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Home   Glossary

Ben Lomond

Munro
Quick Facts
This is the height of the mountain above sea level. However, on the climb, it is the ascent that matters, i.e. the sum of all the uphill parts of the route.
Altitude
974 m (3195 ft)

This is the standard notation used on Ordnance Survey Landranger maps.

Each reference consists of two letters identifying a 100,000 metre square block then three digits defining the Easting and finally the three digits defining the Northing with reference to the South West corner of the block.

NN166712 is the grid reference for the summit of Ben Nevis. Where you are given the map number ( For Ben Nevis = 41) it is acceptable to omit the two initial letters e.g. 166712. (Instructions on how to read the references are given on the OS maps).

Grid Ref.
NN36700284
An indication of this mountains height rank within its class. Where two mountains share the same height they are ordered alphabetically.
Stature
184 of 283 Munros
The number of ascent routes currently available on Munromagic.
Routes
2
Mountain names are usually in Gaelic, the native language of the Scottish Highlands, or have been derived from the old Scots and Norse languages. We give the most commonly accepted meaning, but accept that some of these are disputed.
Meaning
Beacon hill
 

The UK is covered by 204 Ordnance Survey Landranger 1:50,000 scale maps. Maps numbered 1 to 86 cover Scotland but for the highest mountains (Munros) only 23 maps are required. The name given roughly describes the area covered by the map.

You can click on the map name to purchase the map for £6.29 including postage which is one of the cheapest prices we have found.

OS Landranger Maps Required
  56   Loch Lomond & Inveraray
Only £6.29  (£11.69 Laminated) from  

A description of the characteristics of the mountain including any hazards of which you should be aware.

  Description
Ben Lomond is a solitary and distinctive peak to the E of Loch Lomond. From the Arrochar Alps, to the NW, Ben Lomond appears to have a conical summit but there is a craggy corrie high on its N slopes.

N slopes are steep and craggy but S slopes are easy to moderate. The normal access routes lead from the S and do not encounter the crags until near the summit.

Ben Lomond has two parallel SSE ridges, to the W is the Ptarmigan Ridge and to the E the Sron Aonaich ridge.

The "tourist" path cuts a broad swathe from Sron Aonaich to the summit. The ascent path by the burn that casacdes between Tom Fitich and Tom Eas at the S end of the Ptarmigan ridge is steeper and much more attractive.

Following the Ptarmigan ridge leads to the W face of Ben Lomond from where a minor scramble through rocky outcrops leads to the summit.

Hazards you may encounter on Ben Lomond include
 Steep slopes on or near ascent routes.
 Crags on or near ascent routes.
 Crags near summit.
 Scrambling (minor), easy hand and footholds.
 
General Considerations
 Temperature decreases by 1degree C for every 100m of ascent.
 Wind usually increases with altitude.
 Visibility can change markedly with cloud level.
 River/Stream levels can increase markedly in one day.

Climb a Munro

Climb a Munro this year and help raise money for charity. Visit www.macmillan.org.uk for details
Picture Gallery for Ben Lomond

Ben Lomond and Loch Lomond from Beinn Dubh in June 2007.

© Keith Waugh
Image by Keith Waugh

Ben Lomond and Ptarmigan from Rowardennan Pier.

© Ashley Robinson
Image by Ashley Robinson

Every so often the long days of trudging through low cloud, rain, gales, heavy mist and hail are repaid with interest. Spectacular cloud inversion cleared to give stunning views of the Crainlarrich hills rising through the sea of cloud.

© Roger Green
Image by Roger Green

Looking up to Ben Lomond not long from the start of the path from the main car park area

© Dave Craik
Image by Dave Craik
View All 58 Images for Ben Lomond

A selection of weather forecasts local to #GetMountain.Top_Name#.

Ordnance Survey digital maps are also available to members.

  Weather & OS Maps
West Highlands
by MWIS (PDF format) 		Ben Lomond
by Accuweather 		West Highlands
by Met Office 		Ben Lomond
by Metcheck
Ben Lomond Area Map
Legend  Munro  Corbett  Graham  English/Welsh Top  Accommodation

A selection of local accommodation options who advertise with Munromagic.com.

  Where to Stay
Results by distance 'as the crow flies' from Ben Lomond
Please check the provision of roads in the area.
8.7 km
Morelaggan House
Arrochar
23.6 km
Ben More
Crianlarich
24.2 km
Rosebank House
Main Street, Strathyre, Perthshire
27.5 km
Balquhidder Lodge
Balquhidder Station, Lochearnhead
27.9 km
Luib Hotel
Luib, nr.Crianlarich,
For information on camping visit
ScottishCamping.com who also produce
a map of scottish camp grounds.
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The summary information of one or more ascent routes that include Ben Lomond.

