Walk: Stacks of fun on Cruach Tairbeirt

Argyll & Bute | Arrochar Alps | Short walk | ★★★

[Ben Lomond & Loch Lomond seen from the ascent route]

Cruach Tairbeirt (stack of the neck of land) is aptly named: it overlooks the finger of soil stopping Loch Lomond and Loch Long from joining up. With a top height of only 415 metres above sea level it must be one of the smallest hills in the region to be crowned with a trig pillar, but its sprawling, heathery summit commands decent views across Scotland's first national park. There's a path (of variable quality) leading the short distance to the top, and those using public transport take note: the ascent route starts from a railway station on the West Highland Line. At only 35 miles from Glasgow, the walk must get busy, right? No - we had it to ourselves on Easter Sunday with a perfect weather forecast.

[Looking north from the summit towards Ben Vorlich (left) & the upper reaches of Loch Lomond]

đź“Ś Walk: Stacks of fun on Cruach Tairbeirt ★★★
Start / finish at car park at Arrochar & Tarbet railway station, G.R.: NN 312045 ///boost.employers.stump

▶ 3 km / 2 mi | ▲ 370 m | ⌚ Short | ⬤ Moderate
Features: △ Cruach Tairbeirt (415 m, sub-2000')
Terrain: Good path at first, then informal dirt path through forest with a couple of fallen trees to climb over. Grassy hill path to summit is boggy in places.

Route & map

Start - leave waymarked trail immediately after fording burn at G.R.: NN 311048 - Cruach Tairbeirt - return by outward route

Route credit: Scotland Off the Beaten Track
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On our visit

Wildlife: Caterpillars, moths and lots of frogspawn, sadly often in fast-drying puddles.
Weather: Mostly sunny, light winds, temperature in single figures. Plenty of snow on many hills above about 600 metres.

Chronological photo guide

[The start of the route uses a signposted trail...]

[...before following an informal path through rows of trees...]

[...eventually emerging on the open hill]

[Ben Lomond & Loch Lomond seen from the ascent route]

[Spring wildlife]

[Loch Lomond]

[Loch Long - this view reached by detouring slightly west from the path]

[Arrochar Alps]

[Arrochar Alps]

[Looking north from the summit towards Ben Vorlich (left) & the upper reaches of Loch Lomond]

[View south from the summit]

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