Ben Vane Route Information

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Ben Vane

Quick Facts

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

940 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

4.5 hrs

The horizontal distance of the route.

Route Distance

11.98 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.

OS Landranger Maps Required

56	Loch Lomond & Inveraray

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A brief summary of this route.

Our summary will always contain one of easy, moderate or hard to indicate the severity of the route.

Notes

An easy route, but Ben Vane has many false summits to dash your hopes before the true summit is attained.

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: Tarbet

From Tarbet (A82) travel N 6.5km to parking just beyond power station.

Route Waypoint Map

The total ascent is 940 metres. Allow 4.5 hours to complete this 11.98 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 large carpark on A82 opposite Power Station
		NN32280989	Distance	Altitude 22 m

1	Follow road SSW to rail bridge
		NN31770921	Distance 0.99 km	Altitude 40 m

2	Head W under rail bridge on winding road to junction by bridge over river
		NN29900952	Distance 2.27 km	Altitude 165 m

3	Cross river and follow road SW for 500m
		NN29530922	Distance 0.50 km	Altitude 220 m

4	Ascend NW over inumerable false summits to minor top
		NN28050985	Distance 1.77 km	Altitude 835 m

5	Head W to summit of Ben Vane
		NN27750985	Distance 0.33 km	Altitude 915 m

6	Descend by same route
		NN32280989	Distance 6.10 km	Altitude 22 m

A selection of weather forecasts local to this route.

Weather

West Highlands
by MWIS (PDF format)

West Highlands
by Met Office

Ben Lomond
by Metcheck

Images of Ben Vane

At the top of Ben Vane over looking towards Ben Lomond

Image by Peter Cook

Ben Vane from the summit of Beinn Ime

Image by Doug Tulloch

Snow topped Ben Vane from Ben Vorlich

Image by Paul Murphy

(Arrochar) Alpine view from the cave half way up Ben Vane - 1.2.15

Image by Alan Puckrin

Route Area Map

Legend

Munro

Corbett

Graham

English/Welsh Top

Accommodation

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

Where to Stay

We currently have no
sponsored accommodation listings for this area.

Rating & Reviews

Rating & Reviews

Rated:

from 9 votes

Click Stars to Vote
Your Rating

Written by Adam Rixon on 17 Apr 2005:

As others have mentioned, the path ducks and weaves between crags and boulders, so although you gain a lot of height quickly, there's plenty to take your mind off the steepness. I climbed in April, in nice weather to about 800m, then snow, fog and a howling gale on the summit, so can't comment on the view, though near-neighbour A'Chrois looks impressive.

Written by William Bower on 28 Apr 2004:

This route has got the kind of path that I love because you never know what is around the next corner. The path takes an ingenious route through the various crags but is never difficult except for a small section just below the summit which is ok going up but quite tricky coming down. It may be one of the smallest Munros but it's still worth all the effort

Written by Kathleen Haddow on 27 Feb 2004:

For a longer trip we combined this with Beinn Ime by going over the west ridge of Beinn Vane then up the northern shoulder of Beinn Ime. We picked up a path on the south ridge then headed down to the glen where we caught the hydro/forestry access road back to the start. A really fab day with stunning views, optional scrambling, wide ridges and an easy path back to the start. Only down side is there is a lot of ascent (around 1670m in total).

Written by Duncan Aitken on 05 Sep 2003:

After reading the other reviews I have to agree with them. The day I did Ben Vane was clear but a little damp, so in some places the path, when you can find it, was a bit on the slippy side. This just made it all the more fun to do. A good Munro to start with as you will see many different types of climbing on this one. But don't get down hearted when you get to the top, the first, second and then the third, because the third is the true top. HAVE FUN CLIMBING IT!!

Written by Stephen Graham on 25 Aug 2003:

Quite a steep route but, as long as you're careful on the eroded path, not difficult. The route up is interesting, winding its way through the crags, so you don't really notice how steep it is. There are also plenty of opportunities for scrambling should you be so inclined. Given a clear day the views from the top are superb, incorporating all the islands on Loch Lomond, with many munros and corbetts all round the horizon.

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.

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