An Cruachan

About An Cruachan

Overlooking the quiet expanse of Stratherrick near the south-eastern shores of Loch Ness, this prominent moorland hill offers a sense of true isolation. While the terrain is often boggy and pathless, the reward is an uninterrupted view across the Great Glen toward the rugged peaks of Glen Strathfarrar and Glen Affric.

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Did You Know?

• •Derived from the Gaelic 'cruach', meaning a stack or heap, the name An Cruachan translates as 'The Small Stack' or 'The Small Hillock', describing its appearance when viewed from the lower ground of the glen.
• •From the summit, the view stretches across the vast trough of Loch Ness, allowing walkers to look directly over the water toward the steep-sided ridges of Mullardoch and the distant high tops of Ross-shire.
• •Most walkers approach from the north near Errogie, following tracks that skirt the edge of the Farigaig Forest before striking out across open, trackless heather towards the summit cairn.
• •This is a hill that demands high-quality waterproof gaiters; the broad summit plateau is remarkably efficient at storing rainwater in hidden, moss-covered pockets that can catch the unprepared hiker.
• •The hill is a significant landmark in the Monadhliath foothills, standing apart from the higher plateaus to the south and providing a focal point for the small communities scattered around Errogie and Gorthleck.