....

Now turning round to look in a northerly direction across the Blackwater Reservoir to the Mamores and Ben Nevis.....
 

 

and across the reservoir to the Corbett of Leum Uilleim with the Grey Corries in the distance.....
 

 

It was really warm sitting at the summit and although there was no breeze, it was early enough in the year to avoid the flies and midges that must plague this area in high summer. I could have sat about for ages just looking at the views but it was a long drive home so I reluctantly set off back down. Here is another view of the loch taken on the way down.....

Well, the hill didn't disappoint. It is a good viewpoint and the track is a great help. Without it, I suspect that it might be a bit of a nightmare especially in summer. The walk was about 9 to10 miles and it took about 5 hours 20 car to car. It would be really good on a clear winter's day when there is snow on the surrounding hills; conversely, it would be a complete waste of time on a rainy, claggy day.