Ben Vane Walk

Don’t let the relatively diminutive height (compared to its neighbours) of Ben Vane fool you; this walk brings the heat with a steep ascent up the mountains’ craggy slopes. Although the length of the walk is fairly short when compared to others in the area, the sustained climb makes it a challenge worth taking on, nonetheless. Sections of the trail may be boggy at times, and the rugged nature of the peak makes proper footwear a must when walking.

To begin the walk, set out from the Inveruglas Visitor Center car park, located on Loch Lomond’s west side. You’ll spot A’Chrois to the southwest as you pick up the trail by crossing the road and heading left on the far side, walking past the Inveruglas power station. Continue as the route makes way for a path that soon curves right to join a track. Walk 0.6 miles and then walk right to take the tarmac road, making your way through the gate as you walk beneath the railway.

You’ll soon pass a sizable electric substation before reaching a fork in the track, continue straight, ignoring the paths that veer to the right and later to the left. As you make your way along the road, the steep lower slopes of Ben Vorlich are visible on your right, and fixing your gaze straight ahead will have you laying eyes on Ben Vane. Continue past Coiregrogain, maintaining the way on the tarmac road that guides you towards the Loch Sloy Dam.

Reach the signed junction and make a left turn onto the pebbled track, following the route as it crosses a bridge above the river. Walk 400m after the crossing and cross burn before picking up the stepped path that allows you to avoid some serious boggy ground. Your ascent begins as you climb the path, which leads to a lower shoulder found at the foot of the ridge leading to Ben Vane. Pause to enjoy the views of the sprawling hills set against the backdrop of Loch Lomond sparkling in the distance.

Well into the climb now, you’ll continue on a grassy stretch, blazing a trail up the mountain. A zig-zag approach is recommended here to help counter the rocky, rugged terrain and soften the gradient. Don’t get too excited as you spot certain areas that appear to top the slope, as this route features several false summits that can lead to disappointment for those unaware.

As you continue to climb, views of Loch Sloy open up on the right, providing the perfect motivation to press on and continue to the top. You’ll note the ridge becomes more defined as you climb higher still, and you may opt to scramble in places along this section. Finally, you’ll arrive at the flat summit area of Ben Vane, discovering the highest cairn on the summit’s eastern end. Take in the splendour of the surrounding peaks and pat yourself on the back for reaching 3051ft!

After revelling in the views and catching your breath, proceed with your descent, re-tracing the same route back down to the Inveruglas Visitors Center.

Trail Highlights

Ben Vane

Ben Vane (3002ft), which translates in English to “Middle Mountain” is located in Scotland’s Southern Highlands and is classified as a Scottish Munro (peaks above 3000ft). The sensational views of Ben Vorlich and Loch Sloy, as well as the surrounding Arrochar Alps make it a popular destination for hillwalkers in the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park.

Loch Sloy Dam

The Loch Sloy Dam was constructed in 1945 and took over 2000 men to build, some of which were German prisoners. The Loch Sloy Dam towers 184ft high and stretches 1171ft long, making it the largest hydroelectric power plant in all of the United Kingdom.