Ben Lomond - Monday 14 May 2018
Route
Rowardennan - Tom Fithich - Ptarmigan - Bealach Buidhe - Ben Lomond - Coire a' Bhathaich - Sròn Aonaich - Rowardennan Forest - Rowardennan
Parking
Forestry Commission Car Park at Rowardennan (£3 all day) - Grid Reference NS 360986, Post Code G63 0AR
Mileage
12.6 miles
Terrain
Clear mountain paths with some basic scrambling on the final ascent to Ben Lomond
Weather
Sunny with light breezes
Time Taken
8hrs 30mins
Munros
1
Map
OL39 - Loch Lomond North
Rowardennan - Tom Fithich - Ptarmigan - Bealach Buidhe - Ben Lomond - Coire a' Bhathaich - Sròn Aonaich - Rowardennan Forest - Rowardennan
Parking
Forestry Commission Car Park at Rowardennan (£3 all day) - Grid Reference NS 360986, Post Code G63 0AR
Mileage
12.6 miles
Terrain
Clear mountain paths with some basic scrambling on the final ascent to Ben Lomond
Weather
Sunny with light breezes
Time Taken
8hrs 30mins
Munros
1
Map
OL39 - Loch Lomond North
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GPX File
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Walk Description
We were staying near Doune not that far from Stirling and after disappointing weather in the preceding days today dawned sunny with little wind therefore we decided to make the journey to Rowardennan to climb the Munro of Ben Lomond. At 3196 feet (974 metres) it is small by Scottish Munro standards and in good conditions the route described here provides no real difficulty, however in winter or poor weather the mountain could provide a significant challenge to an inexperienced walker. The mountain comprises two parallel south & south-easterly ridges - the Ptarmigan ridge to the west (our ascent route) and the Sròn Aonaich ridge to the east (our route of descent). The starting point of Rowardennan is a popular stopping off point on the West Highland Way and this coupled with the weather conditions saw lots of people out today. The car park lies at the end of a road on the eastern side of Loch Lomond just past the Rowardennan Hotel and is a bargain at £3 for the day - there is plenty of room too.
From the Car Park the route followed the West Highland Way for about half a mile before branching off to the right at a sign for the "Ptarmigan Path" - all of a sudden we were out on our own and we found out later that this is the less popular way up for some reason - from the path to the summit we must have bumped into just a small number of other walkers. The Ptarmigan ascent is a pure delight with the views back over Loch Lomond simply stunning and once Tom Fithich is reached the view north is just fantastic. From Ptarmigan the route levels out for a short while before a steep scramble ascent is negotiated in order to reach the summit. The views from the top in all directions are just amazing and the visibility today could not have been better.
It was now time to descend and this began with a pleasant and gentle descent to Coire a' Bhathaich where it is worth taking a short detour to enjoy the views from the craggy top - particularly into the valley below and back to Ben Lomond. The remainder of the descent undulates with the odd steep section but this is very easy walking with the views over Loch Lomond with you for most of the way until Rowardennan Forest is reached. This is a walk to be undertaken on a day when you know the weather and visibility are set fair in order to really appreciate the exceptional views on offer.
From the Car Park the route followed the West Highland Way for about half a mile before branching off to the right at a sign for the "Ptarmigan Path" - all of a sudden we were out on our own and we found out later that this is the less popular way up for some reason - from the path to the summit we must have bumped into just a small number of other walkers. The Ptarmigan ascent is a pure delight with the views back over Loch Lomond simply stunning and once Tom Fithich is reached the view north is just fantastic. From Ptarmigan the route levels out for a short while before a steep scramble ascent is negotiated in order to reach the summit. The views from the top in all directions are just amazing and the visibility today could not have been better.
It was now time to descend and this began with a pleasant and gentle descent to Coire a' Bhathaich where it is worth taking a short detour to enjoy the views from the craggy top - particularly into the valley below and back to Ben Lomond. The remainder of the descent undulates with the odd steep section but this is very easy walking with the views over Loch Lomond with you for most of the way until Rowardennan Forest is reached. This is a walk to be undertaken on a day when you know the weather and visibility are set fair in order to really appreciate the exceptional views on offer.
Come on - let's have this big Munro then. Fudge clearly has his "game face" on today.
The Forestry Commission Car Park at Rowardennan - £3 all day, bargain
The commemorative stone near the shores of Loch Lomond at Rowardennan.
