In
Scotland there are 284 Munros (mountains over 3000 feet) and 227
associated tops of 3000 feet or more as well as 219 Corbetts
(mountains over 2500 feet and under 3000 feet with a minimum drop of
500 feet between peaks) providing a huge choice for high level walks
and climbs. The Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park has a good
selection of both Munros and Corbetts to choose from.
If
you are venturing into the mountains of Scotland please be safe and
ensure that you carry appropriate kit for your walk or climb. There
have been many deaths in the hills in the last decade and most can
be attributed to inexperience or lack of equipment. Mountain weather
can change very quickly and mist is very common.
There
is a list of all the Munro's and Corbetts in the park below with a
brief description. It is recommended that you should always use an
OS map and other books
or maps provided by the Scottish Mountaineering Club or Cameron
McNeish
In
the north of the park and usually climbed from Glen Falloch.
Nearest villages are
Crianlarich and
Ardlui.
An Caisteal is
often climbed in conjunction with Beinn a' Chroin. The best
approach is from Derrydarroch farm.
Like
An Caisteal this mountain is in the north of the park just south of Crianlarich and is best approached from Derrydarroch
Farm north of
Ardlui.
However it can also be climbed from the
Balquhidder
side
(east park) at Glen Larig by finding a route by Ishag Burn.
Pronounced : bin a croin
Beinn a' Chleibh (916m 281st
highest os map 50 ref: NN250256)
Beinn
a' Chleibh (north park) is most often climbed from Glen Lochy in
conjunction with Ben Lui from a car park off the A85 between
Tyndrum
and Dalmaly (not in the park). A small burn needs to be forded but
if in spate use the railway bridge to the west. The nearest
village is
Tyndrum. (see also Ben
Lui for some tips)
Beinn
Ime is the highest of the Arrochar Alps and can be climbed from a
number of starting points (please refer to proper climbing
directions) if you are climbing from the Glen Croe side up to the
Bealach a' Mhaim, note that when the river is in spate it be
necessary to venture up the slopes of Beinn Luibhean a little way to
find a fording point. For those that like climbing more than one
mountain in a day, a common route would be from loch Long climbing
Ben Narnain, Ben Ime and Ben Arthur (a corbett) or the reverse.
Arrochar is the nearest village at the head of Loch Long a sea loch.
Ben Chabhair is ordinarily climbed from Glen Falloch it is a long
but beautiful walk. Some route guides prefer the long undulating
northly ridge walk others by the valley route to Lochan Beinn
Chabhair, the small lochan that sits on the col to the south west of
the mountain. Which route you choose often depends on the
weather conditions and for variety some might go up by one route and
return by the other. It should be noted that the summit path can be
confusing in misty conditions with snow on the ground. Parking is
usually near Beinglas Farm where there is a steep path until after
the beautiful Ben Glas Falls. In summer conditions many
walkers who do not want to bag the Munro choose to go to the Lochan
for the scenery, wildlife and usually a picnic, this is a more leisurely
8k return. The nearest village is Ardlui.
Pronounced : ben shavare
Ben Challum (1025m 106th highest
os map 50 ref: NN386322)
Ben Challum sits high in the Ancient forest of Mamlorn. There are
many ways of approaching this mountain and it is best to refer to
your mountain guide book. Ben Challum is often climbed by itself or
in conjunction with two other mountains that appear to be just
outside the boundary of the National Park. It should be noted that
this mountain can be quite a challenge in misty conditions. The
nearest village is
Killin
Pronounced : ben challym
Ben Dubhcraig (sometimes Beinn)(978m 175th
highest os map 50 ref: NN307254)
Ben Dubhcraig, almost always climbed in conjunction with Ben Oss as
Oss itself is best accessible from near the top of Dubhcraig (see
Ben Oss). The starting point is from Dalriach just east of
Tyndrum,
there is an excellent car park off the road by the side of the West
Highland Way. The path follows beautiful ancient Old Scots Pine
woodland, and when this is left behind you are rewarded with a great
high but narrow waterfall where many people stop and have their
sandwiches. For non hill-walkers, to this point is an excellent
excursion with little needed in way of experience or
equipment.
