Western Mountains of Crianlarich and Tyndrum

The Western Mountains
Summits include: Beinn a' Chleibh, Ben Lui, Ben Oss, Beinn Dubhchraig & Beinn Chuirn, The Cruachan Horseshoe & Beinn Eunaich, Bheinn Bhreac-Lith & Beinn Udlaidh

Ben Lui is a classic. Many regard it as the finest summit in the Southern Highlands and it's not difficult to understand why if you see it from Glen Cononish. It's a mountain with twin tops each of which have ridges that arc round Coire Gaothaich. These two ridges are the best and most exciting routes on and off this mountain.



The ascent up the back of the mountain avoids all difficulty - but also avoids the best scenery and has been likened to an ascent of Ben Nevis via the tourist track. It does, however, provide easy access to the summit of Beinn a' Chleibh. The map marks a conifer forest barring access from Glen Lochy - though there is a good track going up a forest break to reach the open ground in Fion Coire.

The summits of Ben Oss and Beinn Dubhcraig are quite broad summits with numerous craggy bluffs which can be linked easily with Ben Lui - though it is a long walk.

Beinn Chuirn is regarded as the twin of Ben Lui - and not without reason as it also throw out an impressive eastern corrie. This summit makes an easy walk that's best approached via the River Cononish. The walk tackles the southern slopes that can require precise navigation skills in misty weather as there is a large, gentle plateau halfway up.

The Cruachan Horseshoe & Beinn Eunaich
Ben Cruachan is a longer drive and a bit out of the way. But it's well worth trying for it has one of the most graceful ridges south of Glen Coe - a serious threat to Ben Lui for "most beautiful mountain in the southern highlands". The ridge is rocky and near the summit of Ben Cruachan itself, it's quite narrow. It overlooks some vast drops to the north and is a good viewpoint for the Glen Coe peaks and the coast. Don't miss out on the Corbett of Beinn a' Bhuiridh - a summit of the horseshoe that is often missed out because of its sub-3000ft status.



Further East, the ridge linking Beinn Eunaich with Beinn a' Chochuill is another group to traverse - the ridge isn't narrow but still has an impressive northern corrie. It's also less rocky and can be linked in to Ben Cruachan via one of its steep northern ridges.





Bheinn Bhreac-Lith & Beinn Udlaidh
These are two Corbetts just west of Tyndrum that make an easy walk offering unique views of the surrounding mountains. Because of forests, access is limited to four locations free of forest. Bheinn Bhreac-Lith is quite rounded with few crags but Beinn Udlaidh has some nice corries - Coire Daimh and Coire Ghamhnain.