Ben Vorlich [Loch Lomond] Route Information

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Ben Vorlich [Loch Lomond]

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

1440 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

5 hrs

The horizontal distance of the route.

Route Distance

12.29 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

Only £6.29 (£13.49 Laminated) from

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 approach on surfaced roads and an easy route after the initial steep ascent.

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 at view point, just beyond power station.

Route Waypoint Map

The total ascent is 1,440 metres. Allow 5 hours to complete this 12.29 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 road opposite Power Station
		NN32280989	Distance	Altitude 22 m

1	Follow road SSW to rail bridge
		NN31780921	Distance 0.99 km	Altitude 40 m

2	Head W under rail bridge on winding road
		NN30420918	Distance 1.64 km	Altitude 130 m

3	Continue NW to junction
		NN29880951	Distance 0.65 km	Altitude 146 m

4	Continue NNW on track
		NN29531028	Distance 0.97 km	Altitude 215 m

5	Ascend NE towards summit ridge (no obvious path until higher up)
		NN30111082	Distance 0.96 km	Altitude 590 m

6	Bear NNE to reach col
		NN30201125	Distance 0.41 km	Altitude 730 m

7	Ascend NW onto ridge
		NN30011133	Distance 0.22 km	Altitude 760 m

8	Continue ascending NW along the ridge
		NN29581200	Distance 0.82 km	Altitude 850 m

9	Follow ridge NNW to the summit of Ben Vorlich
		NN29501245	Distance 0.46 km	Altitude 943 m

10	Return SSE to ridge
		NN29581200	Distance 0.46 km	Altitude 850 m

11	Continue SE down ridge
		NN30011133	Distance 0.82 km	Altitude 760 m

12	Descend SE to col
		NN30201125	Distance 0.22 km	Altitude 730 m

13	Continue SSE to minor top
		NN30371105	Distance 0.26 km	Altitude 778 m

14	Follow ridge SE
		NN30741029	Distance 0.88 km	Altitude 550 m

15	Descend SE through rocky outcrops to reach road
		NN31330970	Distance 0.84 km	Altitude 270 m

16	Continue SE to join approach route and return to car park.
		NN32280989	Distance 1.69 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 Vorlich [Loch Lomond]

Loch Sloy dam and Ben Vorlich from Ben Vane.

Image by Donny McKie

Sunrise from Inveruglas looking up Loch Lomond with the Ben on the left of Picture 3/1/09.

Image by Ian Mather

Ben Vorlich from Ben Vane.

Image by Donny McKie

Excellent views from the top of Ben Vorlich over Loch Lomond. www.8summits.co.uk

Image by Steven Budd

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 12 votes

Click Stars to Vote
Your Rating

Written by Jonathan Small on 26 May 2013:

I'd strongly recommend the Little Hills route from Stuckendroin. The ground is dry, views S excellent and terrain enjoyable. Navigation easy in clear weather, a bit impromptu at first, good path appears over tops 793 & 808m later. Much more enjoyable than slogging up steeply from Loch Sloy. Took me 3h to summit but I'm slow and take photos. 4h45 round trip. Descent over N Top easy thanks to good path and quad-bike trail which takes sensible route down corrie. Views excellent esp of Arrochar Alps.

Written by Gavin Poole on 15 Jun 2009:

If you want to go up the path route, look for the small cairn at the side of the road (pile of rocks) & ascent there. If you are after a more challenging climb, walk on further until you get to a man made water works embankment & scramble up the steep hillside until you meet the path at the top.

Written by John Gilchrist on 20 Jan 2008:

Try this. On the Loch Sloy road, half way between the 3rd and 4th pylon from the dam, there is an obvious man made embankment. Ascend from here on the right (South) bank of the obvious burn. At alt 450m I managed to catch the tail of a narrow but almost complete snow gully that took me - if not efortlessly at least somewhat more interestingly - to just below the summit ridge.

Written by Sc Joss on 26 Feb 2007:

Cairn at start is very small. go to well within sight of the dam, look for a pile of stones at the foot of a burn, small cairn is to the left of this. Path improves further up the steep ascent to col. Path on ridge good. We descended below little hills- this provides excellent views but can lead to a long tramp to get to a point where railway can be crossed. Would be difficult in summer when bracken would be long.

Written by Kathleen Haddow on 14 Nov 2005:

This is a better way to the top that walking up directly from the dam. That route is extremely steep, wet in places and guaranteed to make you lose your sense of humour. I've also climbed up via the SW ridge starting at the transfer station. The added bonus here is the ridge walk to the summit, and a path once you join the ridge.

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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