Beinn a' Chròin

Beinn a' Chròin, at 942 metres, is a rather confusing mountain by Munro standards, its complex ridge holding several potential summit cairns that regularly leave walkers uncertain whether they've truly bagged the highest point.

From the Bealach Buidhe, reached after descending from neighbouring An Caisteal, the path traverses diagonally south-east before climbing a rocky buttress with one short section of scrambling, avoidable by an awkward detour to the right for those wishing to keep hands in pockets. Beyond this the path is more straightforward, winding between rocky lumps and small lochans across an undulating plateau — a small cairn marks the true highest point, though it sits among several other cairn-topped knolls along the ridge that can easily be mistaken for the summit. Continuing east across a further dip leads to a second, eastern top at 940 metres, only two metres lower than the true summit, which many walkers visit as well simply to be certain.

The return descends steeply north from the bealach between the two tops, cutting down through rocky ground before easing onto grassy slopes and eventually fording the River Falloch — potentially difficult in spate — to follow a boggy path down through Coire Earb, notorious among regular visitors for its deep mud and tussocky grass, back to the outward hydro track.

The combined round taking in both An Caisteal and Beinn a' Chròin from the A82 layby is around 15 kilometres, typically five to seven hours.

The short scramble onto Beinn a' Chròin's plateau is the main technical obstacle, but the genuinely confusing multiple-summit layout demands careful map use to confirm the true highest point, and the boggy descent through Coire Earb should not be underestimated, particularly after rain.

Parking at the A82 layby is free; Crianlarich is served by both rail and Citylink coach services, around 3 kilometres from the start.