Munro · Arrochar & Trossachs
An Caisteal
An Caisteal (995m) — "the castle" — is one of the Crianlarich Munros, the cluster of summits that wall in the south side of Strath Fillan above the A82. The hill takes its name from the prominent rocky summit cone that resembles a small castle when seen from the south. Almost always climbed in tandem with its eastern neighbour Beinn a' Chroin on a fine short Southern Highlands round.
Gaelic: “the, castle” · Pronunciation: an kash-til
Quick facts
- Height
- 995.9m/ 3267ft
- Prominence
- 474 m
- Distance
- 17 km
- Ascent
- 876 m
- Time
- 5–8 hrs
- Grid ref
- NN378193
- Parking
- NN369239
- Nearest city
- Stirling· 49km
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
Height and prominence cross-checked against the Database of British and Irish Hills (CC BY).
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Standard route
Farm track / path 25% · Steep hillside 40% · Summit ridge 35%
Park at the small Derrydarroch lay-by on the A82, around 4km south of Crianlarich. Cross the West Highland Line via the underpass, then follow the path south up Coire Ardrain to a high bealach. Climb the rocky north ridge of An Caisteal directly to the summit. From the summit, descend the east ridge to Beinn a' Chroin, traverse its long summit ridge, then descend north back to the A82. Around 14km with 1100m of ascent for the pair.
Terrain
The Derrydarroch path through the railway underpass is firm but boggy in places. Above the woods the going turns to rough heathery hillside with broken mica-schist outcrops. The north ridge of An Caisteal is rocky with one or two short scrambly steps near the summit. The summit cone gives the hill its castle-like name. The connecting ridge to Beinn a' Chroin is broad mossy turf with some rocky outcrops. The Beinn a' Chroin summit area has a confusing three-topped layout.
In winter
A genuine mid-grade winter day for Southern Highlands standards. Under snow An Caisteal's summit cone becomes a Grade I winter scramble. Both summits build persistent cornicing on their northern flanks through the season. The A82 itself remains reliably gritted and Crianlarich works well as a winter base. The nearest formal avalanche forecast is SAIS Southern Cairngorms, and phone reception fades above 700m.
This hill is in the Southern Highlands SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow1h 23m
- Edinburgh2h 6m
OS maps: OS Landranger 50, OS Landranger 56
Mobile signal: Intermittent signal at the Derrydarroch car park on the A82. Signal is absent above 700m. Download mapping before departing Crianlarich.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:04
- Sunset
- 21:46
- Civil dawn
- 04:10
- Civil dusk
- 22:40
NOAA Solar Calculator · 23 July 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from An Caisteal.
Around An Caisteal on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
An Caisteal — common questions
- How difficult is An Caisteal?
- An Caisteal carries a 4/5 (challenging) grade on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Count on about 17km, 876m of ascent and a 5-8 hour day on the standard route. Ground conditions: The Derrydarroch path through the railway underpass is firm but boggy in places.
- How much drop does An Caisteal have?
- The drop is 474m: measured from the summit of An Caisteal down to the saddle joining it to higher terrain.
- Where's the parking for An Caisteal?
- Park at NN369239. Double-check the grid reference on an OS map first; informal laybys here fill early in high season.
- What's the best month to climb An Caisteal?
- Aim for May, June, July, August, September, October on An Caisteal. 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 An Caisteal?
- 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 An Caisteal?
- Intermittent signal at the Derrydarroch car park on the A82. Signal is absent above 700m. Download mapping before departing Crianlarich.
- Is An Caisteal safe in winter?
- A genuine mid-grade winter day for Southern Highlands standards. Under snow An Caisteal's summit cone becomes a Grade I winter scramble. Both summits build persistent cornicing on their northern flanks through the season. The A82 itself remains reliably gritted and Crianlarich works well as a winter base. The nearest formal avalanche forecast is SAIS Southern Cairngorms, and phone reception fades above 700m.
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