This is the summed total of all the climbing within a route and is a good indicator of the strenuousness of a route.
Total Ascent
1748 m
An estimate of the time taken based on a derivation of Naismiths rules. Our calculation is based on the horizontal and ascent components of a climb, we do not make a reduction for descent.
Registered users can customise these walking times by specifying their own walking and ascending speeds. They can also add a fixed time period for stoppages.
Route Time
7.5 hrs
The horizontal distance of the route.
Route Distance
20.45 km
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.
Our summary will always contain one of easy, moderate or hard to indicate the severity of the route.
Notes
Ridge walk with a fair bit of up & down. Quite a streneous route with some easy scrambling. On paths for the majority of way, can be crowded between Ben Lawers & NT visitors centre. Need for second car or hitching (leave early) due to diff start/fin point
Here we provide the nearest town to the start of the route where you will find basic services.
We then give directions from that location to the route start. Your approach route may differ.
Travel Information
Head to: Kenmore (Loch Tay)
From Kenmore at the Eastern end of Loch Tay follow the A827 west towards Killin. After Approximately 12km you reach a bridge crossing the Lawers Burn, just before the bridge a track leads NNW to Machuim Farm and the start of the route.
Route Waypoint Map
The total ascent is 1,748 metres. Allow 7.5 hours to complete this 20.45 km route.
In winter months please check the local snow conditions at sais.gov.uk.
The hillphones service can inform you of stalking activities in the area.
Usually the shortest way to climb the mountain, making best use of tracks and paths to gain altitude. Route navigation requires map reading skills and an ability to navigate with a compass.
The information given here will enable you to annotate your map and plan your route. We do not give anecdotal descriptions on where to find the paths, worn by the feet of previous mountaineers.
Where the access routes are few or the ridge is narrow, paths are generally obvious. On open ground, following paths without using your compass may get you lost in poor visibility.
Route Information
Waypoint Detail
Start from bridge on A827 crossing the Lawers Burn, where a track leads NNW to Machuim Farm
NN68033999
Distance
Altitude 187 m
1
Follow the track on the eastern bank of the Lawers Burn NNW 2km (before the track crosses the burn)
NN67434197
Distance 2.22 km
Altitude 440 m
2
Climb the grassy slopes N to gain Meall Greigh , and the start of the ridge
NN67404382
Distance 1.97 km
Altitude 1001 m
3
From the summit head NW to meet National Trust Boundary (fence), following it W to bealach (830m)
NN65734406
Distance 1.80 km
Altitude 830 m
4
Continue W on lightly used paths
NN64914413
Distance 0.85 km
Altitude 1028 m
5
Bear SW to Meall Garbh
NN64394365
Distance 0.63 km
Altitude 1118 m
6
The path SW drops before climbing the short very steep slopes of An Stuc (easy scramble)
NN63904314
Distance 0.72 km
Altitude 1118 m
7
Follow path SSW to Creag an Fhithic
NN63534237
Distance 0.86 km
Altitude 993 m
8
Head S to the summit of Ben Lawers
NN63554142
Distance 1.08 km
Altitude 1214 m
9
Descend SW to col between Lawers and Ghlas
NN63014116
Distance 0.60 km
Altitude 980 m
10
Ascend SW to Beinn Ghlas
NN62544047
Distance 0.91 km
Altitude 1103 m
11
Follow South spur of Beinn Ghlas to descend
NN63053979
Distance 0.84 km
Altitude 890 m
12
Descend SE to join track by Allt an Tuim Bhric
NN64403952
Distance 1.36 km
Altitude 583 m
13
Descend on track to reach main road by Tombreck
NN65143788
Distance 2.82 km
Altitude 230 m
14
Hitch or walk E to return
NN68033999
Distance 3.83 km
Altitude 187 m
A selection of weather forecasts local to this route.
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Rating & Reviews
Rating & Reviews
Rated:
from 5 votes
Click Stars to Vote
Your Rating
Written by
Ian Munro
on 12 Oct 2008:
We did not follow the complete circuit, descending after An Stuc down to Lochan nan Cat. The ascent of the N face of An Stuc was tricky by my standards and I would not have fancied descending the face. Apart from that, it was a long day of grassy slopes and relatively friendly gradients. Watch out for the descent to Lochan nan Cat, which offers no option other than steep grassy slopes and also for the shortage of parking - we had to 'donate' £5 to the RNLI, despite arriving before the crowds.
Written by
Pete Carson
on 20 Aug 2008:
Not a bad route. Low,thick cloud all day but still easy enough to follow. Left the car at the visitor centre and biked to the start point in Lawers village. plenty of safe places to secure them until the return in the car.
Written by
Mike Watson
on 29 Jan 2006:
5 stars as completed in winter.
No real problems.
Deciding when to start ascent of Meall Greigh could be interesting in poor visibility although the burn running off it is a good marker (Better shown on 1:25000).
Oh and An Stuc is entertaining,traverse round to the North Face and make your ascent from there (good snow fields to crampon up).
Written by
Rob Jeffries
on 07 Jun 2005:
I cut this route short by back tracking after reaching Creag an Fhithic, descending from the col between this and An Stuc, to Lochan nan cat down steep grassy slopes (avoiding a few crags). From there, a long boggy walk back to the track you came in on and then back to Machuim farm.
No route finding difficulties, though in winter the track between Meall Greigh and Meall Garbh would be obscured of course. The ascent of An Stuc might not be considered an "easy scramble" in icy conditions.
Written by
Mark Gibson
on 15 Oct 2004:
Completed this round in January 2004 when it was a near whiteout, this made it more interesting. A good long walk on a winters day but be careful approaching An Stuc as the steep slope can become a long ice sheet, Crampons and Ice axe must be used carefully. If doing this in winter I'd suggest two cars, the second left at the car park in the visitors centre. An alternative is to cut the walk down a bit and from Machum head straight up Meall Garbh then follow the normal route to summit of Lawers where you can get back to Machuim via the easy east ridge, completing a circuit of Lochan nan Cat.
Disclaimer. The details provided above are an aid to planning an expedition, but all distances, altitudes and bearings must be considered approximate. You must navigate with the appropriate map,
a compass, your navigation skills and common sense, MunroMagic.com accept no responsibility for your interpretation of our route information.
, and the start of the ridge
