What difficulty is Beinn a' Chroin?

On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Beinn a' Chroin comes in at 4/5 — challenging. Expect roughly 16km and 828m of ascent on the usual route — 5-8 hours for most parties. Underfoot: The Beinn a' Chroin summit ridge is broken rocky ground with several false tops; the huge rounded rock at the high point of the west top marks the official Munro.

What is Beinn a' Chroin's prominence?

137m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Beinn a' Chroin to the next higher ground.

Where do I park for Beinn a' Chroin?

Most walkers start from NN369239. Verify the grid reference on an OS map before you set off — space is tight on busy summer weekends.

When is the best time to climb Beinn a' Chroin?

May, June, July, August, September, October give the most reliable conditions on Beinn a' Chroin. Beyond that window the high ground turns wintry: carry full mountain kit, be confident navigating, and check the SAIS avalanche forecast for the area.

Is Beinn a' Chroin dog-friendly?

Yes, but dogs must be kept on a lead — there is livestock or ground-nesting bird interest on the route.

By Gary

Photo: Russel Wills / CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

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Munro · Arrochar & Trossachs

Beinn a' Chroin

Beinn a' Chroin (941m) — "hill of harm" — is the eastern Munro of the Crianlarich pair, partnered with An Caisteal across a high broad bealach. The hill has an unusually complex summit ridge with two main tops at almost equal height; the official Munro is the western top (the central top was the official summit until 2014). Almost always tackled as part of the An Caisteal / Beinn a' Chroin round from Crianlarich.

Quick facts

Height: 941.4m/ 3089ft
Prominence: 137 m
Distance: ~16 km
Ascent: ~828 m
Time: 5–8 hrs
Difficulty: 4 / 5Serious
Grid ref: NN387185
Parking: NN369239
Nearest city: Stirling· 48km
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 25% · Open hillside 40% · Summit — twin tops 35%

16km · 828m ascent · 4.6 hrs

See An Caisteal for the standard pair route from Derrydarroch on the A82 south of Crianlarich. From An Caisteal, descend the rocky east ridge to the broad bealach, then climb Beinn a' Chroin via its rocky west ridge. Traverse the long summit ridge, visiting both the west top (Munro) and the central top — both around the same height. Descend the long south spur back to the West Highland Way. The pair total around 14km with 1100m of climb.

Terrain

The Beinn a' Chroin summit ridge is broken rocky ground with several false tops; the huge rounded rock at the high point of the west top marks the official Munro. The connecting ridge from An Caisteal involves one short rocky scramble. The descent off the south spur is sustained heather hillside. Navigation across the multi-topped summit in cloud requires care to identify the true Munro top.

In winter

A serious mid-grade winter day in the Southern Highlands. The summit ridge with multiple tops can be confusing in whiteout — careful map work essential. The east face of Beinn a' Chroin holds wind-loaded snow after westerly storms. The A82 corridor at Crianlarich stays gritted and the village makes a useful winter base.

Outside the SAIS network. No Scottish Avalanche Information Service forecast covers Beinn a' Chroin. SAIS forecasts six areas only — Northern and Southern Cairngorms, Creag Meagaidh, Lochaber, Glencoe and Torridon — and this hill is outside all of them, so there is no avalanche forecast to read for it. In winter, use MWIS West Highlands ↗ for mountain weather, judge snow stability from first principles, and treat any cornice or wind-loaded slope with extra caution.

Best time of year

Best OK Avoid

Getting there

Glasgow1h 21m
Edinburgh2h 5m

Parking: NN369239

OS maps: OS Landranger 50, OS Landranger 56

Mobile signal: Intermittent signal at the A82 layby near Inverarnan. Zero signal above 700m. Download mapping before setting off.

Current conditions

Daylight Today

14h 45mwalking daylight

Sunrise: 06:33
Sunset: 20:00
Civil dawn: 05:54
Civil dusk: 20:39

NOAA Solar Calculator · 7 September 2026

Pair with

Curated multi-hill combinations from Beinn a' Chroin.

Two-hill day
Beinn a' Chroin + An Caisteal
Beinn a' Chroin and An Caisteal from Derrydarroch or Inverarnan — the Crianlarich Falloch pair.
23km · 1100m ascent · 6 hrs

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Around Beinn a' Chroin on the SCOT network

Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.

On TripSCOT

town

Base yourself in Luss

West Loch Lomond village — Highland Boundary, Loch Lomond Way

26km from the hill

tripscot.co.uk

Before you go

Hillwalking carries real risk and the responsibility for any day on the hill is yours. Conditions in Scotland change fast and can differ sharply from the forecast — check the weather and the ground before you commit, turn back when the day stops working, and carry map and compass with the ability to use them rather than relying on a phone.

The distance, ascent and time shown on this page are editorial estimates for the usual line, not measurements from a recorded track — that is what the ~ means. Treat them as a rough shape of the day. Your own pace, the conditions and the exact line you take will all move them.

Mountain forecasts: MWIS and the Met Office mountain forecast. Access rights and responsibilities are set out in the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.

We check what we publish, but we cannot check the route on the day you walk it. Nothing here is a substitute for your own judgement.

Beinn a' Chroin — common questions

What difficulty is Beinn a' Chroin?: On the OutdoorSCOT scale, Beinn a' Chroin comes in at 4/5 — challenging. Expect roughly 16km and 828m of ascent on the usual route — 5-8 hours for most parties. Underfoot: The Beinn a' Chroin summit ridge is broken rocky ground with several false tops; the huge rounded rock at the high point of the west top marks the official Munro.
What is Beinn a' Chroin's prominence?: 137m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Beinn a' Chroin to the next higher ground.
Where do I park for Beinn a' Chroin?: Most walkers start from NN369239. Verify the grid reference on an OS map before you set off — space is tight on busy summer weekends.
When is the best time to climb Beinn a' Chroin?: May, June, July, August, September, October give the most reliable conditions on Beinn a' Chroin. Beyond that window the high ground turns wintry: carry full mountain kit, be confident navigating, and check the SAIS avalanche forecast for the area.
Is Beinn a' Chroin dog-friendly?: 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 Beinn a' Chroin?: Intermittent signal at the A82 layby near Inverarnan. Zero signal above 700m. Download mapping before setting off.
Is Beinn a' Chroin safe in winter?: A serious mid-grade winter day in the Southern Highlands. The summit ridge with multiple tops can be confusing in whiteout — careful map work essential. The east face of Beinn a' Chroin holds wind-loaded snow after westerly storms. The A82 corridor at Crianlarich stays gritted and the village makes a useful winter base.

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