Marilyn · Argyll
A' Chruach
A' Chruach — simply The Stack — rises to 366m above Loch Awe near Kilchrenan. Its squat rocky crown stands clear of the surrounding moor, giving it a presence beyond its modest height.
Quick facts
- Height
- 366m/ 1201ft
- Prominence
- 202 m
- Grid ref
- NM 90361 21890
- Nearest city
- Oban· 9km
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
Height and prominence cross-checked against the Database of British and Irish Hills (CC BY).
No GPX track yet
Walked this route? Share your track to help other walkers.
Standard route
heather and bog 65% · grass slopes 25% · rocky summit 10%
A short walk from the B845 climbs through scrub birch and forestry edge onto open heather, with the summit tor reached by an easy scramble. About 2 to 3 hours suffices for the round.
Terrain
Forestry edge gives way to short heather and tussock grass, with the final summit a tiered outcrop of schist that demands a brief hands-on finish.
In winter
Frost can transform the summit slabs into glassy steps. Walkers nervous of exposed rock should leave this one for warmer months.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow3h 12m
- Edinburgh6h 47m
OS maps: OS Landranger 49, OS Explorer 359
Mobile signal: Poor. EE, Vodafone, Three and O2 all fail; emergency plans essential for this hill.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:20
- Sunset
- 21:37
- Civil dawn
- 04:29
- Civil dusk
- 22:27
NOAA Solar Calculator · 30 July 2026
Around A' Chruach on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Oban station
Argyll ferry hub; Mull, Lismore, Coll, Tiree, Barra connections
9km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Oban
Argyll ferry hub — Mull, Lismore, Coll, Tiree, Barra
9km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Oban
Oban town centre — tiny two-still distillery bridging Highland and West Coast styles
9km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
A' Chruach — common questions
- What difficulty is A' Chruach?
- On the OutdoorSCOT scale, A' Chruach comes in at 1/5 — easy. Ground conditions: Forestry edge gives way to short heather and tussock grass, with the final summit a tiered outcrop of schist that demands a brief hands-on finish.
- How much drop does A' Chruach have?
- The drop is 202m: measured from the summit of A' Chruach down to the saddle joining it to higher terrain. Passing the 150m-drop threshold on all sides is exactly what makes it a Marilyn.
- What's the best month to climb A' Chruach?
- Aim for March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October on A' Chruach. In the remaining months treat it as a winter hill — full kit, solid navigation, and a look at the relevant SAIS avalanche forecast before you go.
- Can dogs go up A' Chruach?
- Dogs are fine on a lead. The route passes livestock or ground-nesting bird habitat, so keep them close throughout.
- Will I get phone signal on A' Chruach?
- Poor. EE, Vodafone, Three and O2 all fail; emergency plans essential for this hill.
- Is A' Chruach safe in winter?
- Frost can transform the summit slabs into glassy steps. Walkers nervous of exposed rock should leave this one for warmer months.
Get the OutdoorSCOT weekly
One email a week — new route, hill and bothy guides, seasonal conditions and the odd hard-won lesson. No spam, unsubscribe in one click.