Home   Glossary
Ben 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
996 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 hrs
The horizontal distance of the route.
Route Distance
11.37 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
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.

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: Balmaha

From Balmaha (B837) travel NNW 11km on eastern shore of Loch Lomond to Rowardenan.

Route Waypoint Map

The total ascent is 996 metres. Allow 4 hours to complete this 11.37 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 carpark by pier
  NS35949863 Distance
Altitude
20 m
1
Head N on road for about 900m to the stream flowing down from Tom Eas
NS35989949 Distance
0.93 km
Altitude
30 m
2
Ascend path NE on north side of stream onto slopes of Tom Eas
NS36289997 Distance
0.87 km
Altitude
135 m
3
Continue ascending NNW passing Tom Fitich to the West
NN36030125 Distance
1.30 km
Altitude
462 m
4
Continue NNW to summit of Ptarmigan.
NN35810221 Distance
1.04 km
Altitude
731 m
5
Follow ridge N
NN35840262 Distance
0.43 km
Altitude
717 m
6
Continue to follow ridge NE
NN36340309 Distance
0.73 km
Altitude
810 m
7
Bear SE on ridge to the summit of Ben Lomond
NN36700284 Distance
0.49 km
Altitude
974 m
8
Descend by same route (OR follow the "tourist path" SE turning S)
  NS35949863 Distance
5.57 km
Altitude
20 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 Lomond
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 11 votes
Click Stars to Vote
Your Rating
Written by Peter Lang on 04 Sep 2011:
Pass YH and after few cottages (pass by Ben Lomond park centre), when pass lomond burn cottage immediately cross wee bridge and there is an obvious path to the right.Excellent ascent route on good path zig zagging up to Ptarmigan summit, bypassing waterfall. Descended via tourist route for full circuit 4hr 45m of walking, 1hr of enjoying summit views. Busy hill and pass an interesting bunch of characters/dogs on descent!
 
Written by Simon Woods on 18 Aug 2010:
Walked up the tourist route and down Ptarmigan on a glorious Autumn day. Not quite sure why people say Ptarmigan has better views, as tourist route is equally good. Ptarmigan final descent above the loch is easy but tiring!
 
Written by Steven Budd on 31 Jul 2010:
excellent route, passed about 40 people going up the other way and once on this path only met 3 guys up and down. scenery was great for the first 1200ft, then the cloud, wind and rain set in, but really enjoyed it, last 400 feet pretty hard in the weather but none the less a great day. climbed on 31st july 2010. cheers steven. www.8summits.co.uk
 
Written by Gavin Poole on 03 Jun 2009:
We done this route in reverse (up the tourist route & down ptarmigan). The weather wasn't too great so it would probably been better to come down the tourist route, although it was enjoyable none the less.
 
Written by Andrew Hart on 13 Oct 2008:
At the summit turn your tail and come back down the Ptarmigan ridge; don't put a toe on the soul-sucking tourist path!
 
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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