An Caisteal

Link this peak with Beinn a' Chroin for a classic double Munro day in the heart of the southern Highlands

- ROBERT WIGHT

PART of a neat cluster of seven Munros just south of Crianlarich, An Caisteal is accessed easily from a large layby on the A82. Toward its summit is a rocky knoll from which the hill gets its name - the castle.

An Caisteal is usually climbed with neighbour Beinn a' Chroin - the two being linked by a high col at 805m (2,641ft) known as the Bealach Buidhe. It's the route I recommend, giving a nice short day and a pleasing round, but the hill can also be linked with others in the area.

Immediately south-west lies Beinn Chabhair - though it's very close by, including it in the round involves a considerable height loss of more than 300m (1,000ft) and some tricky navigation in bad weather on rocky slopes.

In his excellent book Scotland, Chris Townsend describes the traverse of all the Crianlarich Munros as one of the best high-level walks in the Highlands, if one of the least well known. It's a considerable undertaking, involving 3,375m (11,073ft) of ascent over 26km (16.2 miles) and at least 10 to 12 hours on the hill.

Like its neighbours, An Caisteal consists of steep, grassy lower slopes, with rocky outcrops at the summit. In summer, the lower parts are wonderfully green and lush, but it's a steep, rugged little mountain, and the small tor en route to the summit gives a wee bit of scrambling with some quite considerable exposure on the left side.