Ben Cruachan

Ben Cruachan stands in Argyll and Bute as the highest mountain in the region, reaching 1 126 metres. Its name means ‘the hill of the fairy hill’ in Gaelic, and it forms the high point of a ring of peaks called the Cruachan Horseshoe. Inside the mountain lies the Cruachan Dam, a pumped-storage hydroelectric station built within a cavern. The dam holds back a reservoir that fills the hollow between the surrounding peaks. The horseshoe includes further recognised summits such as Stob Daimh and Beinn a’ Bhuiridh. The mountain’s battle cry ‘Cruachan!’ is shared by the Campbell and MacIntyre clans. The site is worth the journey for its combination of natural scenery and engineering achievement. The reservoir’s dark waters contrast with the pale quartzite of the summit ridge. The cavern power station, carved deep into the mountain, houses turbines that can restart the national grid within minutes. The Falls of Cruachan railway station at the base provides access for walkers heading into the hills. The surrounding Munros and Corbetts offer routes for all levels of hill walker. A visitor finds paths that climb from the reservoir’s edge up the quartzite slopes to the summit trig point. The power station’s intake towers rise like stone sentinels beside the water. The ring of peaks shelters the loch, creating a quiet space for wildlife. The railway line runs along the glen, linking the station to the wider network. On clear days the view stretches across Rannoch Moor to Ben Nevis and Glencoe. The mountain’s battle cry still echoes when climbers reach the top.