Walk: Ben Lomond from the other bonnie bank

📌 Rowardennan, Stirling
★★★★

The most southerly Munro, Ben Lomond is probably the only serious contender to Ben Nevis for the title of Scotland’s most popular hill over 3,000 feet. On average 100 people each day reach the summit; for summer weekends, thousands must be a better estimate, most heading up the “tourist route” along the broad, southern ridge. For a much quieter, more interesting ascent with far better views of Loch Lomond, ascend via the steeper Ptarmigan Ridge, leaving the tourist route for the descent when legs are tired. Even better, start the day by accessing the start at Rowardennan by ferry from Tarbet on the other bonnie bank. Outside peak times, by this route you’ll have a reasonable chance of a relatively quiet ascent.

📷 Chronological photo guide

🌍 Location

📌 Start / finish at minor road end, Rowardennan

🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NS 360986

🛰️ GPS coordinates: 56.152401,-4.642370

🚢 Ferry across Loch Lomond to Rowardennan

🚗 Car park

📝 Key info

▶ 12 km / 7 mi | ▲ 990 m | ⌛ 4.5-5.5 hr

Features: 💧 Loch Lomond ★★★★; △ Ben Lomond (974 m, Munro)

⬤ Tough | Largely good hill paths, occasionally boggy on lower sections, and a couple of short, rocky steps to negotiate. Ptarmigan ascent is generally narrower and rougher than the descent.

➡️ Clockwise circuit: start – Rowardennan Youth Hostel (start here if arriving by boat) – Ben Lomond via Ptarmigan Ridge – start via “tourist” path

Download file for GPS

🥾 On our last visit

Wildlife: Several lizards on ascent, and an adder on descent near Rowardennan. Less welcome were the first ticks of the season.

Weather: Temperature climbed quickly after a cool start, to 20°C by lunchtime at loch level. Cloudless skies, gentle cooling breeze.

April 2015