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Ben Vorlich from Ardlui

Loch Lomond and Trossachs Walk

Nat Park - Loch Lomond and Trossachs

County/Area - Argyll and Bute

Author - Tony Maries

Length - 6.8 miles / 11.1 km    Ascent - 3400 feet / 1030 metres

Time - 6 hours 50 minutes    Grade - mod/hard

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Ordnance Survey Explorer OL39Sheet Map1:25kBUY
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Ordnance Survey Landranger 56Sheet Map1:50kBUY
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Walk Route Description

Photo from the walk - Ben Vorlich from Ardlui
Click image to see photo description.

Ben Vorlich is in my opinion one of the best of the smaller Scottish Munros. I visited it for the first time at the end of April 2006 and would definitely choose it for a revisit. There are a number of ways to reach this mountain and I suspect the main 'bagger's' route would be from the south.

I have been walking in Scotland for over 15 years and I have only recently visited the area around Loch Lomond, as it contains many of the Munros I need to complete. I expected, because of the accessibility of the area to Glasgow and other major towns and cities that I would find overcrowded pay-and-display car parks, muddy and eroded footpaths as wide as country lanes, litter and official parties getting lost and making a nuisance of themselves.

Start from Ardlui (Grid ref NN317157) and leave the main road by the underbridge that leads to Garristuck Cottages. After you pass the cottages (one old, one much newer) head uphill in a grand anticlockwise sweep WNW to reach the minor summit Stob nan Coinnich Bhacain. Head down to the bealach and take the well defined path up the north side of Ben Vorlich to reach the summit ridge of the mountain.

There are three high points, the N top (931 m), the true summit (943 m) and the S top, which boasts the triangulation pillar and the best views (941 m). I went eastwards down from the triangulation pillar (not much sign of any path here) down to the col below the Little Hills (about 765 m). North from here into the corrie and down to where the burn rises. I am sure this burn is named but there is none on the OS 50000 map of the area.

Follow the burn down into really beautiful natural woodland to duck under the railway and come out on the A82 about 500 m south of the starting point. This walk is never short of interest and one of the most outstanding features is the lower slopes of the mountain. Not a boggy wasteland devoid of tree cover like many Scottish mountains, plenty of natural woodland. There are clearly plenty of other interesting routes up this mountain and it does seem to have plenty to offer from any side you care to approach it.

Other walks nearby

Walk 1494 WHW - Day 4 - Inverarnan to Inveroranmoderate21.0 miles
Walk 1298 The Cobblermod/hard7.5 miles
Walk 1459 Ben Arthur ("The Cobbler")mod/hard7.5 miles
Walk 2418 Inverlochlarig, Beinn a'Chroin & Beinn Chabhairhard12.5 miles
Walk 1406 Ben More and Stob Binneinmod/hard6.0 miles
Walk 1493 WHW - Day 3 - Rowardennan to Inverarnanmoderate14.0 miles
Walk 3009 Ben Lomondmod/hard7.5 miles
Walk 2413 Ben Venue from Loch Achraymoderate8.2 miles
Walk 2309 Ben A'an from Loch Achrayeasy/mod2.5 miles
Walk 1296 Beinn Eich & Doune Hillmod/hard8.0 miles

Recommended Books & eBooks

Walking Loch Lomond and the Trossachs

Walking Loch Lomond and the TrossachsA guide to walking and scrambling routes in the beautiful Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. Over 70 graded low-level, mid-level and mountain walks taking in hills, glens and picturesque woodland, as well as all of the region's Munro summits. Highlights include Ben Lui, Ben Lomond, the Cobbler and the Arrochar Alps.
More information

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