Ben Lawers and Beinn Ghlas

This walk is the "standard" route to Ben Lawers. At a shade under 4000 feet, it is the highest mountain in the southern highlands of Scotland. Beinn Ghlas is climbed on the way, it's a lofty enough lump itself at over 3600 feet. As expected, the views are fantastic..........

We start from the Ben Lawers Visitor Centre which is on the minor road to Bridge of Balgie. This road leaves the A827 Killin to Aberfeldy road about 4 miles north of Killin. There is a large car park at the visitor centre, but the centre itself is closed.

We enter the nature reserve and take the nature trail path, which follows the burn and gives a scenic ascent with Beinn Ghlas in the back-ground. This path soon reaches the main Ben Lawers path which we follow to the summit of Beinn Ghlas...quite a stiff climb on the well made path which zig-zags up the hill.

From Beinn Ghlas we walk along the delightful ridge to the foot of the summit cone of Ben Lawers and climb to the top up steep and rocky ground.

We take the easy way down using a path which runs into Coire Odhar. This starts at the foot of Ben Lawers summit cone and traverses along the flank of Beinn Ghlas, by-passing it's summit. It joins the outward route just before that route steepens to climb Beinn Ghlas....thus avoiding all the steepest parts of Beinn Ghlas. It's a very easy route off a very big mountain ! ( Of course this path in reverse would also provide an easier way UP to Ben Lawers, but missing out Beinn Ghlas would be a shame. )

The slide show video will show the way......

Ben Lomond

Here we describe a long walk exploring Ben Lomond, the most southerly munro, only an hours drive from Glasgow. It's a beautiful hill, with fine views over Loch Lomond and the hills beyond.

Starting from the car park at Rowardennan at the end of the road on the east bank of Loch Lomond, the Ben Lomond hill path leads easily to the summit. From here the easiest way down is to simply retrace your steps. Another popular way down is to follow the Ptarmigan ridge, which has a rough path which leads back to the West Highland Way just above Rowardennan.

Our walk descends the north ridge of Ben Lomond to visit the smaller Cruinn a' Bheinn, which gives grand views of Ben Lomond's northern cliffs. We continue north then west to descend steeply to the West Highland Way at Cailness, from which a walk south of about five miles takes us back to Rowardennan...........

Ben Vane

Here is the way up Ben Vane, one of the "Arrochar Alps" which lie to the west of Loch Lomond. It's just over 3000 feet so it's one of the smaller munros, but it's a great walk with steep paths, rocky bits to be clambered over and a gully to be climbed, ( choice of at least two! ), so you can pretend you're a real mountaineer, before the summit is reached.

Starting at Inveruglas Visitor Centre off the A82 Loch Lomondside road, we walk south past the power station and turn right up the private road to Loch Sloy. We leave this road at a left branch to go over a large bridge which after a few hundred yards leads to a small bridge. Here a path starts which we follow up to Ben Vane's south-east ridge. Here is the slide show..........

The "bad step" is just a big boulder that was chest high to me and quite smooth. Taller people won't be bothered by it. The gully above it is a rocky staircase, similar to the alternative gully I used to ascend. Oddly enough, the "bad step" boulder proves no problem on the way down!

Incidently, the video has a deliberate mistake....Ben Ime and Ben Narnain are not "Ben"s at all.....they're "Beinn"s !

Doune Hill

Here is a walk in the Luss Hills, to the west of Loch Lomond. Most of the hard work is done on the ascent to Beinn Eich, thereafter the walking is on a very pleasant grassy ridge, with short climbs up and down Doune Hill and the 701m top ......

A few cars can be parked at the end of the narrow road up Glen Luss. From here we take to the hillside above Edentaggart to ascend Beinn Eich. We follow the ridge to Doune Hill then descend to the coll below the 701m top. After visiting this top, we descend back to the coll and return to the start via Glen Mollochan.....check out the video.....

Schiehallion

Today we will visit Schiehallion, a well known mountain just north of Aberfeldy. At over 3500 feet it is a worthwhile challenge. The walk starts from the Braes of Foss car park. From there the route goes south to reach the eastern ridge of the hill, which is followed to the summit...









On leaving the car park the path is very well made and you may well think this will be a "walk in the park", but Schiehallion has another side to it's character, and it's summit will not be so easily
achieved.

Check out the video..............

In fact negotiating the ridge is good fun providing you're wearing appropriate kit and this is really quite an easy walk, not too strenuous.

Ben Vorlich (Loch Earn)

Today we'll descibe a longer walk up a "proper" mountain, the 985m munro Ben Vorlich. This hill lies to the south of Loch Earn. The walk starts at Ardvorlich House, a few miles along the narrow road which runs along the south shore of the loch. From here we ascend the north ridge of the hill to the summit. We return down the South-East ridge and then into the glen where we turn north back to the start.......a very fine walk.....check out the video......

Ben A'an

Welcome to Hill Walks in Pictures.

Here you will find walking routes up popular hills and mountains, described using photos taken on the walks.

Let's start with a video slide show of a walk up Ben A'an, a hill of modest height but great character, in the Trossachs, east of Loch Lomond.

The path opposite the car park climbs through pleasant woodland then steeply up a rocky section, then round behind and up to the top of the summit. We return back down the route of ascent........check out the video......