Beinn a' Chroin

Beinn a’ Chroin is a 941-metre Munro in the Breadalbane region of the Scottish Highlands. It stands six kilometres south of Crianlarich, surrounded by four other Munros near the head waters of the River Falloch. The mountain’s long summit ridge and steep head wall of Coire Earb are clearly seen from Glen Falloch. Its name in Gaelic has three possible meanings, including ‘hill of the cloven hoof’ for its twin summits. The mountain lies well into the interior of the Crianlarich group, often climbed with nearby An Caisteal. The route from the A82 road starts by climbing An Caisteal before crossing the Bealach Buidhe to reach Beinn a’ Chroin. A direct ascent follows Coire Earb up the north ridge to the eastern end of the summit ridge. From the east, a track by the River Larig leads to the foot of the mountain for a climb up steep grassy slopes. The summit ridge is undulating with strange rock formations and small sheets of water near the highest point. The mountain’s north side holds the impressive Coire Earb, showing fine boulder fields and moraine from the last Ice Age. On the upper southern slopes lies the smaller Coire a’ Chroin, containing the small Lochan a’ Chroin. Drainage from the mountain reaches both coasts of Scotland, with the River Falloch flowing west to the Firth of Clyde and other streams heading east to the Firth of Forth.