Things To Do

Craigbank Guest House is close to all amenities including the train station, bus stop, general store/post office and restaurants. The River Fillan is also within walking distance. Crianlarich is on the edge of the Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park, an area of outstanding beauty and a haven for wildlife. It offers the perfect base for exploring some of Scotland’s most beautiful lochs and glens as well as being within easy reach of Scotland’s vibrant cities, historic burghs, stunning viewpoints and tranquil isles. Glasgow, Edinburgh, Stirling, Glencoe, Fort William, Perth, Arrochar and Oban (Ferries to Mull & Iona) are all within reasonable travelling distance.

West Highland Way - Crianlarich is also on the famous West Highland Way, a 95 mile walking route from Glasgow to Fort William through some of the most spectacular scenery in the world. It is also ideally situated for hiking, mountain biking, fishing, pony trekking and golfing- with nearby courses in Dalmally and Killin. For keen munro baggers, Crianlarich is surrounded by several mountains over 3000 feet (1000 metres), some of them within walking distance of Craigbank itself. The most renowned being Ben More and Stobbinian which are popular with experienced climbers at all times of year, particularly winter when these majestic peaks capped by snow are arguably at their most beautiful but also their most challenging.

West Highland Railway Line - Crianlarich is an important stop on the West Highland Railway line, now considered to be one of the most scenic train journeys in the world. At Crianlarich the train divides, one section goes to Oban and the other to Fort William and Mallaig. The train journey to Mallaig passes over the famous ’Horseshoe Bend’, instantly recognisable by its appearance in the Harry Potter films.

Activities

Walking & Climbing

There are a number of fantastic walks in and around Crianlarich, taking in some of the most fantastic scenery in the world, a selection of these are listed below.

West Highland Way
The West Highland Way (WHW) is Scotland’s first official long distance route which links Milngavie (on the outskirts of Glasgow) to the foot of Ben Nevis at Fort William – a distance of 154km (96 miles). The terrain ranges from lowland moors, dense woodland and rolling hills, to high mountainous regions in the Scottish Highlands. The official website is www.west-highland-way.co.uk. Whilst most people enjoy the challenge of walking the entire route from start to finish, there is also the opportunity to take a more relaxed approach and do sections of the walk as time permits. Crianlarich is an ideal location for this, from Crianlarich it is possible to take the train to tyndrum or Bridge of Orchy and walk back the 6 or 13 miles miles to Crianlarich. It is also possible to take the coach to Glencoe and walk back the stretch from Rannoch Moor (25 miles).

West Highland Way Route	Distance	Estimated Walking Time
Milngavie to Drymen	12 miles (19.2 kms)	6 - 8 hours
Drymen to Rowardennan	15 miles (24 km)	7 - 9 hours
Rowardennan to Inverarnan	14 miles (22.4 km)	8 - 10 hours
Inverarnan to Crianlarich	6 miles (9.6 km)	3 - 4 hours
Crianlarich to Tyndrum	6 miles (9.6 km)	3 - 4 hours
Tyndrum to Bridge of Orchy	7 miles (11.2 km)	3 - 4 hours
Bridge of Orchy to Inveroran	2 miles (3.2 km)	1 - 2 hours
Inveroran to Kingshouse	10 miles (16 km)	4 - 5 hours
Kingshouse to Kinlochleven	9 miles (14.4 km)	4 - 5 hours
Kinlochleven to Fort William	16 miles (24 km)	7 - 8 hours

Coast to Coast (from Oban to St Andrews)
The Scottish Coast to Coast Walk stretches 128 miles, the route covers: Oban, Taynuilt, Dalmally, Tyndrum, Crianlarich, Balquidder, Comrie, Abernethy, Cupar and St Andrews. It was devised by Brian Smailes who has published a book with the route description and other essential information. Unlike the West Highland way, the Coast to Coast walk is not waymarked and you will need Brian’s book plus Landranger maps 49 50, 51, 57, 58 and 59 for the journey. An excellent source of information is UndiscoveredScotland.

Nevis Range Mountain Resort (approx 57 miles from Crianlarich)
There are 25 miles of forest trails around Nevis Range, available to explore on foot or bike, all with the stunning backdrop of Britain's highest mountain, Ben Nevis.

Local Walks
There are a number of short walks in and around Crianlarich itself, including one alongside the River Fillan and several in the woodland directly behind our Guesthouse. Directions/maps for these walks will be readily available to our Guests when they stay with us.

