Crianlarich

Crianlarich is a small Village 57 miles northwest of Glasgow, 8 miles north of the north end of Loch Lomond.

The Village is popular for its Hotel, Lodges, Youth Hostel, Diners, Walks, and a number of Mountains to Hike such as the 1,174m / 3,852ft Ben More, 12th highest in Scotland. The Village is best known as the Western Gateway to the Highlands.

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Camping & Touring Parks in area

The image top is of Ben More Lodge on the east side of Crianlarich with a Diner and Holiday Lodges.

The second image is of the Rod and Reel Bar Diner in the centre of Crianlarich.

The Car Park and Grassland is also in the centre of Crianlarich, with the Village Shop across the road on Station Road.

The Train Station is up Station Road from the Grassland, a short Walk or Drive. This Train Station opened in 1873, on the line that would eventually connect Glasgow to Oban in 1880, and Fort William in 1894.

There are Two Walks from the Train Station, well Sign Posted, Walks Image. One is a half mile out to a Mountain Lookout, and another 2 miles on the Drovers Loop.

By the Train Station is the Youth Hostel.

The Crianlarich Hotel is next to the Railway Viaduct. This Hotel was built in 1894, advertised for Holidays for Hiking Ben More Mountain and Fishing on Loch Dochart.

Views from the Hotel looking east show the War Memorial, Railway Viaduct, and Ben More Mountain.

The bottom image shows the Hiking Trail up Ben More, you park next to the road, go through a little gate, then you are on your way up.

Crianlarich Area History:

1607 - King James had become the King of Scotland and England, passing tough Laws to prevent Cattle Rustling, Robbery, and Murdering People passing through your Land, this leading to the Drovers, men walking Cattle down from the Highlands for sale in the Lowlands of Scotland and England.

Crianlarich no doubt evolved around Droving as it was on one of the Main Walking / Horse Riding Trails between the Highlands and Lowlands.

1600s - the Crianlarich Inn was built, claimed to be where Rob Roy Macgregor was attacked while staying there. Macgregor was a Cattle Drover from this area that turned into an Outlaw and Jacobite.

1750s - two Military Roads were built through Crianlarich to try and control the Jacobite's that were trying to overthrow the King, one from Stirling leading up into the Highlands, and another from Glasgow to the Highlands. These Roads were built with Large Flat Stones, mainly for Troops and Cannon, rather bumpy and real slow.

1820s - Macadam Roads were being built, crushed stones that would lock together to make a smooth road, normally over the old Military Roads to make them more suitable for Horse Drawn Carriages. Horse Drawn Mail Carriages then began running between Towns, also carrying Passengers.

1840s - Queen Victoria began visiting Scotland, with the Papers reporting how she found the Country so Scenic, leading to Tourists soon following. Victoria and her Husband normally traveled around Scotland by Horse Drawn Carriage, and by Horse Riding.

1862 - Trains began running between London and Edinburgh, at a time much of Scotland was being linked by Rail Lines.

1873 - the Callander to Oban Railway opened with a Station at Crianlarich.

1891 - Sir Hugh Munro made a list of Mountains in Scotland over 3,000 feet, this leading to many Tourists wanting to Hike these Mountains known as Munros. Ben More at Crianlarich is the 12th highest Mountain in Scotland.

1894 - the Railway from Glasgow to Fort William opened with a stop at Crianlarich, this also allowing Trains to run between Glasgow and Oban.

1894 - the Crianlarich Hotel was built for Tourists to the area for Hiking and Fishing.

1895 - a Glasgow engineer named George Johnston bought the first car in Scotland, a French built Panhard. These early cars however created a lot of dust when traveling fast over the McAdam Roads.

1902 - Tar was sprayed on the McAdam Roads to stop the dust, the beginning of modern day roads.

The Main Roads A85 Stirling to Oban and Fort William, and the A82 Glasgow to Oban and Fort William were built through Crianlarich, mainly over the Military, and Macadam Roads.

1965 - the Callander to Crianlarich Railway closed, leaving just the Glasgow to Oban and Fort William lines.

1980 - the 154km / 96mile long West Highland Way walking trail between Glasgow and Fort William was opened, with it running past Crianlarich.

2016 - the A82 Glasgow to Oban and Fort William Road had a Bypass built to reduce traffic through Crianlarich.