is ben lomond easy to climb

The Ben Lomond Trail is a great way to get to Ben Lomond Peak. There’s a very good chance of there being snow and ice higher up the mountain, making it much more treacherous and making the path harder to follow. There is a small visitor centre here that has a re-creation of one of these old structures, as well as a map of the routes you can walk. I've climbed this mountain a few times and my friends and I decided to climb Ben Lomond while the weather was still okay. Situated close to the country’s biggest population centres, it attracts over 30,000 visitors a year. It is a gradual 6-mile climb to the saddle. Rowardennan is on the West Highland Way, with a Youth Hostel and Hotel. Trail Reports. The gradient eases slightly as the shoulder of the mountain is gained. The rewards come in the expansive views seen throughout the walk and from the top. To find the start of the path just walk through the central archway of the toilet block and you're on the path. To climb Ben Lomond head to Rowardennan on the east side of Loch Lomond. The easiest route up Ben Vorlich begins from the shores of Loch Earn and travels through delightful woodland. Always easy to follow . The climb takes you through a forest. Since 1995 the area around the mountain has been dedicated to those who gave their lives during the first and second world wars. Good waterproofs are essential for the climb, as well as decent walking shoes. Firstly, the rocks on parts of Ben More are magnetic and can give off faulty compass readings, so … Based on my experience, this route definitely is more tricky and requires you to traverse more wet and slippery sections of rocks. The only … To find some tranquillity on the hill, you'll either need to set off very early in the morning or take one of the alternative routes described below. The climb is very sociable and you meet a number of walkers, we even met a couple of mountain bikers! Easy walking on a fine track to the base of the mountain from where a decent path leads up higher. The descent was completed before 2pm. TTFs on Trail. Driving to Mantua Utah, east of Brigham City, you can take a dirt road up to Willard Basin just below Willard Peak. Thank you for subscribing, we will send you an e-mail shortly to confirm your subscription. I’ve climbed to the summit of Ben Lomond in all weathers. A bit of easy rock-scrambling can be enjoyed if you fancy extending the route to include the nearby rocky Munro of Stuc a'Chroin. The highest point has a height of 974m and can be climbed within 2.5 hours in good weather conditions. Review of Ben Lomond Reviewed 4 September 2017 We went up the tourist path and down the ptarmigan - worked well for us - I think the tourist route for the climb is marginally easier and having the flat walk along by the loch at the end of the day rather than the beginning suited us. Taking on one of Scotlands most popular climbs, what was originally meant to be a nice, fast and simple hike proved to longer and more problematic than we could imagine. It’s not too taxing a climb and has rewarding views (in good weather). Ben Lomond is one of the most popular mountains in Scotland as it’s reasonably close to Glasgow and the nearby area is popular with tourists. Like any mountain, it is generally quicker coming down than it is going up. From the gondola complex look for the well-signed route that veers into the woods from the luge track. Wear sun screen and smidge (midge repellant), bring snacks/lunch, stock up at The Village Shop in Balmaha, next to the Oak Tree Inn (the last shop before Rowardennan). Here’s a look at my experience, and any tips for climbing Ben Lomond that I picked up along the way. Filled with all the tips and tricks you need to know in order to climb Ben Lomond yourself. If you have any other tips or questions to ask, just leave a comment below ... Eilean Sionnach Lighthouse Cottage in Scotland: In-Depth Review. Ben Lomond is one of the closest and easiest Munros for us to reach from Glasgow and I try and climb it at least 2 – 3 times a year. The walk back down was lovely as, once you slowly descend from the mist and clouds, you are slowly greeted by ever-more mesmerising views. Located on the eastern side of Loch Lomond and also on the Highland Boundary Fault Line, walkers leave the popular village of Balmaha for a short but fairly stiff climb to the top of Conic Hill, 361m high. Ben Lomond, Rowardennan, Loch LomondThis is many folks’ first Munro, given its proximity to Glasgow (soul and city). Please feel free to comment below, tell me about your experience climbing Ben Lomond, also share the article on social media. There is nowhere to buy food or drink on the way up the mountain, except for a small stall outside of someone's home. It’s not for the fainthearted. Many of the guide books estimate 30,000 annual walkers, although speaking to one of the rangers he told me that he thinks it's in excess of 40,000 now. Ben Lomond stands at 