Back to Top

Food in Crianlarich

Scotland is renowned the world over for the quality of its food and drink, and here in Crianlarich we are surrounded by a host of excellent eating places utilising the best that Scotland’s larder has to offer, delicious fresh seafood, rich venison and beef, organic vegetables and of course whisky (the water of life).

Local Crianlarich Eating Places
The following eating places are in Crianlarich village and are within a few minutes walk from our Guest House:

  The Rod & Reel Pub, situated next door to our Guest House, serves a good range of bar meals which has attracted praise from our guests regarding choice and freshness of the food (Rod & Reel Pub).

  The Crianlarich Hotel, less than a 5 minute walk away, serves both bar meals and a-la carte for those special occasions (Crianlarich Hotel).

  The Ben More, is less than a 5 minute walk away, it serves both bar meals and a-la carte and is renowned for its family atmosphere (Ben More Hotel).

Tyndrum

Less than 10 minutes away (by Car), or 5 miles if walking, is Tyndrum which has the following eating places:

  The Real Food Cafe which offers a range of freshly prepared food including fish and chips (Real Food Cafe).

  The Green Welly Stop, something of a landmark. It offers everything from a light snack to a full meal all made with fresh healthy ingredients. Note the opening times are limited to 5pm in off peak season and 5:30pm in peak season, however there is also “The Snack Stop” which offers pizza/pasta dishes as well as soup, sandwiches and pastries and this is open till 9pm. (The Green Welly Stop).

  The Tyndrum Inn, offers the best local meats, game and seafood (Tyndrum Inn).

Bridge of Orchy

The Bridge of Orchy Hotel, provides both bar and restaurant food, ideal for those special occasions (Bridge of Orchy Hotel).

Near Luib

The Old Flax Mill at Glen Dochart is a carvery type restaurant which provides a good choice of meats but also caters for vegetarians.

Inverarnan

The Old Drovers Inn at Inverarnan. This is a 16th century Scottish inn with 16th century décor (including stuffed animals and rumours of a ghost). However the atmosphere is lively and the food is good (there’s a wide choice ranging from light snacks to full meals). If you are looking for somewhere a bit different and Scottish then give this place a try. It’s all about personal taste but we like it (The Drovers Inn).

Ardlui

The Ardlui Hotel on the banks of Loch Lomond. Serves traditional Scottish country cooking. (The Ardlui Hotel).

Killin

Killin is a picturesque village which is certainly worth a visit if you are in the vicinity. There are a number of good eating places including:

  The Falls of Dochart Inn (Falls of Dochart Inn).

  The Old Smiddy (The Old Smiddy).

  Shutters.

  Capercaillie Restaurant (Capercaillie Restaurant).

  The Boathouse Restaurant.

Back to Top

Fishing

Scotland has to be one of the most magnificent locations in the world for fishing and we are extremely fortunate that Crianlarich has all the ingredients to make your fishing experience a memorable one, namely: good rivers & lochs; readily available fishing permits; fantastic scenery; a wide choice of accommodation; good food and a warm welcome.

The fishing is brown trout and coarse fishing and the beats are run by Crianlarich Anglers Association (details below). The prices quoted on their website are: Adults £3/day, juniors £1, Weekly £10 and season £20 but these should be checked directly with them before travel. Fishing is from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset. No night fishing. Sunday fishing is allowed. For further information please contact the following:

Crianlarich AA (Crianlarich Angling Association).
Tayfishing (www.tayfishing.co.uk).

Permits can be readily obtained from the following sources, which are within 2 minutes walk from our Guest House. For a full list of permit sellers please refer to the above web sites:

The Rod & Reel Bar, Crianlarich (Tel. 01838 300271).
The Crianlarich Store (Tel: 01838 300245, email: shop@crianlarichstore.co.uk)

Back to Top

Touring

Touring/Sight Seeing by Car
Crianlarich is on the edge of the Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park, an area of outstanding beauty and a haven for wildlife. It offers the perfect base for exploring some of Scotland’s most beautiful lochs and glens as well as being within easy reach of Scotland’s vibrant cities, historic burghs, stunning viewpoints and tranquil isles. Glasgow, Edinburgh, Stirling, Glencoe, Fort William, Perth, Arrochar and Oban (Ferries to Mull & Iona) are all within reasonable travelling distance.

