(Note The Ben Lomond Track is also accessible from the top of the gondola or from Thompson Street in Queenstown.) With the head torch on 7, I set a solid speed up the hill. Follow the path as it climbs through the woods, crosses a wider track, and continues on up hill above the tree line. Find the distance between Irvine, CA and Ben Lomond, CA. Even if you do not climb up Ben Lomond, the Trossachs offer spectacular scenery and views. From Queenstown, follow the road around the lake toward Glenorchy to a roundabout (walking time from Queenstown, about 15 minutes). This walk up Ben Lomond goes up an extremely popular mountain, but it is well worth joining the masses for the superb views down to Loch Lomond and the surrounding hills. Ben Lomond is one of the closest and easiest Munros for us to reach from Glasgow and I try and climb it at least 2 – 3 times a year. As we weren’t keen on waking up earlier than needed, we planned to leave the hostel at 4 am. The path up is well made, but the optional return down the Ptarmigan ridge is steep and rocky, and muddy lower down. I can confirm Fergburger is worth it. Views from the top are sensational due to its central position within the Trossachs. We saw two groups of people making their way up when we got close to the gondola, both being stunned we had already been to the top. On clear days trampers are rewarded at the summit with spectacular panoramic views. The most popular path up to the summit of Ben Lomond is the Tourist Path, which starts at Rowardennan car park (Postcode G63 OAR). Yvonne’s first night-time Munro. Then, a little further up, you’ll pass through a gate and up onto the open farmland of the hillside. Ben Lomond Track – Gondola to Saddle A great walk up a great Munro, altogether it took us 6hours and 30mins to get up and down Ben Lomond. You don’t need me to tell how to walk to the start from where you’re staying. The sunrise was amazing with the sun rising up behind Lake Wakatipu. I’d love to see your photos from your Ben Lomond hike. The alarms were set at 3.45 am with the forecast looking good. Just go early to beat the queues. If you skip the first part and start walking from the top of the gondola, it takes 4-6 hours. Note: I walked with a mate from the hostel. Ideally, we’d be there for first light. This includes a couple of hundred metres wandering aroudn the summit. We did this walk on the last day of winter (August 31 st) and before long we encountered some shady parts of track full of ice, snow and mud.It was slow going but we could see the impressive face of Ben Lomond ahead which distracted us. You should stop off at one of the many shingle beaches on the road south and enjoy Loch Lomond from the shore. When2: October 2020. The Ben A’an walk offers superb views, a steep climb and, a picture perfect (mini) mountain. Ben Lomond is the most southerly of the Munros and is located in the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park. For reference, we made it up the Tiki Trail in 35-minutes. It is one of Scotland’s most popular mountains and the most southerly of Scotland’s 282 … The ~15km out and back Ben Lomond Track is one of the more well-known hikes/tramps in Queenstown. In summer the lack of snow will make this hike easier, but then the heat then becomes a factor. Elevation gain: 1400 meters gain to a peak altitude of 1748 meters. A moderate walk (mountain (above 600m)) in national park Loch Lomond and the Trossachs in Argyll and Bute, Scotland, about 9.80km (6.09 mi) long with an estimated walking time of about 5:30h. Thankfully I’d decided to bring my power bank so I could get some photos. The final section to the summit of Ben Lomond follows the wide ridge. I can’t recall exactly where we started walking in the snow, but it was before we reached the saddle. Though the 5 metres had started to stretch out once we hit the snow. From Drymen take the B837 North to Balmaha. The last couple of hundred metres of the climb wasn’t so bad, perhaps that was because of the excitement of being so close. Hike Distance4: My Strava recording has 15.1km for the return trip starting from the bottom of the Tiki Trail. Just a few short stops to take photos/admire the views. Copyright © 2021 10Adventures Inc. All rights reserved. Turn off to Evandale (B41) and take the partly sealed road C413 towards Blessington. You get views throughout, and because of the incline, there’s no need for man-made structures up near the summit which preserves the raw feeling. This is me at the summit to prove I’m not making stuff up in this post 🙂, Details | Map | How To Get There | My Experience, Without a doubt, this is a 5-star epic sunrise hike (I’m sure it’ll be cool in the day too?). Ben Lomond is the most southerly Munro (mountain over 3,000ft/914m), at 3,193ft/974m. So cold that the phone battery started draining fast. Become a Contributor at 10Adventures and share your adventures! During the day though, it could be a good way to ensure you make it to the top if you’re not sure how well your legs will cope with the elevation gain. But I hared up there with the friend a few minutes behind. The terrain is relatively easy and in a convenient location – near Glasgow, Ben Lomond tends to attract a lot of attention from international tourists. When we reached the Skyline Gondola area it was nice to use maps.me to make sure we weren’t making a wrong turn off going through there. Route signposted from car park. It is an uneven and craggy path and you will need your hands to steady yourself in places. We were acutely aware of the ice now and avoided it wherever possible. A slight shift in weight and I was on my ass in a second. After the final steep ascent, you’ll veer left and find the trig point at the summit. The first 10 have