3195feet/974metres and is peak number 184 in the Munro heights table. Even if you don’t plan on hiking all the way up to the Ben Lomond Summit, just completing the Ben Lomond Saddle is worth the climb! It’s at the very end of a long rural road running up alongside the eastern shores of Loch Lomond. Ben Lomond: Hard climb but worth it - See 221 traveler reviews, 267 candid photos, and great deals for Rowardennan, UK, at Tripadvisor. There are 282 munros in Scotland and Ben Lomond is the most southerly of them. Take care on the descent, by the time you get close to the starting point your legs feel like jelly! You could time your climb to watch the sun rise or set. On clear days trampers are rewarded at the summit with spectacular panoramic views. It was another cold one! Be prepared, have plenty of water and layers of clothing. Although Ben Lomond can be done from Queenstown proper, a start from the top of the Skyline Gondola will save an hour of work (not to mention around 400 metres of vertical climb). First up, here’s a few teaser pics from my walk. I quickly decided that I was going to do the Red route up and the Orange route down, as I’ve never been much of a fan of walking the same route twice. Located close to the jetty is a stone sculpture that commemorates the fallen service men and women of both world wars. The views as you head down are superb, once of course you clear the cloud. They also have outdoor seating so in the summer this would be a great spot to relax and unwind after a good old climb up Ben Lomond. The climb was tough in parts and sweaty because of the heat but we went prepared with caps,PLENTY water, sun cream, smidge and food. The climb near the top was a little bit of a scramble but nothing too difficult we had an excellent day. Scotland: Climbing Ben Lomond. This article and accompanying photographs are by Paul Saunders for See Loch Lomond. Around 30,000 people climb Ben Lomond every year according to the Lomond MRT. The climb begins at the tiki trail at the base of the skyline gondola and zig zags through some Douglas fir forest before presenting you at the Skyline Gondola complex. This route hugs the loch-side of the mountain very closely so you get views almost the whole way up and down Loch Lomond. As you climb the footpath beyond the forest you start to see the excellent view emerging over your shoulder. Note: Some posts may contain affiliate links. It has almost everything you want in a day hike; different landscapes, a mountaintop to climb and incredible, and I mean INCREDIBLE views. You'll probably see a moose or two. Due to it's proximity to the populated areas of Scotland's Central Belt, Ben Lomond rivals Ben Nevis for the acolade as the most climbed hill in Scotland and its guardians the NTS and Forestry Commission work hard to manage and control the errosion. You'll find me working out of a cafe in Bali, perhaps on a riverboat in Brazil or maybe even an airport lounge in New Delhi. The ascent to this point gains 2,300 feet of elevation on a rocky trail. Ben Lomond is 9,712 above Sea Level. It is known as a Munro, because it has a height of over 975 metres. However, if you are up for it then I’d definitely recommend doing both paths as a part of your Ben Lomond climb. This took away the warmth and more sadly any kind of view. The track to Ben Lomond begins in Queenstown itself, making this an exceptionally easy mountain to access. Dundurn – … Staying overnight here also offered me the chance to discover some of the other sites around Ben Lomond. Here's a look at my wonderful experience hiking Ben Lomond. I mentioned previously the necessity for layers. There is a toilet block, with some information panels nearby. I can’t say that Ben Lomond is one of my favorite hills to climb. At 1,174m and with an elevation of 986m, this Munro is a challenging climb and the pyramid shape of the mountain makes it steep. Ben Lomond is one … All you had to do was leave money in the box on the wall; I’m not sure if they offer this all year round so don’t rely on it. The walk is approximately 7 miles long, and can take 4 - 5 hours to complete for the average walker. I've also included some photographs taken on my recent climb. If you park in the car park, then you’ll need to pay for parking, but there are 7 or 8 spaces just at the entrance to the car park (pictured below) which don’t require a ticket. In 2016 I decided to ditch the office environment, work from my laptop and travel to every country in the world. Ben Lomond 27/01/2019. For my walk I set off just after 9am, as I was walking on a Sunday I knew that the car park would quickly fill. Just be aware that this road can get busy in the summer months, and expect plenty of campervans as there is space to overnight park in the Ben Lomond car park. For me, not only is it a great source of fitness and calorie burning, but it clears my mind from the many daily work and life pressures. Thanks to the cloud at the summit there wasn't