Castles

Inveraray Castle (32 miles, 45 minutes by car) www.inveraray-castle.com

Drummond Castle Gardens, Muthill, Crieff ( 35 miles , 54 minutes by car) www.drummondcastlegardens.co.uk

Dumbarton Castle ( 38 miles , 55 minutes by car) www.historic-scotland.gov.uk

Doune Castle ( 38 miles , 55 minutes by car) www.historic-scotland.gov.uk

Stirling Castle ( 45 miles, 69 minutes by car) www.stirlingcastle.gov.uk

Scone Palace ( 54 miles, 86 minutes by car) www.scone-palace.co.uk/visitor-information

Edinburgh Castle ( 81 miles, 1hr 52 minutes by car) www.edinburghcastle.gov.uk

Eilean Donan Castle, Dornie ( 117 miles, 2hrs 35 minutes by car) www.eileandonancastle.com

Urquhart Castle, Loch Ness ( 100 miles, 2hrs 13 minutes by car) www.historic-scotland.gov.uk

Whisky Distilleries

The Famous Grouse Experience, Glenturret Distillery, Crieff (35 miles, 50 mins by car) www.thefamousgrouse.com

Dewar’s World of Whisky, Aberfeldy (37 miles, 54 mins by car) www.dewars.com/#/gb/en/our-place/tickets-and-tours

Deanston Distillery, Doune (38 miles, 56 mins by car) www.deanstonmalt.com

Auchentoshan Distillery (43 miles, 1hr by car) www.auchentoshan.co.uk

Glengoyne Distillery (45 miles, 1hr 5 mins by car) www.glengoyne.com

Oban Distillery, Oban (41 miles, 58 mins by car) www.discovering-distilleries.com/oban

Blair Atholl Distillery, Pitlochry (50 miles, 1hr 15 mins by car) www.discovering-distilleries.com/blairathol

Edradour Distillery, Pitlochry (50 miles, 1hr 15 mins by car) www.edradour.co.uk/placeframe.html

Ben Nevis Distillery, Fort William (52 miles, 1hr 15 mins by car) www.bennevisdistillery.com/visitorcenter.php

The Scotch Whisky Experience, Edinburgh (81 miles, 2hrs by car) www.scotchwhiskyexperience.co.uk

Tours by Car

Loch Katrine (41 miles, 1hr 10 mins by car via short route (via Kilmahog) - One of the most attractive lochs in the heart of the Trossachs, well worth a visit, and what a beautiful scenic drive to get there.

Oban (41 miles, 1hr by car) - Oban, seafood capital of Scotland. This is a bustling town with lots of eating places and shops. Beyond Oban lie the islands of the Inner hebrides: Kerrera, which protects the town from Atlantic storms; the low, green island of Lismore; majestic Mull, and the granite mountains of the Morvern peninsula. Beyond them, the sacred island of Iona, Coll, Colonsay and Tiree.

Fort William (52 miles, 1hr 10mins by car) via Glencoe (36 miles, 44 mins) - Fort William is in the heart of the highlands, home to Ben Nevis, the largest mountain in the UK. Most routes go through here on their way north. It’s a relatively small town but it has a reasonable selection of shops, especially for outdoor enthusiasts.

Inveraray (33 miles, 45 by car) via shortest route - Inveraray is a picturesque small town on the shores of Loch Fyne, where it meets Loch Shira.

Crieff (60 miles, 1hr 25mins long route and 35 miles, 55 mins short route by car) - Crieff is the second largest town in Perthshire, in the heart of rural Scotland. Enjoy the scenic route from Crianlarich to Crieff via Killin, then return via the short route which comes back through the lovely village of St Fillan’s.

Glasgow (56 miles, 1hr 15mins by car) - Glasgow is a much undersold city, those who visit find stunning architecture, a lively cosmopolitan atmosphere and a multitude of things to see and do.

Edinburgh (81 miles, 1hr 54 mins by car) - Scotland’s capital, it’s a truly stunning city overlooked by the Castle perched high on the rocky hill. It’s impossible not to love Edinburgh.

