Photographs, maps and route description of an ascent of the Corbetts Ben Ledi and Ben Vane in the Trossachs Region of the Southern Highlands

BEN LEDI CIRCUIT - ROUTE DESCRIPTION:

Location: Callander
Map: OS Landranger 57 ( GR 587 094 )
Distance: 6.5 miles ( 10.5 km )
Time: 3 hours 30 minutes
Terrain: tracks and paths

Ben Ledi is one of the most often climbed hills in the Southern Highlands. Two car parks serve the ascent path. The first is accessed from the A81 north of the Pass of Leny by turning left over a metal bridge signposted to Strathyre Forest Cabins. The second is a large layby on the A84 just north of the previous turning.
The signposted path starts from the first car park: continue to cross a burn and exit from the forestry plantation on to a mountain path below the impressively craggy south-east face. Ascend the corrie beside the burn. The path starts to level out at the col, then turns right to gain the broad ridge leading towards the summit.
Occasional fence posts lead to a ﬁnal pull to the summit trig point via a rocky ridge surmounted by a metal cross which commemorates the life of Sgt Harry Lawrie killed in a helicopter crash during a mountain rescue on Ben More in the winter of 1987.
The summit offers extensive views to Stirling Castle and the Wallace Monument; from here you can return by the route of ascent or continue round and descend the Stank Glen.
To continue, descend north-west along the summit ridge and follow an old fenceline down the rock-strewn hillside. At the col below the lochan, turn right and follow a muddy path to arrive at a fence and stile back into forestry plantation land. A good path leads clown to a junction with a way marked circular path. Turn right and continue down the glen past a junction with the left-hand loop path to arrive at a track. Cross over and go down through the forest past a large waterfall to emerge at a bend on a lower track. A path on the left-hand side continues down and right to regain the track. Follow the road rightwards back to the start.

Route Map for Ben Vane

BEN VANE - ROUTE DESCRIPTION:

Location: Balquidder
Map: OS Landranger 57 (GR529175 )
Distance: 5.5 miles ( 9km )
Time: 3.5hours
Terrain:| rough hill path

Ben Vane perhaps sees more ascents from the south via Brig O' Turk, or Ben Ledi. However, the ascent from the road end at Ballimore in Glen Buckie to the south of Balquhidder is the quickest and arguably the most scenic: perfect for a winter's day.
From Balquhiddar take the unclassiﬁed minor road south past the head of Loch Voil, going right at a fork. and leave the car in a small parking area just before the entrance to the farm at Baltimore. The road surface is potholed and uneven so care should be taken.
Walk across the bridge over the Calair Burn and at the right-of-way signpost follow the rough path up to the right. This is signposted to Brig O‘Turk via Glen Finglas. After 200 metres or so, go through the right hand of two gates then break off from the right-of-way and climb uphill beside a fence and a tiny burn on a rough all-terrain vehicle track. Where the fence goes left, carry straight on up, passing well to the west of a small forestry plantation. Continue up the slight ridge, then swing on to the main northern ridge of Ben Vane.
Height is gained quickly and ﬁne views open up across smaller neighbouring hills to the bigger Mtmros beyond. With the summit now in sight ahead, continue along this easy ridge beside an old boundary fence which comes up from the west, then make the ﬁnal steep climb on to the summit of Ben Vane ( 821m ). Return by the route of ascent. It is possible to vary the return by cutting down left beside the fence to join the Brig o’ Turk footpath at a small bealach. However, this is perhaps more of a summer diversion and in winter the direct return, as well as being surer and quicker. has the beneﬁt of maintaining the ﬁne views to the north.