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munros
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Ben Vorlich (943m, Munro 229)
Ben Vane (915m, Munro 283)
Beinn Ime (1011m, Munro 118)
Beinn Narnain (926m, Munro 259)
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corbetts
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Beinn Luibhean (858m, Corbett)
The Cobbler (Ben Arthur) (884m, Corbett)
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ascent
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2440m (8,000ft)
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distance
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25km (15.5m)
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time
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running : 3:50hr, walking : 10hr*
*Naismith's rule : 4km/h distance + 600m/h ascent
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start
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Inveruglas on Loch Lomond (grid ref : NN322099)
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maps/guides
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GPX data
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download file
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| terrain |
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easy |
| difficult |
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| navigation |
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easy |
| testing |
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| effort |
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stroll |
| long day |
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| scenery |
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ok |
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main route summary
Loch Lomond are collectively known as the Arrochar Alps. The most popular route into the area is from the large car-park at Arrochar, however, for most people, this will leave Ben Vorlich to be bagged on another day. Coming in from Inveruglas on the western shore of Loch Lomond allows the hills to be climbed in a horseshoe circuit and a mountain bike can help cut down some of the time required. Considering how popular this group is, it comes as a bit of a surprise that a lot of the route is on pathless terrain. The finest peak in the range is not one of the munos, but a corbett called The Cobbler or Ben Arthur. This peak is unusual as it's summit requires a bit of a scramble through a hole to reach the top.
main route outline
Getting there
Inveruglas lies on the A82 by the shores of Loch Lomond, 5km north of the junction with the A83 at Tarbet. There is a large car-park with a coffee-shop and visitor-centre.
Ben Vorlich
The route starts 1km south of the car-park. From this car-park, cross the road and head south on the pavement, pass the phone-box and onto a path to the gate to the hydro road. The gate doesn't unlock, so bikes are a difficult to get over. Go up the road for 2km to a bridge, and if on a bike, leave your bike here. Continue north-west in the direction of the Sloy Dam for 1km and look for a small cairn at the side of the road. This cairn marks the start of a route up. There is however a more direct route that aims up from the dam, but I prefer the route up from the cairn as it is lot less steep. Both routes will take you onto the crest of Ben Vorlich, where there is an obvious path that wanders to the summit. The summit is not the point with the trig pillar on it, it is the large cairn just a bit further on. The cairn sits on top of some small crags where there is plenty shelter out of any wind.
Ben Vane
From Ben Vorlich's summit, return south-east for 1km until you are looking directly down to the Sloy Dam. Ahead is a steep drop of 500m. The ground is initially quite loose, however, with good gripping footwear, this is quite runnable. It becomes grassy quite quickly and further down when approaching the dam, the ground becomes wet and again quite loose. Cross the dam and follow the road up until it switches back on itself, from where, leave the road and cross wet ground to start climbing uphill. There are no paths, just aim south-west up over the grass and climb around 350m to where the ground levels out. The summit can now be seen ahead and various route possiblities present themselves - I prefer to follow a burn for a bit, then up the continuing gully onto the crest from where I'll turn left (south) and continue up the last 50m of climb to the small cairn on the summit.
Beinn Ime
Due west next, down a fairly gradual descent for 1km, dropping just over 300m down Ben Vane's western side. The ground on this descent is mostly wet grass and no paths are present to follow. You'll need to turn south-west for the last 50m drop to the bealach. Cross one burn, then follow the burn that comes down from Beinn Ime. Still on wet grassy ground, continue uphill and aim for Glas Bhealach. As you near this col, start to turn south-west, then south up the northern arm of Beinn Ime. You'll start to pick up a path that continues to the ruined summit trig-point. Good views from up here in all directions.
Beinn Narnain
A good worn path heads off south-east from the summit of Beinn Ime. Follow this. After around 300m, the path starts to change direction and loose height. The ground becomes wetter and the path fainter as height is lost and, upon reaching Bealach a'Mhaim, it becomes quite an effort trying to maintain dry feet. Occasionally in summer, cows can be seen up here. Cross the bealach and its fence, then start uphill aiming for Beinn Narnain. A path appears, which is followed up the grassy slopes. In fine weather it is possible to look over to The Cobbler and see directly through the hole on its summit boulder. Continue up the path to bouldery ground and the summit cairn and trig point. A few metres south-east beyond the summit is a fantastic view over Loch Lomond to Ben Lomond, framed with some of Beinn Narnain's crags.
Return
Return to Bealach a'Mhaim, then follow the fence east down steep, grassy, wet ground to a gate and into forestry. As you reach the trees, the path disappears, but you'll see the track ahead to aim for. Get onto this track and follow it for 4km back to the bridge. If, like me, you've left a bike at the bridge, then all that's left is a terrific freewheel, downhill back to the road.
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Race route from Arrochar
Distance : 24km, ascent : 2500m
The Arrochar Alps hillrace was a major challenge during the late 80's and early 90's. It restarted with new sponsorship from Fyne Ales in 2007. It's a tough race with the record set by Billy Bland at 3:07 in 1987. I did the race in 2007 and came 5th. The race starts on a track just outside Arrochar, then heads north on a path through Glen Loin. The path meets up with the hydro road at the end of the forest and the main route described on the left is then followed over Ben Vorlich, Ben Vane, Beinn Ime to Beinn Narnain. South-east downhill next and try and find a direct route to pick up the path into the forest. The route is then marked back to the finish. Race times are anything from 3hr to 6:30hr.
Adding in The Cobbler and Beinn Luibhean
Distance : 10km, ascent : 1575m
On the A83 between, 2km south-east of the Rest and Be Thankful, there is a bridge, beside which there is space for a few cars to park. From here, head into the field, follow the burn for a bit, then strike east directly uphill. It's a fair slog on mainly pathless grassy ground, but further uphill the ground improves and a path is picked up to follow to the summit plateau of The Cobbler. The summit itself is quite tricky, but fun to attain. Facing it from the north side, go up onto it and around the west side on a slabby edge, up, around and though a hole, to come back on yourself to face north and get to the top. There's not much room and this can be a busy place in summer. Leave the summit, and on a path, aim north-east over the plateau and aim for the col below Beinn Narnain. Head up Beinn Narnain on the path, then continue over to Beinn Ime in the reverse of the main route described on the left. From Beinn Ime's summit return south-east for a few metres, then head south-west on pathless ground downhill to the heathery col below. An easy slog is all that is required to get to the summit of Beinn Luibhean. To return, initially head south for 100m and the obvious route south-east downhill can be seen ahead. After dropping a height of 500m or so, a worn and wet path can be picked up to follow back down to the car-park.
Ben Vorlich and Ben Vane only
Distance : 16.5km, ascent : 1650m
From Inveruglas, follow the main route described on the left up Ben Vorlich, across the dam and onto Ben Vane. Leave Ben Vane's cairn and head east on a very obvious path. This path zig-zags down and is easy to follow in fine conditions. In winter conditions, it ices over quite badly and can be quite a challenge higher up - ice-axe recommended ! Further down the path crosses wet ground to reach the track to follow back to the bridge and down to Inveruglas.
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