Description;
An impressive 8 mile hike up Ben Lomond this walk is not for the faint hearted. While hiking up Ben Lomond you be presented some fantastic views of Loch Lomond and Trossach.
For after walk you have two pubs you can visit to grab a deserved bite to eat you have Oak Tree Inn and Rowardennan Hotel ......
This route also has a couple of geocaches on the make sure to find the one at the top of summit of Ben Lomond.
Distance: 8 miles
Time: 5 hours
Elevation: 956 foot
Start Point: Rowardennan car park
End Point: Rowardennan car park
Stage 1
Start from the car park (charge) at Rowardennan where there is an
information centre and toilets. The mountain is not in view from the car
park but can be seen from the metal jetty on the loch shore. The ascent
starts from a clearly marked path at the back of the information
building. Climb steadily, through oak woods to start with, after a short while cross a track and continue on
the uphill path.
Stage 2
Cross a small bridge and soon there are the first views of part of
Loch Lomond. Pass through a gate onto the open hill where cattle and
sheep graze. The path continues to climb at a steady gradient, the views
of the Loch becoming more impressive with each step. Pass through
another gate. By the 1990s this section of the path had been eroded
until it formed a scar up to 25 metres wide, visible from Glasgow. The
National Trust then began a program of repairs and the current,
excellent path is only a couple of metres wide. The ground becomes less
steep and the final peak comes into view with the prominent zig-zag of
the path visible on the right hand side.
Stage 3
Keep following the path as it sticks to the broad ridge of the
mountain. There are good views of the islands in Loch Lomond behind. The
path climbs steeply on the final ascent to the summit ridge before
levelling off to curve to the left around the rim of the very impressive
eastern corrie which has been hidden until this point.
Stage 4
From the summit trig point there are stunning views in all
directions, particularly of the southern end of Loch Lomond and its
islands. It is rare to be alone at the top, as this is one of Scotland's
favourite mountains, popular with visitors and locals including fell
runners who make numerous ascents in a year. The easiest and most usual
route back is to retrace your outward route, but there is a rougher
alternative.
Stage 5
For the alternative, harder descent, take the rocky path north-west
from the summit to descend very steeply to a col before climbing
south-west to Ptarmigan at 731 metres. From here the route follows the
nobbly ridge for much of the descent with excellent views down Loch
Lomond. Approximately half way down the ridge, the distinctive shape of the Cobbler
comes into view alongside the other peaks of the Arrochar Alps on the
far side of the Loch to the west. There is a clear path although it is
narrow and rocky in places. The wettest areas have been improved with
large stepping stones. About two-thirds of the way down the path leaves
the true ridge to descend below crags and continue on a direct route
towards Rowardennan.
Stage 6
The path passes through a gate and descends more steeply. Before
reaching some trees at the top of the woodland bear left to go through
another gate and descend alongside the burn. After an open gateway there
is a good view of a waterfall. Continue down through the woods until
the road is reached. Turn left here and walk along the road passing
behind the Youth Hostel. For the last section it is possible to take the
path to the right along the shore. This passes a modern war memorial
sculpture by Doug Cocker of Dundee. Ben Lomond and its slopes going down
to the loch have been dedicated as a Memorial Park to commemorate those
who have lost their lives for their country. From the memorial continue
round the shore a short distance to return to the car park.
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