Sightseeing by Public Transport

Inveraray castle
Train to Mallaig
Day in Fort William
Day in Oban/Ferry to Isle of Mull
Eileen Donan Castle
Cruise on Loch Lomond
Day in Glasgow
Walk part of the West Highland Way
Short Woodland Walk around Crianlarich
Climb Ben More

Back to Top

Off Road Cycling

Crianlarich is an ideal central location for mountain biking. Off Road/Mountain biking in the vicinity of Crianlarich can be found in the Forestry commission routes, various different locations and different distances. Note Crianlarich is approx 15-20miles from the following locations:

Ardgartan
Achray Forest
East Loch Lomond Woodland
Loch Ard Forest
Strathyre Forest
Loch Goil

Glencoe mountain resort has trails to suit all abilities of rider, from the valley floor West Highland Way trail to the Chairlift accessed Downhill track (Glencoe Mountain). Note Crianlarich is approx 24 miles from Glencoe.

Callander to Strathyre approx 10 miles. Note Crianlarich is approx 30 miles from Callander.

Callander to Stronaclacher approx 23 miles. Note Crianlarich is approx 30 miles from Callander.

Aberfoyle to Lock Katrine (Trossachs) approx 28 miles (Cycle Route). Note Crianlarich is approx 41 miles from Aberfoyle.

Clyde and Loch Lomond Cycleway which is a section of National Cycle Route 7 runs from the heart of Glasgow to the village of Balloch at Loch Lomond, on an almost entirely traffic-free tarmac route. The route is 20 miles long.

Road Cycling

Craigbank Guest House is an ideal central location for road cycling. Please refer to the sections below for further details.

Road Cycling	Approx Distance	Map & Details
Day 1 - Edinburgh to Crianlarich	Approx 87 miles	Cycle Map & Details
Day 2 - Crianlarich to Dunblane	Approx 40 miles	Cycle Map & Details
Day 3 - Oban to Crianlarich	Approx 41 miles	Cycle Map & Details
Day 4 - John O'Groats to Lands End - Fort William to Crianlarich	Approx 51 miles	Cycle Map & Details
Day 5 - John O'Groats to Lands End - Crianlarich to Nielston	Approx 57 miles	Cycle Map & Details
Day 6 - Balachulish to Crianlarich	Approx 37 miles	Cycle Map & Details
Day 7 - Crianlarich to Old Kilpatrick (Dumbarton) alongside Loch Lomond	Approx 45 miles	Cycle Map & Details

Nevis Range Mountain Resort (Approx 57 miles from Crianlarich)
Nevis Range is an internationally acclaimed venue for mountain biking; having hosted numerous international and national competitions it is hailed as one of the best Mountain Biking destinations worldwide. Extract from website - Nevis Range.

Back to Top

Golf

There are approximately 550 golf courses in Scotland some of which are amongst the most scenic in the world. Crianlarich is fortunate to be surrounded by 14 courses within a 40 mile radius of our Guest House. The closest are Killin Golf Course (16 miles) and Dalmally Golf Course (17 miles). Why not come and visit us for a few days and combine some sightseeing with playing golf, and enjoy the luxury of playing on a different course every day.

Killin Golf Course (16 miles) - Click for Details

Dalmally Golf Course (17 miles) - Click for Details

Back to Top

Skiing

Crianlarich is fortunate enough to be located near two ski centres, Glencoe and Nevis Range, details as follows:

Glencoe Ski Centre (approx 24 miles from Crianlarich)
Ski and Snowboard across 19 runs and 7 lifts - catering for skiers and boarders of all levels. Complete beginners can enjoy the gentle plateau runs while experts can experience the incredible variety of terrain.
Glencoe Mountain Website

Nevis Range Ski Centre (approx 57 miles from Crianlarich)
Ski & snowboard across 24 runs and 12 lifts, including Scotland 's only mountain gondola, which transports you effortlessly in just twelve minutes from the car park to 650m, where you will find the Snowgoose Mountain Restaurant and the ski area itself.
Nevis Range Website

Glenshee Ski Centre (approx 93 miles from Crianlarich)
Ski & snowboard across 36 runs and 22 lifts which offer an amazing diversity of natural terrain for all standards of skiers and snowboarders.
Ski Glenshee Website

Cairngorm Ski Centre (approx 134 miles from Crianlarich)
Ski & snowboard across 35 runs and 11 lifts, there are more than 30km of ski runs as well as a fully maintained snowboard park; with cross country skiing also popular and Disability Snowsports UK offering snow sports tuition for the disabled.
Cairngorm Ski Centre Website

Back to Top

Other Activities

Crianlarich is fortunate to be located amongst some of the most beautiful scenery in the world and is an ideal central location for exploring what the country has to offer.

