Marilyn · argyll
Cruach Mhor
Cruach Mhor — the Big Stack — is a 589m hill west of Loch Eck, surrounded by the Argyll Forest Park. Forestry covers much of its flanks, but the bare summit dome gives a sudden burst of views over Cowal.
Gaelic: “stack, big” · Pronunciation: kroo-ach vore
Quick facts
- Height
- 589m/ 1932ft
- Grid ref
- NN 05725 14735
- Nearest city
- Oban· 25km
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
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Standard route
heather and bog 60% · rocky slopes 25% · grass slopes 15%
Walkers commonly approach via the Glenbranter forest roads, following a long zigzag of tracks before striking out across rough open ground to the trig point. Reckon on 4 to 5 hours for the full circuit.
Terrain
Hard-surfaced forest road for the bulk of the approach, transitioning to wet open hillside above the treeline. The final stretch crosses tussocks and small peat hags.
In winter
Snow lies on the summit from December into March in cold years. Forest roads can be icy where shaded; the open upper hill is exposed to Cowal's wet westerlies.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow3h 33m
- Edinburgh5h 7m
OS maps: OS Landranger 50, OS Landranger 56, OS Explorer 360N, OS Explorer 360S
Mobile signal: Poor. No coverage; bring OS Landranger and a paper compass bearing.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:31
- Sunset
- 22:11
- Civil dawn
- 03:28
- Civil dusk
- 23:15
NOAA Solar Calculator · 16 June 2026
Around Cruach Mhor on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Loch Awe station
East shore Loch Awe; Ben Cruachan; Kilchurn Castle
14km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Oban
Argyll ferry hub — Mull, Lismore, Coll, Tiree, Barra
25km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Oban
Oban town centre — tiny two-still distillery bridging Highland and West Coast styles
25km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Cruach Mhor — common questions
- How hard is Cruach Mhor?
- Cruach Mhor is rated 2/5 (moderate) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Terrain: Hard-surfaced forest road for the bulk of the approach, transitioning to wet open hillside above the treeline.
- When is the best time to climb Cruach Mhor?
- The standard good-weather months for Cruach Mhor are March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October. Outside those months, expect winter conditions on the high ground — full mountain kit, navigation skills, and a check of the SAIS avalanche forecast for the relevant region.
- Can I bring my dog up Cruach Mhor?
- Yes, but dogs must be kept on a lead — there is livestock or ground-nesting bird interest on the route.
- Is there mobile signal on Cruach Mhor?
- Poor. No coverage; bring OS Landranger and a paper compass bearing.
- Is Cruach Mhor safe in winter?
- Snow lies on the summit from December into March in cold years. Forest roads can be icy where shaded; the open upper hill is exposed to Cowal's wet westerlies.
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