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Ben Venue from Loch Achray

Loch Lomond and Trossachs Walk

Nat Park - Loch Lomond and Trossachs

County/Area - Stirling

Author - Lou Johnson

Length - 8.2 miles / 13.3 km    Ascent - 2250 feet / 682 metres

Time - 6 hours 20 minutes    Grade - moderate

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Walk Route Description

Photo from the walk - Ben Venue from Loch Achray
Click image to visit gallery of 9 images.

Ben Venue is fine hill occupying a position overlooking Loch Katrine and the Trossachs. This route is perhaps the most direct although the early stages of the route are in forest. However the forest tracks offer fast progress and it doesn't seem too long before you reach open country. In descent you also have an advantage that you can power your way downhill through the trees!

The day we walked this hill the weather looked promising although a cloud base sitting at 1800 feet obscured the summit. However as time passed the weather deteriorated with rain setting by the time we had reached the col at the head of Gleann Riabhach. From there to the top was a miserable experience with no views and very little visibility and it was with some relief that we reached the cairn. Retreating quickly we headed back under the clouds, down the glen and back to the start to watch the cloud gradually lift from the top. Such is life!

The start is the small car park on the west side of the A821 at the head of Loch Achray (grid ref. NN505608). After parking take the signed path at the back of the car park and cross rough ground to reach the road down to the jetty on Loch Katrine (grid ref. NN500068). Turn left along the road and then almost immediately left again onto a track that runs parallel to Achray Water. After about 500 metres cross the river and follow the clear signed paths and tracks heading uphill through forest in Glen Riabhach. In places the trees have been felled and there are some nice retrospective views to Ben Ledi and the string of lochs below.

Progress uphill is fast and by the time you reach open country (grid ref. NN474051) you have gained about 1000 feet. At this point you can see Ben Venue to your right and ahead the col in the hill's south eastern ridge, which provides the key to this ascent. The going soon becomes rougher and wetter with a section of boardwalk aiding progress. A step in the valley floor at around 1600 feet requires some simple scrambling before you cross a flatter (and wetter) section to reach the col.

Turn right in the col and follow a good path that twists and turns up to the summit. I am sorry I can't provide much detail but as I reached the summit without too much difficulty you can assume the ascent is straightforward. The return follows the outward route although in good visibility you might descend from the trig point south over easy slopes direct to the edge of the forest (grid ref. NN474051) in Glen Riabhach where you first reached open country.

Other walks nearby

Walk 2309 Ben A'an from Loch Achrayeasy/mod2.5 miles
Walk 1350 Ben Ledi from near Falls of Lenymoderate5.5 miles
Walk 3647 Callander, Samson's Stone & Coilhallan Woodeasy4.7 miles
Walk 2418 Inverlochlarig, Beinn a'Chroin & Beinn Chabhairhard12.5 miles
Walk 1493 WHW - Day 3 - Rowardennan to Inverarnanmoderate14.0 miles
Walk 3009 Ben Lomondmod/hard7.5 miles
Walk 2659 Conic Hilleasy/mod4.0 miles
Walk 1492 WHW - Day 2 - Dryden to Rowardennanmoderate15.0 miles
Walk 2185 Ben Vorlich from Loch Earnmoderate6.0 miles
Walk 2317 Ben Vorlich from Ardluimod/hard6.8 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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