Ben
Lomond is most commonly climbed from Rowardennan. From
Drymen go to
Balmaha
and then follow the road to its end. The path starts at the
back of the car park. As this is the most southerly munro and it is
less than an hour from Glasgow, the path can be quite busy, for
alternative routes please read the appropriate mountain guides.
Although there are no real dangers when following the path, remember
that appropriate equipment is always necessary and in snow the path
may not be recognisable. Snow is common even in May.
Pronounced : ben low-mond
Ben Lui (1130 28th highest os
map 50 ref: NN266263)
Ben
Lui (or beinn laoigh) is quite a formidable mountain in winter and
has a tendency to avalanche a lot. However for most of the year
(assuming you keep clear of any cornices) it is a very pleasant
climb. If climbed from the east, past the gold mine, there is a long
walk in and because of this most climbers will use the lay-by in the
Tyndrum to Dalmally road and climb Lui with Beinn a' Chleibh. The
lay-by is at grid reference GR239278. Immediately after leaving the
lay-by you need to ford a river which when in spate you can cross
with care at a railway bridge a few hundred metres to the west. The
path goes through an afforested area with a river on the right hand
side, watch for a tributary joining this burn and cross or you will
end up in the wrong valley in very deep mud. There is a line of
small trees planted across the path just immediately before the
tributary. The nearest village is
Tyndrum.
Ben
More is normally climbed from Glen Dochart. There are a number of
routes for which you should consult your Climbing Route Book. It can
and is often climbed in conjunction with Stob Binein. If you are
lucky enough to have either 2 cars or can arrange a lift, then the
best route for climbing both mountains is from Loch Doine in Glen
Laraig, where you then have the benefit of being able to walk the
excellent ridge of Stob Binein then dropping down to the beallach
and up onto the craggy summit of Ben More you can descend (by
whatever route you choose from your climbing directions) to Glen
Dochart and pick up your arranged lift or second car. The nearest
village is
Crianlarich.
Ben
Narnain is perhaps the most interesting of the Arrochar Alps as it
is a constant twisting path up a series of little shoulders which
means that cannot see much of the mountain at a time, that is if you
climb it directly from the Loch Long car park. Ben Narnain is often
climed in conjunction with Beinn Ime and the Corbett Ben Arthur (The
Cobler). The nearest village is
Arrocher at the head of Loch Long.
Pronounced : ben nar-nane
Ben Oss (1029m 101st highest os
map 50 ref: NN287253)
Ben
Oss is almost always climbed in conjunction with Ben Dubhcraig as
from the most obvious starting point you have to climb all but a
hundred feet of Dubhcraig before dropping down to the beallach and
then up Oss. The starting point is from Dalriach just east of
Tyndrum,
there is an excellent car park off the road by the side of the West
Highland Way. The path follows beautiful ancient Old Scots Pine
woodland, and when this is left behind you are rewarded with a great
high but narrow waterfall where many people stop and have their
sandwiches before climbing Dubhcraig proper. The Nearest
village is
Tyndrum.
Ben
Vane is usually climbed from Inveruglas on Loch Lomond. The only
down side to that is that the road up Glen Sloy is disfigured from
the pylons carrying the electricity from the Hydro Electric scheme,
however perhaps a small price to pay for green energy. Take the left
fork in the road after the sub station and the path up Ben Vane is
on your right shortly after. The climb up the slopes of Ben
Vane, although a little eroded are pleasant enough, but just before
the summit there is a small gully ( with no exposure) to climb up,
hand to rock. The nearest village is
Ardlui
Pronounced : usually as seen but perhaps should be:- ben fee-in)
Ben Vorlich (by Loch Earn) (985m
165th highest os map 57 ref: NN629189)
There
is a well maintained and easy to walk path from the edge of south
Loch Earn to the top of Ben Vorlich. This mountain can be easily
climbed at most times of the year, (taking obvious precations in ice
or snow conditions). Ben Vorlich is often climbed in conjunction
with Stuc a' Chroin, and this makes for a very pleasant circular
route. From the top of Ben Vorlich you would descend to the bealach
(pass) and then climb Stuc a' Chroin. At the bealach it is not easy
to see where the path is and it is easily lost in the boulder field
and so some care should be taken particularly in bad weather.
