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......