Ben Cruachan

This iconic Munro dominates the Argyll skyline, offering a rugged day out on the famous Cruachan Horseshoe. Its steep granite ridges and jagged peaks encircle a massive hidden reservoir. From the narrow summit, the views are exceptional, stretching across Loch Awe to the sea lochs and islands of the west coast.

• •The name derives from the Scottish Gaelic Cruachan Beann, meaning 'the heap of peaks,' a fitting title for a summit that serves as the apex of a complex, multi-topped ridge system.
• •Deep inside the mountain lies the Cruachan Power Station, known as 'The Hollow Mountain.' This massive pumped-storage hydro scheme features a turbine hall located one kilometre underground, accessed via a tunnel carved through the granite.
• •'Cruachan!' has served for centuries as the traditional war cry of Clan Campbell and Clan MacIntyre, a vocal reminder of the mountain's historical status as the dominant landmark of the region.
• •The ascent from the Falls of Cruachan railway station is notoriously direct, gaining nearly 1,000 metres of elevation in a very short distance before the terrain levels out at the lip of the reservoir dam.
• •The summit offers a spectacular vantage point over the West Highlands; on a clear day, you can look directly down the length of Loch Etive and spot the distinctive Paps of Jura and the peaks of Mull on the Atlantic horizon.
• •The ridge between the main summit and Stob Dearg includes a notorious 'Bad Step'—a short, awkward scramble that proves surprisingly effective at making hikers wish they had spent more time on the climbing wall and less time in the car.