📌 Lochearnhead, Stirling
★★★
The buttressed summit of Creag Mac Ranaich above Lochearnhead is most often climbed in combination with its higher neighbour to the west, Meall an t-Seallaidh. Our route instead heads northeast on a traverse to quiet Meall Sgallachd, then descends north (with good views towards Killin) to scenic Glen Ogle and the smooth surface of the Rob Roy Way – which will come as a relief after a rough couple of miles. Whichever route you opt for, be prepared for plenty of pathless ground on the upper slopes and a few boggy areas after rain.
📷 Chronological photo guide
A85 at Lochearnhead 
Looking back over Loch Earn from the initial zigzag ascent 
Meall an t-Seallaidh (left) & Creag Mac Rànaich from Glen Kendrum 
Approach to Creag Mac Rànaich 
Climbing Creag Mac Rànaich’s southwest slopes (steeper than it looks!) 
Meall an t-Seallaidh from Creag Mac Rànaich 
Ptarmigan pair 
Male ptarmigan 
Female ptarmigan 
View back to Meall an t-Seallaidh from near the south top 
View west to Ben More (right) & Stob Binnein (left) (zoomed) 
Creag Mac Rànaich true summit from the south top 
Creag Mac Rànaich summit, looking west towards Ben More 
View southeast towards Ben Vorlich 
View northeast to Meall Sgallachd (front right) 
Killin & the west end of Loch Tay from the traverse to Meall Sgallachd 
Frogs 
View back to Creag Mac Rànaich from Meall Sgallachd 
Start of the descent northeast towards Glen Ogle 
Allt Lairig Mhultaibh, Tarmachan Ridge beyond 
Back on a path shortly before joining the Roy Roy Way 
Rob Roy Way through Glen Ogle 
Rob Roy Way through Glen Ogle 
Rob Roy Way through Glen Ogle 
Wild goats above Glenogle Farm 
Link path to Lochearnhead 
Jay above Lochearnhead
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish on the A85, Lochearnhead village centre
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NN 593238
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 56.385560,-4.280491
🚌 Bus stops near A84 / A85 junction
🚗 Car park
📝 Key info
▶ 18 km / 11 mi | ▲ 790 m | ⌛ 6-7 hr
Features: 🏠 Lochearnhead; △ Creag Mac Rànaich (809 m, Corbett); △ Meall Sgalachd (707 m); 🌉 Glen Ogle Viaduct
⬤ Tough | Good tracks for much of the ascent & return through Glen Ogle on the Rob Roy Way. Upper slopes have very faint & intermittent paths, steep on ascent. Descent to Glen Ogle is often pathless with some boggy areas.
Download file for GPS➡️ Clockwise circuit: start & Lochearnhead – briefly join Rob Roy Way at Craggan – turn left at top of zigzags – leave dismantled railway line by crossing bridge at 🧭 NN 579226 – track through Glen Kendrum – leave track at 596m bealach – Creag Mac Rànaich – Meall Sgalachd – descent along west bank of Allt Lairig Mhultaibh – join Rob Roy Way – turn left on link path to A85 at 🧭 NN 584239 – start
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: Hundreds of frogs above 500m. A buzzard & pair of ptarmigan on Creag Mac Rànaich & a few red grouse on descent from Meall Sgallachd. Wild goats & pheasants in Glen Ogle. A jay, yallowhammers & mallard ducks around Lochearnhead. Sheep throughout.
Weather: Good sunny periods, a bit cloudier in the middle of the day. Mostly light winds, 15°C at the finish. Snow patches on shady aspects above 550m & more extensive cover on high Munros.
March 2022
