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
- 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%
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. SAIS Southern Cairngorms is the closest formal forecast.
This hill is in the Southern Highlands SAIS forecast area. Check SAIS forecasts in winter (December–April).
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow1h 21m
- Edinburgh2h 5m
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
- Sunrise
- 05:04
- Sunset
- 21:46
- Civil dawn
- 04:10
- Civil dusk
- 22:39
NOAA Solar Calculator · 23 July 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from Beinn a' Chroin.
Around Beinn a' Chroin on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
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. SAIS Southern Cairngorms is the closest formal forecast.
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