Walk: Ben More & Stob Binnein – a big main course & a nice green cone

📌 Crianlarich Hills, Stirling
★★★

This unmistakeable pair of Munro giants are the highest hills around Crianlarich, and there is no taller summit anywhere south of this point in the British Isles. The northern slopes of Ben More (big hill) rise formidably steeply from the A85, with a path (fortunately fairly well-built) climbing 1,000 vertical metres in a distance of just two miles. Stob Binnein (conical peak) is hidden away behind; although marginally lower than Ben More, it boasts a shapelier outline, and a fine south ridge not visited on this route. Returning to the car park requires either reascending Ben More, or using an awkwardly slippery traversing path which eventually descends into Benmore Glen; the latter option is the one described on this page.

📷 Chronological photo guide

🌍 Location

📌 Start / finish on A85 0.5 mi east of Benmore Farm

🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NN 421264

🛰️ GPS coordinates: 56.402967,-4.560691

❌ No public transport within 1 mi

🚗 Layby

📝 Key info

▶ 12 km / 7 mi | ▲ 1330 m | ⌛ 6.5-7.5 hr

Features: △ Ben More (1174 m, Munro); △ Stob Binnein (1165 m, Munro)

⬤ Tough | Track then clear, steep hill path of variable quality for ascent & continuation to Stob Binnein. Path descent to glen has some very slippery / boggy sections, then track for remainder.

➡️ Clockwise circuit with extension to Stob Binnein: start – Ben More via direct hill track / path – Stob Binnein – return to bealach between Munros – path descends west to Benmore Glen – start via track through glen

Download file for GPS

🥾 On our last visit

Wildlife: Sheep & lambs, not much else.

Weather: Fog in glens breaking soon breaking up, summit fog eventually also clearing. Mix of sun & various cloud types at other levels. 7°C at start, approaching 20°C in the glens later on.

August 2024