collectively and individually been the source of many challenges and happy memories. Leave any useful tips you have too 😉, This would be a good option as a warm-up before doing the Ben Lomond track, Instead of turning left at the saddle, the Moonlight Track continues straight, Your email address will not be published. After the initial descent the path crosses some stepping-stones, and then it climbs a short distance to the Ptarmigan ridge. The track starts off pretty easily and the views don’t take long to arrive. So, I pushed on. Once we got to the top of the gondola, we started to appreciate the (unplanned) full moons added light beyond the beams of my headtorch. But the 11 th, a night-time trek up Ben Lomond with a head torch on, will stand out as a night to remember, long into my old age. Hike Duration6: The journey took us 5 hours and 57 minutes there and back. The Ben Lomond trail … © 2020 Chur New Zealand // Have the best day ever. Once back at the saddle, progress was pretty steady as the ice that had settled in our footprints began to turn into slush. However it was damp and low cloud when we set off, yet the further we got up the Munro the better it got, when we got to the top it was stunning, above the clouds, still great 5. Experience magnificent lake and mountain views as you climb up the saddle. In winter you will need to carry and be able to use alpine equipment such as … Pass through a couple of gates before entering the woods, you’ll bear left and follow the stream. I’d been in that annoying distance ahead, ensuring my friend kept moving quickly. Ben Lomond is a mountain in the north-east of Tasmania, Australia.. Loch Venachar is a longish, low-level hike that takes you around the perimeter of Loch Venachar. DOC suggests 6-8 hours for the 11km return trip which gives you an idea of how long it can take. You’ll walk over a flat section before a final, steep switchback. We had less than 3 hours to make it and did so, but are both reasonably fit. This included perhaps 30 minutes at the summit. Ben Ledi…, Today for free and be the first to get notified on new updates. If you download Maps.me (offline maps), you’ll be able to make sure you’re on track. After 16.9km arrive at the Rowardennan Hotel, where you can start the hike from if you are staying there, or a little over 200m later you’ll see the Ben Lomond car park. We knew the walk to the Ben Lomond Saddle would need to be efficient not snow or ice to deal with. If you would like to support … We hadn’t been chatting much on the way up. Ben Lomond (Scots Gaelic: Beinn Laomainn) is a muntain in the Scots Hielands, at it's summit it haes a heich o 974 metre (3,196 ft) abuin sea level. My mate had slipped back further but I continued to wait to ensure he was within eyesight…while we had a beautiful day for it, it’s a basic safety measure. You will need to watch your footing during your descent. Required fields are marked *. With that said, we were at the summit for about 30 minutes before we started beginning the journey back. The climb from the saddle to the summit would be a slower grind. More details such as how long to walk, riding a bike and fuel costs are available. I guess we had enough energy figured jogging would get us back to Fergburger (a great post-hike treat) earlier before any kind of queue could form. How long does it take to walk up and down Ben Lomond? It’s hard to predict how early you should leave to make it to the summit for sunrise. The muntain is locatit on the east bank o Loch Lomond within the Loch Lomond an The Trossachs Naitional Pairk.It is the soothmaist o the Munros. Turn up Power House Road to the car park. The morning was still young, so the top of the gondola was quiet before we jogged down the Tiki Trail. Take a read of the DOC warnings before considering if this walk is suitable for you. While we had million-dollar views (you can even see Moke Lake), it was tough to enjoy them while being pretty uncomfortable. Make the most of our rangers’ expertise by booking a guided walk. This is a quieter, though steeper, route down. I did manage to take another slip despite the precautions. From Hobart, the park is a 3 hour drive north on the Midlands Highway (A1). But for the purposes of this post, I’m using the Tiki Trail trailhead which is what I used and the most common route. The path crosses a small stream via a footbridge. This was a spectacular hike. Once out of the woodland you will be able to look back and admire the views down to Loch Lomond. What was also on my mind was knowing that we weren’t going straight up the peak to the summit. Having now walked the Tiki Trail in the daylight for the Moonlight Track I’m impressed with how fast we went up this section (35-minutes). For me, not only is it a great source of fitness and calorie burning, but it … You see more scenery going down usually. Felt like I overcame the challenge. You’ll follow the ridge for much of the descent. The Tiki Trail trailhead is literally in Queenstown, which I’m assuming you’ll be staying in the night before. I loved it. It takes 6 to 8 hours to walk up and down Ben Lomond if you start walking from the Tiki Trail. I wish I could say I stopped to take it all in peacefully, but wow it was cold on top! There was no way I was missing the sunrise. Best time to hike Ben Lomond. The average walking time of Ben Lomond is around 4 hours, obviously depending on how fast you walk. By the time we got to the trailhead it was 4.20 am. However, you’re not looking for signs to the “Ben Lomond Trail” and instead, you’re looking for signs to the “Tiki Trail.” This is because the first part of the Ben Lomond track is actually the Tiki Trail (also known as the Queenstown gondola walk.) But, if you want to make your Ben