The nearest village is
Lochearnhead or
St Fillans.
Ben
Vorlich, Loch Lomond, is a large solitary hill. There are no clear
paths up to the summit by following whatever good mountain guide you
have purchased you will eventually arrive at the summit. If climbing
from near Ardlui up the valley to the east of Ben Vorlich, the
streams have, all got small hydro dams on them which for some reason
do not appear on the OS maps. The summit has two tops and the
southerly one is the highest. The nearest village is
Ardlui
Cruach
Ardrain can be climbed from either Inverlochlarig Farm (west of
Balquhidder) or from
Crianlarich. When climbed from the Balquhidder
side it is usually climbed in conjunction with its smaller neighbour Beinn Tulaichean. I have found the normal climbing directions a
little wanting here. If climbing from the Inverlochlarig side you
may find the best route by leaving the car park and walk up the
valley to Inverlochlarig farm, here take the track North through the
valley between Beinn Tulaichean and Stob Binein. Follow the wide
track to its natural end and then head up the grassy slopes to the
beallach between Cruach Adrain and Beinn Tulaichean. Once on the
Beallach follow the well worn path to the craggy summit of Cruach
Ardrain. On descent, retrace your steps to the beallach and then
climb Beinn Tulaichean (not much effort required) and then make your
way down the grassy southerly slopes until you reach the main Glen
Larig track just west of the farm.
Pronounced : crew-ach (as in Bach the composer) ard-rain
Meall Glas (959m 199th highest
os map 51 ref: NN431321)
Meall
Glas lies to the north of Glendochart and is normally climbed with
Sgiath Chuil from Auchessen at the east of Loch Iubhair. This
can be a long and boggy day and in winter, good map reading skills
and winter skills may be needed. Between the two Munros is a top of
937m called Beinn Cheathaich. The nearest village is
Crianlarich
Pronounced : my-owl glas (as in glasgow)
Sgiath Chuil (921m 270th highest
os map 51 ref: NN462317)
Sgiath
Chuil lies to the north of Glendochart and is normally climbed
with Meall Glas from Auchessen at the east of Loch Iubhair.
This can be a long and boggy day and in winter, good map reading
skills and winter skills may be needed. Between the two Munros is a
top of 937m called. The nearest village is
Crianlarich
Pronounced : skia (ski with an a) chewl (as in chew with an l at the
end)
Stob
Binnein is normally climbed from Glen Dochart. There are a number of
routes for which you should consult your Climbing Route Book. It can
and is most often climbed in conjunction with Ben
More. If you are
lucky enough to have either 2 cars or can arrange a lift, then the
best route for climbing both mountains is from Loch Doine in Glen
Laraig, where you then have the benefit of being able to walk the
excellent ridge of Stob Binein then dropping down to the beallach
and up onto the craggy summit of Ben More you can descend (by
whatever route you choose from your climbing directions) to Glen
Dochart and pick up your arranged lift or second car. The nearest
village is
Crianlarich.
Pronounced : stow-bin-yin
Stuc A' Chroin (975m 182nd
highest os map 57 ref: NN617174)
Stuc a'
Chroin is often climbed in conjunction
with Ben Vorlich, and this makes for a very pleasant circular
route. Start with Ben Vorlich where there is a very well maintained
and easy to follow path from South Loch Earn. From the top of Ben Vorlich you would descend to the bealach
(pass) and then climb Stuc a' Chroin. At the bealach it is not easy
to see where the path is and it is easily lost in the boulder field
and so some care should be taken particularly in bad weather.
The nearest village is
Lochearnhead or
St Fillans