Munro · Glen Coe & Lochaber
Stob Daimh (Stob Diamh)
Stob Daimh (999m) — "stag's peak" — is the eastern Munro of the Cruachan massif, the great ridge of summits that rises straight out of Loch Awe in Argyll. The hill is the high point of the eastern half of the celebrated Cruachan Horseshoe, a fine four-Munro round taking in Ben Cruachan, Meall Cuanail (Top), Drochaid Glas (Top) and Stob Diamh. Stob Daimh's summit gives commanding views over Loch Awe to the south-east and out to Mull and the Firth of Lorn westwards.
Quick facts
- Height
- 999.2m/ 3278ft
- Prominence
- 135 m
- Distance
- ~17 km
- Ascent
- ~879 m
- Time
- 5–8 hrs
- Grid ref
- NN094308
- Parking
- NN079268
- Nearest city
- Oban· 23km
- 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
Track from Dalmally 30% · Steep hillside 35% · Cruachan ridge 35%
Start from the Falls of Cruachan railway station on the A85 (use the small Forestry car park; do not block the station). Walk through the gorge to the Cruachan reservoir dam, then climb steeply north onto the south ridge of Stob Daimh. From the summit traverse west over Drochaid Glas, Ben Cruachan and Meall Cuanail to complete the horseshoe. Around 14km with 1500m of cumulative ascent for the four-summit round. Stob Daimh alone is 11km with 1100m up.
Terrain
The Falls of Cruachan path through the railway gorge climbs steeply with stone steps and wooden walkways — wet and slippery in places. Above the reservoir dam the going is rough hillside on the south ridge of Stob Daimh. The Cruachan ridge is granite with rocky knolls and short scrambly steps; Drochaid Glas in particular requires hand-on-rock moves. The summit of Stob Daimh is a small rocky platform. The connecting ridge between summits is sustained airy walking.
In winter
A serious winter ridge in Argyll. The narrow rocky crests develop continuous cornicing on the north sides. Drochaid Glas in winter becomes a Grade I/II winter scramble. The Cruachan reservoir access path can be icy on the steep stone steps. The A85 at Falls of Cruachan remains reliably gritted. There is no mobile reception once on the high ridge.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow2h 45m
- Edinburgh3h 45m
OS maps: OS Landranger 50
Mobile signal: Reasonable signal at Loch Awe. Signal drops off above 800m on the Cruachan ridge. Download maps ahead of setting off.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 06:35
- Sunset
- 20:02
- Civil dawn
- 05:56
- Civil dusk
- 20:41
NOAA Solar Calculator · 7 September 2026
Pair with
Curated multi-hill combinations from Stob Daimh (Stob Diamh).
Around Stob Daimh (Stob Diamh) on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Stob Daimh (Stob Diamh) — common questions
- Is Stob Daimh (Stob Diamh) a hard climb?
- Stob Daimh (Stob Diamh) is rated 4/5 (challenging) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 17km with 879m of ascent and takes most walkers 5-8 hours. Underfoot: The Falls of Cruachan path through the railway gorge climbs steeply with stone steps and wooden walkways — wet and slippery in places.
- What is Stob Daimh (Stob Diamh)'s prominence?
- 135m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Stob Daimh (Stob Diamh) to the next higher ground.
- Where do I park for Stob Daimh (Stob Diamh)?
- Most walkers start from NN079268. 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 Stob Daimh (Stob Diamh)?
- May, June, July, August, September, October give the most reliable conditions on Stob Daimh (Stob Diamh). 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 Stob Daimh (Stob Diamh) 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 Stob Daimh (Stob Diamh)?
- Reasonable signal at Loch Awe. Signal drops off above 800m on the Cruachan ridge. Download maps ahead of setting off.
- Is Stob Daimh (Stob Diamh) safe in winter?
- A serious winter ridge in Argyll. The narrow rocky crests develop continuous cornicing on the north sides. Drochaid Glas in winter becomes a Grade I/II winter scramble. The Cruachan reservoir access path can be icy on the steep stone steps. The A85 at Falls of Cruachan remains reliably gritted. There is no mobile reception once on the high ridge.
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