Photographs, route description and map of an ascent of Ben Venue in the Trossachs in the Southern Highlands of Scotland

Location: The Trossachs
Map: OS Landranger 57 ( GR 474064 )
Distance: 8.5 miles / 13.5km
Time: 3 hours 30 minutes
Terrain: hill paths

Ben Venue's distinctive twin summits tower over Loch Katrine, making it a prominent landmark, especially when seen from the north. It is a fine hill and an even finer view point, and can be approached from Ledard to the south or from Loch Achray in the Trossachs to the north.
Follow either of the paths leading away from the Forestry Commission car park beside the loch. At the junction where the two paths meet, continue straight towards Ben Venue.
When you reach a private road turn immediately left, following waymarks and signs to Loch Katrine Dam, West of Scotland Water. After a short distance leave the road for a waymarked path on the let, cross the bridge and ascend to a track cross-roads, turning right to follow the Ben Venue footpath sign. The Ben Venue path is soon signposted off left and rises through conifers before descending to another track T-junction. Turn right and follow the burn upwards to arrive at another track. Make a left turn here and follow this track to the point where it descends. Here, another signpost indicates left to Leannach car park and right to Ben Venue. The path now continues beside the burn.
Pass a sign warning walkers not to try to descend Ben Venue direct to the Achray Hotel, cross over a track and continue straight on up Gleann Riabhach through an area of felled forest. More plantation then leads to open hillside. Continue up the corrie to reach a large cairn at the col below the final section of ridge leading to the summit.
Ascend the hillside on a rocky path to where it levels out a bit. Gaining the pathless ridge up on the left avoids a large flat boggy section later on and puts you on track for the highest of Ben Venue's summits ( 729m ) - the first rocky peak immediately ahead and to the left, not the furthest one with the trig point.
If you continue on the path rather than take the ridge you pass through bog and traverse round to the point where the path divides. The right-hand path leads to the tower top with the trig point to the right, while the left-hand leads round to the col at the base of the highest summit. Climb to the top ( 729m ) marked by a largish cairn, then continue to the lower summit and trig point and return by the route of ascent.

The Scottish Highlands

<< Back : Southern Highlands : Next >>

Scotland Index :: Scottish Peaks

Isle of Skye :: Isle of Arran :: West Highland Way

Knoydart :: Glencoe :: Ben Nevis :: NW Highlands :: Eastern Highlands :: Central Highlands

Worldwide Mountaineering :: Adventure Travel :: Site Index

Travel & Guide Books & Maps - Scotland:-

Maps of Scotland

Books & Maps - Scotland

Climbing, Ski-ing & Mountaineering Books