any view to be had. It's height is 3,196 feet, 974 metres. Pretty unsurprising and, according to my local travel companion on the way back down, it is like that much of the year. We drove this in our campervan that we converted and didn’t have any trouble getting up and down. A fair weathered weekend can easily have in excess of 200 people scaling it… They have electronic measuring systems so that is probably quite accurate and shows the growing popularity of the walk. We always recommend Osprey for our climbing gear as they’ve never let us down! This area near Cutler Basin is a very beautiful part of the Northern Wasatch. So allow 5 hours for the walk in total. Inside the National Park, Ben More and its close neighbour Stob Binnein are located close to Crianlarich and relatively easy to reach from there by public transport. Especially if you choose to take the Orange Route back down like we did. It also means you can get a head start up the mountain before it gets busy. Located within Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park and situated on the eastern shores of Loch Lomond itself, the peak is the southern most Munro in Scotland. Read more. Compared to the other Munros in Scotland (mountains above 3000 feet / 914 metres), Ben Lomond is probably very straightforward. The Ben Lomond rangers and volunteers work hard to protect the pathway for the ever increasing visitor numbers. How to visit the Glenfinnan Viaduct (Harry Potter Bridge), Driving the Southwest Coastal 300 in Scotland. I definitely recommend taking the time to walk up Ben Lomond if you find yourself in the area, if nothing else it definitely feels like an achievement getting back to the car park! Ben Lomond is the most southerly munro in Scotland. I climbed Ben Lomond in October 2020, and was fortunate enough to be blessed by wonderful weather and even a Scottish hiking companion on the route back down. I didn't really take any breaks; except for 5 minutes at the top and a few picture breaks on the way back down. To climb Ben Lomond head to Rowardennan on the east side of Loch Lomond. It’s located at the end of the Orange route, and they were selling water, some cakes, crisps and other snacks. Known as one of the easiest mountains to climb, you can begin your journey at the Ben Lomond visitor centre. I climbed in October and for the final half of the way up the mountain there wasn’t much in the way of a view. Drop, Rock Face, Rock Garden . You can only imagine how brutal living in one of these must have been at times! It took me about 2 hours and 15 minutes to get up and about an hour and 45 minutes to come down, so the 4 hour guideline was spot on. Situated next to the east shore of Loch Lomond no peaks with a similar height are in the direct surroundings. And it just so happens that one of the best spots is the Ben Lomond car park which allows you to stay overnight. This entire region is surrounded by incredible mountains, all just begging to be climbed. Wild camping in Scotland was by far one of the most memorable parts of our entire 2 month long visit. Parking is in the Forestry Commission car park, cost is £3 for the day. … The Ben Lomond Track in Queenstown is arguably one of the most rewarding day hikes in New Zealand. Dogs Allowed. Either way, the food was great (we went for the battered halloumi and chips) and they have lots of options. We stayed here for one night and it was wonderful waking up early with no one around and wonderful views down Loch Lomond. You will need hillwalking gear and be prepared for the weather to change in a heartbeat – mist, fog and rain can sweep in quickly. Currently the Forestry Commission are cutting down trees infected by a disease, they are planting replacements. There’s two things to beware of however. The time needed to climb Ben Lomond depends on a few things, such as …. Alert for the Ben Lomond Track View saved (0) The Ben Lomond Track is a demanding climb and a full day's hike with an 1,438 m elevation gain. The elevation provides an excellent view of Loch Lomond and its islands. When we left the car park it was very warm, however sadly there was a thick cloud base from just over half way up the mountain. Rowardennan is approached by car (there are no busses) via an 11 mile dead-end road from the village of Drymen. Yes. Registered in Scotland SC503836. Don’t forget to subscribe below to receive our monthly See Loch Lomond e-newsletter. But the biggest and best is Ben Lomond, a relatively moderate hike destined to offer the best possible views of the gorgeous Loch below. As far as I am aware, Ben Lomond is open all year round. Visit Paul’s other websites, Paul Saunders Marketing & Paul Saunders Photography, for his marketing, photography & video services in Loch Lomond and beyond. Located on the east side of Loch Lomond, Ben Lomond is easy to access through the small village of Rowardennan. Ben Lomond is typically thought of as an “easy” Munro but this just really means