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
- Distance
- 17 km
- Ascent
- 876 m
- Time
- 5–8 hrs
- Grid ref
- NN378193
- Parking
- NN369239
- Nearest city
- Stirling
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
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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 maps before leaving Crianlarich.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:33
- Sunset
- 22:02
- Civil dawn
- 03:31
- Civil dusk
- 23:03
NOAA Solar Calculator · 7 June 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 hard is An Caisteal?
- An Caisteal is rated 4/5 (challenging) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 17km with 876m of ascent and takes most walkers 5-8 hours. Terrain: The Derrydarroch path through the railway underpass is firm but boggy in places.
- Where do I park for An Caisteal?
- Standard parking is at NN369239 near Stirling. Check the parking grid reference on an OS map before travel; informal laybys can fill on summer weekends.
- When is the best time to climb An Caisteal?
- The standard good-weather months for An Caisteal are 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 An Caisteal?
- 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 An Caisteal?
- Intermittent signal at the Derrydarroch car park on the A82. Signal is absent above 700m. Download maps before leaving 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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