Over The Hill

The combined circuit taking in both An Caisteal and Beinn a’Chroin is a classic among the Crianlarich Munros, a wonderful round on two fine mountains. However, I was aiming for a simpler version, that of just doing An Caisteal and return, and, as it transpired that option also appealed to a few others of our group. An option which Roy, the walk leader was happy to accommodate to suit all comers. Thanks Roy.

An initial group of sixteen therefore departed the layby on the A82 just south of Crianlarich and headed off along the waterworks track leading into Coire Earb and the foot of the north ridge of An Caisteal before taking to the open hillside and making a bee-line for the minor top of Sron Gharbh. This climb up onto the ridge proper has always been a plod through deep grass and a boggy hillside, and today was no exception, grass, bog and mud as usual. It is therefore with some relief that you reach the knoll just below Sron Gharbh and the stony path which it offers for the remainder of the climb. With a large group there was quite a difference in pace, but a catch up on the knoll soon brough everyone together again, and set the tactics for the remainder of the climb; everyone at their own pace with a couple of halts to regroup, as we made our way up the well defined path towards Twistin Hill, the prominent top that dominates the way ahead and continues to hide any views of the actual summit of An Caisteal until Twistin Hill itself is conquered.

The weather was cloudy overhead, the cloud base actually covering the top of Twistin Hill as it first came into view, although the cloud did clear the top before our arrival. I say the path is well defined, but it is as well to be forewarned that there are a couple of very minor scramble sections to be negotiated, nothing more than using hands to balance or help to get you up or down a few metres of rocky outcrop that are to be found as you approach the summit of Twistin Hill, which once over it is then a stroll over a very broad ridge to the 995m summit of An Caisteal,where in a very timely manner, what was remaining of any cloud began to break, and the promised sun and blue sky appeared. Simply beautiful.

Those of us not continuing onto Beinn a’Chroin settled down for a pleasant lunch break and to just soak up the views as we watched those departing make their way down the south ridge towards Bealach Buidhe. Eventually we decided that we should start our return, back over Twistin Hill, onwards down the wonderfully broad ridge where, at one point as we looked back towards Beinn a’Chroin we could clearly see our other group milling around the summit, as we then continued onwards to Sron Gharbh, where we had yet another leisurely break before tackling the wet boggy hillside for the descent back into Coire Earb.

A wonderful day, great to get back on the Munros, and thanks Roy and everyone for your company.