Walk: Ben Vrackie – Pitlochry’s perfect peak

📌 Pitlochry, Perth & Kinross
★★★★

Rising majestically above Pitlochry, Ben Vrackie must be one of Scotland’s best-loved hills. Hundreds of people make the ascent on sunny summer weekends; a well-constructed path (by hillwalking standards) leads all the way to the top, with an attractive lochan making an ideal rest spot part of the way up. The ground falls away sharply around the rocky summit, giving superb views south and west along the River Tay / Garry, while triple-peaked Beinn a’ Ghlo is a big part of the northern panorama. The route on this page includes a quieter return variant which doesn’t add significantly to the overall distance; for a much longer option, consider a circuit taking in both Ben Vrackie and Killiecrankie.

📷 Chronological photo guide

🌍 Location

📌 Start / finish on Baledmund Road, 1 mi north of Pitlochry town centre

🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NN 944595

🛰️ GPS coordinates: 56.715354,-3.727493

🚌 Moulin Road near A924 junction (0.5 mi) / 🚆 Pitlochry

🚗 Car park

📝 Key info

▶ 10 km / 6 mi | ▲ 760 m | ⌛ 3.5-4 hr

Features: △ Ben Vrackie (841 m, Corbett)

⬤⬤ Moderate to Tough | Clear hill paths throughout with some steep sections. Return variant is a little rougher in places with a wet stretch at Loch a’ Choire.

➡️ Out-and-back route with variant for part of return – start – leave forest at 🧭 NN 942607 – Loch a’ Choire – Ben Vrackie – return to Loch a’ Choire – path around north side of Meall na h-Aodainn Mòire – Bealach na Searmoin – rejoin outward route to south – start

Download file for GPS

🥾 On our last visit

Wildlife: Red deer, red grouse, sheep.

Weather: Mostly sunny with intermittent summit fog and the odd snow shower. Sub-zero (0°C at start) with a strong northerly wind blowing up spindrift at the top.

January 2026