Click on the route title to load the full content for that route.

  Routes that include Ben Lomond
  Ascent Distance Time Including... Description Rating
1 1006 m 11.88 km 4.5 hrs Ben Lomond  An easy route on a broad eroded path leading all the way to the summit. Can be muddy.  
2 996 m 11.37 km 4 hrs Ben Lomond  The "Ptarmigan Ridge Route" is relatively easy but initially on steep slopes, which can be muddy in wet weather. This is a less used path past a beautiful cascading burn with picturesque waterfalls.  
 

Pictures submitted by members on the summit of Ben Lomond

  Baggers Gallery for Ben Lomond

6am on summit

© Ian Gray
Image by Ian Gray

Ian and Catriona with her father David on Ben lomond summit, 8th October 2011.

© Ian Nixon
Image by Ian Nixon

Me and Norman , this was my first munro well chuffed.

© Ian Stalley
Image by Ian Stalley

Wind and rain swept collies, who don't seem too happy to be sat waiting in this weather

© John Martin
Image by John Martin
View All 100 Baggers Images for Ben Lomond
The logging section stores any entries for Ben Lomond in your own log. From here you can
  1. Add a route log entry that includes this mountain
  2. Write a full account of your route including photos
  3. Edit an existing log entry including uploading a GPX file or add a photo
  4. Delete your log entry
  Logging
Your Route Log
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If a member has uploaded a tracklog as part of their personal route log and opted to share it then it will be presented here.

You can view a members route overlayed on an online map or download the KMZ file for use in Google Earth.

 Shared Members Track Logs
 
Ben Lomond
by David McSporran
Ben Lomond
by Jan Konstmann
Ben Lomond
by David McSporran
Ben Lomond
by William Deans
Ben Lomond
by Mark Rudzinski
Ben Lomond
by Michael Hill
Ben Lomond
by Steven Budd
Ben Lomond
by Andrew Gilmour
Ben Lomond
by David McSporran
Ben Lomond
by Geert Gritter

Post a few words about Ben Lomond or read what others have had to say.

 Comments
 
Showing the most recent 5 of 62 comments. Would you like to view all 62?
John Drummond
wrote on
November 26, 2010
Who is it that gives us real hill walkers a bad name??? Well take a trip up Ben Lomond on a mid November typical winter's day, with thick cloud at 2,000ft, constant seasonally cold drizzle, approximately a foot of wet snow and slippery ice from 2,500ft and then marvel at the crazies and dummies out on the tourist path. Turns into somewhat of a fashion parade as we see young girls in long flowing light dresses, athlete types in nothing but tight lycra & trainers, 2 Irishmen in golf shoes and chinos, OAPs setting out on their accent in late afternoon, need I say more?? Idiots!!
Jean Moore
wrote on
September 12, 2010
Done my first ever Munro today, went up and down the Ptarmigan route, took 6 hrs up & down with a few stops on the way, didn't realise how steep it was in places, my legs were killing me on the way down, good job I had a walking pole with me (nearly never took it) got some good pics on my phone on the way up but the top was too misty for any decent pics, then I dropped my phone (only got it last week) and cracked the screen. Barring the phone incident (still fuming) it was an enjoyable day out, hopefully the first of many more Munros.
Kenny Wallace
wrote on
September 7, 2010
Went up on the Ptarmigan route and came back down on the Tourist path. Started walking early in the morning so didn't see anyone on the approach to the summit. Visibility was zero on the summit so no good views but must have passed about 70 people walking the tourist route up. Having went both routes was well happy I went up on the Ptarmigan route. Took just about 4 hours.
William Mulholland
wrote on
August 15, 2010
climbed my first munro today with my son (18) silly name for a boy, started at 7am and made the peak at 8.40, went the easier way anti clockwise from the car park at the pier through the woods, and came down the steep way, glad it did it that way! great views and a great day for both of us ill be back one day to do it the other way...
Gerry Delaney
wrote on
August 6, 2010
Climbed via Ptarmigan route on my own, bit steep mostly all the way up with a few flat bits to rest my weary legs! Didn't see anyone coming up in front or behind me tho passed a few people heading down the route. The last 400 feet was done on hands and knees in pea soup mist in driving rain !! Made it tho. Couldn t see a thing from the summit and headed back via the tourist route which was busy with walkers and bikers. Good day out!
 
 

A full written account of a climb submitted by our members.

You can prepare your own write up by first making an entry in your route log and then visiting the logging section above.

  Route Write-Ups
  Date Title Written by Including...
1 13 Sep 2010 testaedkhs Craig Usher Ben Lomond
2 11 Feb 2011 Duh John Warnock Ben Lomond
 
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