Scotland
Cruach Raineachan
501M
1644FT
About Cruach Raineachan
Rising above the eastern shores of Loch Eck in Cowal, this 501m summit offers a rugged, often pathless ascent through thick bracken and forestry. Those who navigate its steep slopes are rewarded with exceptional views across the water to Beinn Mhor and the distant, jagged silhouettes of the Arrochar Alps.
Key Statistics
Rank
341st Highest in Region
Parent Range
Data coming soon
Prominence
?
27
Nearest Town
Meoble
Geology
You are walking over layers of hard sandstone and clay-rich rock, cut through by ridges of tough, dark volcanic stone.
Classifications
Find It
OS Grid Reference
NM830839
Latitude
56.8955°N
Longitude
5.5646°W
Did You Know?
- •The name derives from the Gaelic 'Cruach', meaning a bold or stack-like hill, and 'Raineachan', the plural of 'raineach', meaning bracken. It translates as the 'Stack of the Bracken', a name that becomes self-explanatory to anyone attempting the climb outside of the winter months.
- •The summit is a fantastic vantage point for surveying the long, narrow ribbon of Loch Eck, providing a clear perspective on how the fjord-like fresh water cuts through the rugged Cowal landscape.
- •To the north, the view captures the most famous peaks of the Southern Highlands, including the distinctive jagged skyline of The Cobbler (Ben Arthur) and the massive bulk of Ben Lomond to the northeast.
- •If you find yourself wondering why the hill was specifically named after bracken, you likely haven't attempted the ascent in August, when the namesake vegetation is tall enough to hide a fully grown hillwalker.