Beinn a' Chreachain

The Beinn a’ Chreachain is a mountain in Perth and Kinross, rising to 1,081 metres. Its Gaelic name means ‘shell-shaped hill’ or ‘rocky hill’. It stands among four Munros east of Bridge of Orchy, between Loch Lyon and Rannoch Moor. The mountain has a conical summit but is less striking from the valley than its neighbour Beinn Dorain. On its northern side steep cliffs drop into Coire an Lochain, enclosing a small lochan of the same name. The northern face falls away in cliffs above the Black Wood of Rannoch, a remnant of Scotland’s ancient pine forests. The southern slopes are also steep and rocky, only flattening towards the southwest. To the west a long ridge links the Beinn a’ Chreachain with the nearby Beinn Achaladair. A nameless subsidiary top at 981 metres sits on the northeast ridge. Most walkers start from the west, leaving Achaladair Farm north of Bridge of Orchy. The route follows the Water of Tulla beside the West Highland Line to Coire an Lochain. From there the climb goes up the northeast ridge to the summit. A connecting ridge also links the two Munros, allowing a traverse of both peaks.