it’s easily accessible. It has a well defined path and is not technically hard. They advise that the total route can take between 4 to 6 hours, so be sure to take plenty of food and water with you. I'm an Economics graduate with a passion for travel. No matter what time of year you choose to visit Scotland and climb Ben Lomond, you can almost guarantee there will be rain or drizzle. You’ll may even need more suitable gear, so it’s best to seek some advice from those more experienced. Setting off at that time you should get to the summit just before 12pm, ideal for lunch (with a view) at the top. Ben Lomond Saddle . Ben Lomond mountain is a very popular hike in Queenstown, due to its accessibility and beautiful views. Unsurprisingly, they're all keen to clamber to the top and soak up the views across Loch Lomond and towards The Trossachs to the east. Oh yeah, and a waterproof bag as well as you don’t want all of your clothes getting soaked! Unsurprising as, though it’s slightly longer, it is more gradual and doesn’t require you to traverse any rocks. The temptation for hill walkers who climb and descend Ben Lomond this way on a lovely sunny day is to dismiss the mountain as tame. And in the end I am very happy that I did! My first munro, in the shape of Ben Lomond at 974 metres high was completed on Saturday. These are locations where small wooden/stone houses used to be where local farmers lived. From here, there is a marked track to Ben Lomond. Good walking boots and appropriate socks are highly reccomended. It is also … Ben Lomond is one of the most popular mountains in Scotland. About an hours drive from Glasgow, it is easily accessible via Balloch and onwards past Balmaha to Rowardennan where the climb begins. Yes eBike Allowed. Ben Lomond Memorial Park is now managed by the National Trust for Scotland. It's a pretty challenging 5-6 hour climb, but not excessively if you're reasonably fit. Due to it's proximity to Glasgow, Ben Lomond is probably one of the busiest mountains in Scotland. Well, after the Tongariro Crossing of course. Whilst climbing Ben Lomond is not technically hard, it is a Munro, and the path is boggy rough so don’t climb it expecting a wee trip up Arthurs Seat. As we got close to the summit we met the mountain bikers, who had already experienced mixed fortunes with the first part of their descent. ©2020 Paul Saunders Media & Photography Ltd. Around Loch Lomond and the Trossachs you can get some magnificent views of Ben Lomond, here are a few of my favourites. The most popular path up to the summit of Ben Lomond is the Tourist Path, which starts at Rowardennan car park (Postcode G63 OAR). You climb to a total of 974 metres above sea level, and much of the Red trail is well-trodden and very clear. Rowardennan is approached by car (there are no busses) via an 11 mile dead-end road from the village of Drymen. The final portion of this route to the summit is the trickiest, with about a hundred or so metres of rocks you must climb down in order to get to the main path. Ben Lomond Saddle is one of the most stunning views in all of New Zealand. There is a shorter walk that takes about 45 minutes round trip, that takes you on a tour of some old sites. Talking of views of Ben Lomond if you want one at Rowardennan the best is from the metal jetty. The path is steep in parts, and can be challenging to less experienced walkers. This is one of the best Scottish munro to climb as it rewards climbers with truly fantastic views of the whole of Loch Lomond. Day parking costs £3 for all day and there are toilet facilities there. Unfortunately for us, this was during the period when the whole region was under some lockdown restrictions so we couldn’t eat in (pretty gutting as they had a log fire in there!!!!). There’s nothing wrong with the hill itself but as it’s within easy traveling distance from glasgow (and a very straightforward hill) it’s just so busy! Ben Lomond is the most southerly of the Munros and is located in the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park. If you don’t receive it please check your spam folder. As you move from the forest into more open ground you will come to the start of the area that is looked after by the National Trust, this is clearly marked. But as a very rough guide, the boards suggest that it takes between 2-4 hours each way. The most southerly Munro in Scotland, Ben Lomond is also the country’s most popular. Located east of Willard Utah and north of Ogden, this is a fairly easy hike, about three and a half miles one way with an easy climb of about 1,000 feet. The route starts at the banks of loch lomond. Spectacular panoramic views the climb is more gradual and doesn ’ t receive it please check your spam folder Lomond! For climbing Ben Lomond is one main car park for Ben Lomond every year according to my travel. “ easy ” Munro but this just really means it ’ s a look at my experience, any! 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