Stob an Lochain [Creag a' Bhealaich]

About Stob an Lochain [Creag a' Bhealaich]

Rising above the northern shores of Loch Achray, this rugged Trossachs top offers a quieter, wilder alternative to neighbouring Ben Venue. The ascent from Brig o’ Turk involves navigating rough, trackless heather, eventually rewarding walkers with an intimate perspective over Loch Katrine’s eastern reaches and the distant Arrochar Alps.

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Did You Know?

• •The primary name, Stob an Lochain, is Gaelic for 'Peak of the Little Loch,' while its secondary title, Creag a' Bhealaich, means 'Crag of the Pass.' This refers to the high, rugged col that links the hill to Ben Venue.
• •The summit provides an exceptional vantage point for spotting the SS Sir Walter Scott steamship as it traverses Loch Katrine, a view that has remained largely unchanged since the Trossachs became a tourist destination in the 19th century.
• •Walkers often traverse to this summit from Ben Venue to the west, though the intervening ground is notoriously complex, requiring careful navigation through a series of steep heathery hummocks and hidden peat hags.
• •From the cairn, you can look directly down onto Brenachoile Point on the shores of Loch Katrine, the scenic setting used for several film and television productions, including Outlander.
• •The terrain is a classic example of Trossachs 'character,' a local euphemism for ground that consists of equal parts knee-deep heather and opportunistic bog.