📌 Arrochar Alps, Argyll & Bute
★★★★
Thousands of cars wind around the western Ben Vorlich (not to be confused with its slightly higher namesake above Loch Earn) every day on the A82, sandwiched between Loch Lomond and the hill’s steep eastern slopes. This side is, however, complex, rough and mostly pathless: sneaking around the back using the road to Loch Sloy reservoir is an easier solution, with an efficient (i.e. painful) but interesting path to the top from here. Steep slopes falling away to low ground on all sides… a recipe for excellent summit views.
📷 Chronological photo guide
Inveruglas 
Loch Lomond from Inveruglas 
Approach along a private tarmac road 
Ben Vorlich from the start of the steep section 
Loch Sloy 
A’ Chrois 
Top of the steep section 
Loch Sloy from above 
Looking east to Loch Arklet from the summit ridge 
View south down Loch Lomond 
Trig point (not quite the true summit) 
View east with Loch Arklet 
View northeast with the head of Loch Lomond 
Looking north from the trig point 
North ridge from the true summit
🌍 Location
📌 Start / finish on A82 at Inveruglas Pier
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NN 323099
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 56.252001,-4.708644
🚌 Bus stops on A82 | 🚢 Inveruglas Pier
🚗 Car park (charge)
📝 Key info
▶ 13 km / 8 mi | ▲ 950 m | ⌛ 5-6 hr
Features: 💧 Loch Lomond ★★★★; △ Ben Vorlich (941 m, Munro)
⬤ Tough | Roadside path for first 0.5 mi, then tarmac private road (with path to shortcut a long bend near start). Steep hill path for ascent proper – recently improved lower down but rougher going (though less steep) higher up.
Download file for GPS➡️ Out-and-back walk: start – start of road to Loch Sloy – path on right below Lag Dubh – Ben Vorlich via Lag Dubh and south ridge (N.B. true summit is a 2-min walk further north from the trig point) – return by outward route
🥾 On our last visit
Wildlife: Swans on Loch Lomond; sheep and Highland cows by reservoir road.
Weather: 20°C+ sunshine and nearly cloudless but with a gentle, cooling breeze.
July 2014
