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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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Attractions
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.
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