📌 The Trossachs, Stirling
★★★★
Brooding Ben Ledi rises majestically above Callander – one of those abrupt points where the Scottish Lowlands end and the Highlands begin. At 879 metres above sea level the summit is the highest in the Trossachs, an outstanding viewpoint and marked with an iron cross. At least nine different lochs and reservoirs can be seen from various points on this route, illustrating why the Trossachs are known as Scotland’s answer to the English Lake District. Combining the south ridge “tourist route” with a slightly quieter (but rougher) return along the north ridge before descending into impeccably-scented Stank Glen makes a great circuit.
📷 Chronological photo guide
Start of the ascent to the southwest 
Ben Ledi from the lower slopes 
View back to Loch Lubnaig 
Looking east upon gaining the south ridge 
South ridge of Ben Ledi 
View back to Loch Venachar 
Callander (left) & Cambusmore Quarry (water) 
Approach to the summit 
Ben Ledi summit 
Ben Ledi summit 
View ahead along the north ridge 
View west over Trossachs lochs 
View northeast over Loch Lubnaig 
Bealach nan Corp 
Path into upper Stank Glen 
Stank Glen 
Stank Burn 
Stank Glen 
Path through the glen 
Waterfall lower down the glen 
Ben Ledi from Loch Lubnaig (not on the route)
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish off A84 just north of Pass of Leny, 1 mi west of Kilmahog
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NN 587090
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 56.252907,-4.281871
❌ No public transport within 1 mi
🚗 Car park (gets full)
📝 Key info
▶ 10 km / 6 mi | ▲ 760 m | ⌛ 4.5-5 hr
Features: △ Ben Ledi (879 m, Corbett); 🌊 Stank Glen waterfalls
⬤ Tough | Clear paths with just a couple of boggy parts; rougher, narrower and steeper on descent.
Download file for GPS➡️ Clockwise circuit: start at north end of car park – track junction at 🧭 NN 580093 – join south ridge near 566m spot height – Ben Ledi – Bealach nan Corp via ridge – south side of Stank Burn – Stank Glen waterfalls – track junction just south of Stank – start
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: Sheep, frogs, ravens.
Weather: Hazy sunshine although some high level cloud around. Breezy at times on the ridge, otherwise light winds.
September 2016