The memorial was purchased by military veteran Jock Cousin - he replaced the original brass plaque thieves took from the Ben Lomond National Memorial Park - all paid for out of his own pocket. A stonemason friend of his did the work - the inscription reads:
"This land rising from the shore of the loch to the summit of Ben Lomond was dedicated in 1994 as the Ben Lomond National Memorial Park to be held in perpetuity as a tribute to those who gave their lives in the service of their country"
The memorial was purchased by military veteran Jock Cousin - he replaced the original brass plaque thieves took from the Ben Lomond National Memorial Park - all paid for out of his own pocket. A stonemason friend of his did the work - the inscription reads:
"This land rising from the shore of the loch to the summit of Ben Lomond was dedicated in 1994 as the Ben Lomond National Memorial Park to be held in perpetuity as a tribute to those who gave their lives in the service of their country"
Since 1995, the area around Ben Lomond, including the mountain summit, has been designated as a war memorial, called the Ben Lomond National Memorial Park. The park is dedicated to those who gave their lives in the First and Second World Wars and was created out of the former Rowardennan Estate with the support of the National Heritage Memorial Fund. The Memorial Park was officially opened on Armistice Day in 1997 by the Rt Hon Donald Dewar, then Secretary of State for Scotland and later becoming the first First Minister of Scotland. At the opening ceremony he unveiled this granite sculpture by Doug Cocker, a Scottish artist who had won a competition organised by the Scottish Sculpture Trust to design a permanent monument for the park.
Looking north up Loch Lomond from Rowardennan
A Loch Lomond panoramic - we were heading right to Ptarmigan
The path heads along the West Highland Way before leaving on the path to Ptarmigan near Tom Beithe
If only people did eh?
Looking back towards Rowardennan from the Ptarmigan path.
The small island is Eilean nan Deargannan with Beinn Dubh providing the backdrop
The small island is Eilean nan Deargannan with Beinn Dubh providing the backdrop
Another panorama from the Ptarmigan path - Beinn Dubh & Ben Reoch sit above Loch Lomond
Heading towards Tom Fithich
This was fantastic walking - hardly anybody on this path at all
As we headed up the slopes of Tom Fithich the views to the north really opened out
Another view over to the western shore of Loch Lomond - the complex in the centre of shot is the Inverbeg Holiday Park
As height is gained the views to the southern end of Loch Lomond show their hand
A little further up and Fudge decides to give his Mum some encouragement - what a view that is.
Nearing the summit of Ptarmigan we get our first view of Ben Lomond
The western face of Ben Lomond - our route up was along the incline to the left
A fantastic view to the "Arrochar Alps"
Angie up on the summit plateau of Ptarmigan
Up on Ptarmigan looking to Ben Lomond
Can't believe there is nobody here - we realised later that everybody was on our descent path - they were missing out
A "Fudge Jacuzzi" up on Ptarmigan
The view of Ben Lomond from Ptarmigan
Ben Lomond - we were heading to the left and made our ascent from near the snow......
..... and here it is - we resisted the urge to put the crampons on!
The ascent of Ben Lomond begins gradually - we took time to stop often and look back at this view
Looking back to Ptarmigan from our ascent of Ben Lomond
After the gradual climb the gradient increases for the last 300 yards or so and involves a bit of light scrambling
Ptarmigan
A levelled out section before the next incline - look at that view
Fudge with that "will you two get a bloody move on" look he always gives us when we stop and take photographs.
The summit of Ben Lomond is at the top of this scrambly incline.
The summit of Ben Lomond is at the top of this scrambly incline.
The summit of Ben Lomond
Our route of descent from the summit was to the right.
Coire a' Bhathaich
Looking back to the summit of Ben Lomond - there were a lot of Germans up on the top today.
So much so that their massive towel adorning the summit blew away.
So much so that their massive towel adorning the summit blew away.
Looking to Ben Lomond from the crags above Coire a' Bhathaich
Our route did not go over Coire a' Bhathaich but a short detour gives superb views along the craggy ridge
Looking north east from Coire a' Bhathaich
Our route of descent from Ben Lomond was via the popular path coming up from Rowardennan
A panorama of our route both up and down Ben Lomond - up to the left and back to the right
Only one thing for it Fudge - let's have a dip in the Loch