📌 Arrochar Alps, Argyll & Bute
★★★★
Small scramble aside, Ben Donich is one of the more straightforward summits in the Arrochar Alps thanks to its position next to the top of the Rest and Be Thankful pass. With a decent path all the way to the top, a return trip can be accomplished in a few hours in good conditions. Despite the relative ease of ascent, it yields nothing to its more awkward neighbours in terms of views. The summit cairn is a perfect place to spot many of western Scotland’s natural landmarks: lochs Goil, Fyne, Lomond, Awe and the Firth of Clyde; Mull, Arran, the Cumbraes and Ailsa Craig; Ben Cruachan and Ben Nevis among others. Ben Donich’s own slopes are also interesting, with a chaos of huge boulders adding drama to the higher parts of the ascent. Beware: the geology has led to deep fissures close to the path in places. Dogs have been lost down these on more than one occasion – plenty of the openings are human-sized too.
📷 Chronological photo guide
View from the start 
Beinn an Lochain from the lower slopes 
Loch Restil & the Rest and Be Thankful pass from the ascent 
Gleann Mòr 
Holes to fall down for the unwary… 
Looking ahead to the upper slopes 
Coire Culach 
Stob an Eas (left) & Beinn an Lochain 
Rocky upper slopes 
Short scramble 
Distant Ben Cruachan 
The Cobbler (centre left) & Ben Lomond (right) 
Beinn Luibhean (left), Beinn Ime (centre) & The Cobbler (right) 
Loch Restil & the scrambling section 
Ben Donich summit area 
Loch Goil from the summit 
View west from the summit
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish just off the B828 immediately southwest of Rest and Be Thankful summit
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NN 228070
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 56.222079,-4.859712
🚌 Bus stops at top of Rest and Be Thankful pass
🚗 Car park
📝 Key info
▶ 7 km / 4 mi | ▲ 580 m | ⌛ 3.5-4 hr
Features: △ Ben Donich (847 m, Corbett)
⬤ Tough | Track for first few hundred metres then good but steep path, fainter only for very short stretches. One short and easy scramble near the top requires hands. Deep fissures next to (and one directly on) the path – care required especially with lying snow.
Download file for GPS➡️ Out-and-back walk to Ben Donich summit
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: A few birds being blown about in the wind.
Weather: Nearly unbroken sunshine, temperature in mid teens at the car park but strong east winds.
May 2017