Crianlarich Train Station (in the centre of the village only a few minutes walk from our guesthouse)
Crianlarich is on the West Highland Line, considered by some to be the most scenic train journey in the world. From Crianlarich take the train journey over the famous Harry Potter Viaduct; visit Oban, the seafood capital of Scotland; visit Fort William, the home of Scotland's largest mountain (Ben Nevis) or take a nostalgic steam train journey to the quiet port of Mallaig.

From Crainlarich the train can also be taken direct to Glasgow, again amongst breathtaking scenery, arriving at Glasgow Queen Street Station right in the heart of the city. Perfect for shopping or sightseeing or why not visit Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, one of the largest and busiest in Europe. For train times contact Scotrail.
For train details contact Scotrail or for the steam train West Coast Railways.

Cruise Loch Lomond (approx 16 miles from Crianlarich)
A variety of different cruises are on offer from Tarbet and Luss, including cruises combined with walking or take a leisurely one & a half hour afternoon cruise to enjoy the serenity of the ‘bonnie banks’, what a perfect way to see one of Scotland's most beautiful and largest lochs. Cruise Loch Lomond.

Loch Tay (approx 18 miles from Crianlarich)
Offroad driving and safari (Loch Tay Activities)
Pony Trecking/Horse Riding (Loch Tay Activities)
Water Activities & water Sports including sailing, canoeing, cruising, fishing, angling, kayaking and rafting, speedboating (Loch Tay Activities)

Loch Earn (approx 19.5 miles from Crianlarich)
Lochearnhead Watersports Limited operates the well-known Watersports Centre in Lochearnhead, Perthshire, Scotland. The Centre consists of the large and popular Lochside Café with ample parking and facilities, and a shoreline and jetty from which all types of watersports may be enjoyed. Activities includes: water skiing, wakesurfing, wakeboarding, kayaking, boat rental. (Lochearnhead Water Sports)

Glencoe Mountain Resort (approx 24 miles from Crianlarich)
Hiking, Climbing, Archery, Chairlift rides, Cafe (Glencoe Mountain)

Glencoe Visitor Centre and museum (approx 34 miles from Crianlarich)
Tucked away from view, just off the A82, is the ‘family friendly’ Glencoe Visitor Centre, with exciting interactive displays and activities for both adults and children. Glencoe Visitor Centre. The Glencoe and North Lorn Folk Museum is an ideal place to while away a couple of hours and pick up a true flavour of traditional life and work in the Highlands of past times - Glencoe Museum.

Blair Drummond Safari Park (approx 40 miles from Crianlarich)
Wild Animal Reserves, Adventure Playground, Boat Trip around Chimp Island, Pets Farm, Lemur Land, Flying Fox, Giant Astraglide, Sea Lion Shows, Bird of Prey Centre & Displays & Pedal Boats - www.blairdrummond.com

Sea Life Centres (Loch Lomond (33 miles) and Oban (42 miles) from Crianlarich
Visit the sealife centres at Loch Lomond or Oban - Sea Life Centre.

Aberfoyle (approx 41 miles from Crianlarich)
Go Ape - tree top adventure through Stunning scenery of the surrounding Queen Elizabeth Forest Park. Two of Britain’s longest zip wires, each stretching over 400m long, flying customers 150 feet above the ground and over a 90 foot waterfall. (Go Ape).

Nevis Range Mountain Resort (approx 57 miles from Crianlarich)
Climbing, High Wire Adventure, Mountain Viewpoints, Summer Ceildih Nights, Mountain Discovery Centre, Paragliding (Nevis Range)

Strathbraan, Perthshire (approx 60 miles from Crianlarich)
Quad biking - a fleet of over 50 Quad Bikes, treks to suit all abilities and more than 1000 acres of farmland. In addition to Quad biking Treks there is Clay Pigeon Shooting, Argocats. White Water Rafting, Canyoning, Paintball and more. (Scottish Quads)

Newtonmore (approx 73 miles from Crianlarich)
Visit the wildcat centre and trail. More than 100 models of the Scottish Wildcat have been sited all round Newtonmore in the Cairngorms National Park. They're in gardens, on roofs, up trees. All you have to do is track them down - Wildcat Centre

Back to Top

Policies

  Cookie Policy
  Privacy Policy
  Terms & Conditions
  Contact Page

Contact & Map

Craigbank Guest House
Main Street, Crianlarich FK20 8QS
Email Us | 01838 300 279
Location Map

Our Reviews

Made by Wee Beastie