Dalmally Horseshoe walk from Stronmilchan Road

Distance Height Start/Parking Approximate time Severity	8.5 miles 3700 ft/ total ascent about 3700 Castles Estate gate, at Junction A85 and B8077. NN133285 5 -6 hours In clear warm weather - easy walking with a short section after the summit requiring a little care. In winter or in poor visibility - Navigation may be tricky at summit and winter equipment essential when snow lying.	List of harder walks Trossachs area Ben Ledi hillwalk Ben Vane (Trossachs) Ben Venue hillwalk Ben Vorlich AND Stuc a Chroin Stuc a Chroin from Glenample Killin area Ben Lawers Lawers-An Stuc ridge Meall Corranaich  Tarmachan Ridge  Kirkton Glen to Glen Dochart  Crianlarich area Stobinian from Inverlochlarig. Ben More & Stobinian  Cruach Ardrain and Tulaichean An Caisteal Stob a Choin Tyndrum area Ben Dorain  Ben Lui 1 Ben Lui 2 Ben Oss & Dhubchraig  Ben Challum Stob Ghabhar  Ben Achallader and Beinn a Chreachain Lomond/Arrochar area Ben Lomond The Cobbler (Ben Arthur) Bein Narnain Ben Vane  Ben Vorlich Dalmally area Cruachan ridge Dalmally Horseshoe Glencoe and Fort William area Buachaille Etive Mor Buachaille Etive Beag Bidean nam Bian Ben Nevis

Description
The Dalmally Horseshoe is a less demanding route than the Cruachan horseshoe and includes a small part of the Cruachan loop.
For those with the time and energy, this loop can be extended by the addition of a detour to visit Cruachan.

Excellent views to Loch Awe and to the peaks around Tyndrum and Glen Lochy

Directions

Park near the gate to Castles estate, but do not block the access.

Go through the gate and follow the landrover track for about ¾ mile wher you follow the wider track rising to the left and passing a quarry. Stay on this track to find a footbridge over the Allt Coire Ghlais at NN120295. Continue over unmarked soft ground, roughly 240^o for about ¼ mile then start the climb up soft grassy slopes about 285^o to a false summit (NN953303 - about 1.5mile). Now bear 335^o to Stob Garbh true summit (NN095309) at 3200ft.

From Stob Garbh continue on about 285^o for 600 yards to Stob Diamh (NN095309, 3200ft). This is the highest point of the circuit and good views are on offer down Loch Awe and to Cruachan behind Drochaid Ghlas.

For the fit - an extended walk can be had by visiting the peak of Cruachan by heading 250^o and following the ridge for about 1½ miles to the summit then return to Stob Diamh. This adds 3 miles to the circuit and requires a little scrambling skill to cross some difficult slabs (a 'granny stopper') just before the summit.

Otherwise - head 55^o down an easy scramble (care required in icy conditions) to a bealach before an easy walk up to Sron an Isean (NN010312, 3120ft).

From Sron an Isean be careful not to take the north ridge leading to dangerous crags. Head 90^o for an easy walk down grassy slopes curving slowly round to 140^o.

The track - at first obvious - slowly disappears, but after about 1½ miles take care to avoid some crags (about NN119302) by rounding them to the north. After by-passing these crags head approx 120^o for about  ½ mile to find a footbridge at NN128297. Follow a wet track to rejoin the original land rover track and return to the parking area.

A reminder - this route can be difficult,  in winter conditions. Navigation may be tricky in poor visibility.