Lomond hike special, wake up early and get to the summit for sunrise. We didn’t really stop to eat on the way up, or down. Check out more amazing walks in Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park, like the Ben A’an, Ben Venue, or Loch Venachar. It’s worth stopping in at the DOC visitor centre too. Now that it was light, we could see it easier which if anything slowed us down even more. Ben Lomond track is a challenging track with a 1438m elevation gain of the walk. I know I’m a fast hiker, and my friend was confident he is no slouch and would hustle to make it up. This is going to be helpful when it’s dark (especially if you haven’t walked any of the Tiki Trail). Ben Lomond hike wasn't as nice for me as some others I did here, but it does show some great spots and also it was the highest challenge for me in this area. After a short section of forest we got our first glimpse of the Ben Lomond peak. As usual, the trail is well maintained. Ben Lomond National Park is about an hour south-east of Launceston. Ben Lomond, the most southerly Munro, sits alone on the eastern shores of Loch Lomond - the greatest area of fresh water in the British mainland. I was a little nervous we’d struggle to make it in time for the sunset. It’s a pretty technical walk with daylight, yet in the night with just the headtorch we didn’t encounter any big problems. You’ll drop off to the right of the ridge for the final leg. The path continues to steadily climb. I didn’t want to walk with him side by side as that would make the pace slower overall. Asking some people back at the hostel which they preferred better, Roys Peak or Ben Lomond? Ben Lomond walks are a popular excursion for visitors to Loch Lomond Waterfront. The view to the north reveals range beyond range of mountains into the Highlands. the crowds were quite low as I went really early at that time. It wasn’t freezing by any means, but it was good motivation to keep moving to stay warm. The walk is approximately 7 miles long, and can take 4 - 5 hours to complete for the average walker. walks in Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park. This walk up Ben Lomond goes up an extremely popular mountain, but it is well worth joining the masses for the superb views down to Loch Lomond and the surrounding hills. Even beyond the saddle when the signs make it clear you’re now walking on an unmaintained trail, it was still in good condition. The path is steep in parts, and … If you’re doing the sunrise hike, you’ll be out of luck, it’s not running 24/7. You’re going to follow the road to return to the car park. It’s one of the most popular hill-walks in Scotland. It was at about this time when I started to understand why DOC recommends crampons and a pickaxe in the height of winter. While waiting for him at one point, I didn’t notice I was standing on ice. The trail takes you around the side and you come up from the other direction which would add on another 10-15 minutes of walking (you can see this on the map). If you’re driving into Queenstown to do the hike, you may need to pay for parking. Ben Lomond is one of these at 3196ft (974m). The summit of Ben Lomond is 1,748 metres above sea level, and you start at ~350 metres above sea level. Incline5: According to the Strava data, the total elevation gain is 1480 metres (see the elevation profile below) which is more or less all on the way up. Very hard though. In summer there can be dozens of people making the journey up each day. You really go high up. We were less than 500 metres from the summit when the oranges started to glow on the horizon as dawn came through. The Ben A’an walk is a fun hike up what is commonly referred to as a mini mountain in Scotland. The hike was challenging and particularly steep at the end, however, well worth it with the most stunning views at the top. Ben Lomond is the most popular mountain for hill walking in the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park.With views on Loch Lomond, the Southern Highlands and the lower hills and forests to the east, it is worthwhile climbing this munros. After trying to admire the views, we were both feeling chill. Ben Lomond is one of the most popular Munros, rewarding the 30,000 people who make it to the top with truly fantastic views of the length of Loch Lomond and its islands. People do hike the peak all year round, but the nicest and easiest time to hike Ben Lomond is during the summer months, from around the beginning of November through until the end of March. The forests and woodlands along the loch shores contrast with the surrounding uplands to create a landscape of high scenic value. Phew. The Hike to Ben Lomond Saddle. Take the C401 through White Hills then turn right at Blessington onto Ben Lomond Road (C413). I did my best to nurse the pace. We’d asked a few people how long it took them to get to the summit, and the general consensus was you need at least three hours if you’re going quick. The snow wasn’t too thick across the board, but there was the odd step where we got knee-deep. A great way to slow down the pace. And yay, for the trailhead starting in town. On Ben Lomond at the start of my 525-mile, 55 Munro walk to Ben Hope in 1981 This year sees the fortieth anniversary of my first round of the Munros and the twenty-fifth anniversary of my continuous walk over the Munros and Tops. Daylight savings had started a few days earlier, which meant the sunrise was scheduled for 7.12 am. so it was a lot more enjoyable, a bit of solitude in some places. Ben Lomond LOCH LOMOND. There is one main car park for Ben Lomond, located here.. It’s at the very end of a long rural road running up alongside the eastern shores of Loch Lomond. 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