Beinn a' Chroin

Infobox Mountain
Name = Beinn a’ Chroin
Photo = Beinn_a_Chroin_from_upper_Glen_Falloch.jpg
Caption = Beinn a‘ Chroin seen from upper Glen Falloch.
Elevation = 942 m (3090 ft)
Location = Stirlingshire, SCO
Range = Grampians
Prominence = 137 m
Topographic
OS "Landranger" 50, 56 OS "Explorer" 364
First ascent =
Easiest route =
Grid_ref_UK = NN388186
Listing = Munro
Translation = Vague
Language =see text
Pronunciation = peɲəˈxɾɔɲGB summits entry
Name=East Top
Gridref=NN394186
Height=940 m (3084 ft)
Status=Munro TopBeinn a’ Chroin is a Scottish mountain located six kilometres south of Crianlarich in the Stirling Council area. With a height of 942 metres (3090 feet) it qualifies as a Munro.

Overview

Beinn a’ Chroin stands well into the interior of the Crianlarich group of seven munros and so it is usually climbed with other hills in the area, more often than not it is ascended with An Caisteal"The Munros" Pages 13 (Gives route with An Caisteal).] which lies 1.5 kilometres to the north west across the Bealach Buidhe (805 metres). The hill is well seen from the upper part of Glen Falloch from where the long summit ridge and the steep head wall of Coire Earb can be appreciated. The translation of the mountains name from the Gaelic language is vague and there are three possible meanings. Some sources give the translation as “Hill of Danger”"100 Best Routes on Scottish Mountains" Pages 30 Gives translation as “Hill of Danger“.] although Beinn a’ Chroin is no more dangerous than any other peak in the group. Other sources give the meaning as “Hill of the Sheep Fold” [http://walking.visitscotland.com/munros/lomondtay/beinn_achroin visitscotland.com.] Gives translation as “Hill of the Sheepfold“.] while others give it as “Hill of the Cloven Hoof”"Hamish‘s Mountain Walk" Pages 93 Gives translation as “Hill of the Cloven Hoof“.] referring to the mountains twin summits.

Geography

Beinn a’ Chroin has a 1.5 kilometre long summit ridge with twin tops at each end of the ridge separated by a col with a height of 877 metres. The height and recognised location of the summit of Beinn a’ Chroin has changed in recent times. For many years the official height of the mountain was 940 metres and this was located at the eastern end of the summit ridge. However recent surveying by the Ordnance Survey has resulted in a new spot height on the summit ridge of 942 metres and this is situated on the western end of the summit ridge. The western top is now the Munro and the eastern pinnacle has become the Munro “top” with a height of 940 metres.

Beinn a’ Chroin is surrounded by four other Munros which lies round the head waters of the River Falloch, to the north and east lies Cruach Ardrain and Beinn Tulaichean which can be reached by an arduous journey contouring round Coire Earb and climbing the subsidiary top of Stob Glas. The other two Munros, An Caisteal and Beinn Chabhair can be attained by following the west ridge down to the Beallach Buidhe from here the continuation to An Caisteal is up steep slopes to the north west. To reach Beinn Chabhair there is further descending to the west to reach an unnamed col (609 metres) before ascending to the summit. The impressive Coire Earb stands on the north side of the mountain, this corrie gives fine examples of boulder fields and moraine as a result of glacial action from the last Ice age. [http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6VBC-4MBT29V-1&_user=10&_coverDate=01%2F31%2F2007&_rdoc=15&_fmt=full&_orig=browse&_srch=doc-info(%23toc%235923%232007%23999739998%23640851%23FLA%23display%23Volume)&_cdi=5923&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_ct=19&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=c2f6f3e9204d06cc3bd5df48bf6ddbff#fig3 www.sciencedirect.com.] Gives ice age info on Coire Earb.] The smaller Coire a’ Chroin lies on the upper southern slopes and contains the small Lochan a’ Chroin. Drainage from the mountain reaches both coasts of Scotland with the River Falloch going west from Coire Earb to the Firth of Clyde while all other rainfall goes east to the Firth of Forth.

Ascents and summit

Most guide books recommend climbing Beinn a’ Chroin along with the adjacent Munro of An Caisteal. This walk starts from the A82 road at grid reference gbm4ibx|NN369239 and climbs An Caisteal first before continuing onto Beinn a’ Chroin by the Beallach Buidhe. A direct ascent is possible from the same starting point by walking high up into Coire Earb and then climbing the mountain by the north ridge which leads to the eastern end of the summit ridge [http://www.munromagic.com/MountainInfo.cfm/233 www.munromagic.com.] Gives direct route up Coire Earb.] . The mountain can also be climbed from the east starting at the end of the public road which leads to Inverlochlarig from the A84 at grid reference gbm4ibx|NN445184. This route follows the track by the River Larig to reach the foot of the mountain before climbing it by its steep grassy south east slopes. The summit ridge is undulating with several strange rock formation and some small sheets of water around the highest point."The Munros" Pages 13 Gives route from Inverlochlarig.]

References and footnotes

*The Munros, Scottish Mountaineering Trust, 1986, Donald Bennett (Editor) ISBN 0 907521 13 4
*The High Mountains of Britain and Ireland, Diadem, 1993, Irvine Butterfield, ISBN 0 906371 30 9
*Hamish’s Mountain Walk, Baton Wicks, 1996, Hamish Brown, ISBN 1 898573 08 5
* The Munro - Scotlands Highest Mountains, 2006, Cameron McNeish, ISBN 1 84204 082 0
*100 Best Routes on Scottish Mountains, Warner Books, 1992, Ralph Storer, ISBN 0 7515 0300 2

;Footnotes