then no doubts you’re in the mood for hiking. At OS ref. You can take the gentler option and grab a scenic ride up the Skyline Gondola, saving yourself a 450 metre (1476 feet) climb up a series of switchbacks in the mostly pine forest like on our 'Manuka' trip, or you can hike from Queenstown like on our 'Tui' trip the way the locals usually do it. My recommendation for staying in Rowardennan is this B&B, click for link. But you should definitely check the weather forecast and speak to some locals before doing the walk if you are there in winter. All you had to do was leave money in the box on the wall; I’m not sure if they offer this all year round so don’t rely on it. August 08, 2017 Grace WANG from New Zealand Hi, I am planning to climb to the Ben Lomond summit around mid of October. Like any mountain, it is generally quicker coming down than it is going up. The Orange route was much more impressive views-wise and included walking past some really awesome drop-offs and even past a small body of water high not far from the top. This took away the warmth and more sadly any kind of view. It's height is 3,196 feet, 974 metres. Hiking Ben Lomond: the gondola route (2-3 hours return) There are two main ways to tackle this peak. Especially if you choose to take the Orange Route back down like we did. The time needed to climb Ben Lomond depends on a few things, such as … Which route you take up and down; Your fitness level; What the weather is like; But as a very rough guide, the boards suggest that it takes between 2-4 hours each way. Thank you for subscribing, we will send you an e-mail shortly to confirm your subscription. I definitely recommend taking the time to walk up Ben Lomond if you find yourself in the area, if nothing else it definitely feels like an achievement getting back to the car park! Ben Lomond is the most southerly munro in Scotland. It will take between 4-6 hours to climb Ben Lomond. And in the end I am very happy that I did! Descend by obvious southward track over Sron Aonaich, back to … We stayed here for one night and it was wonderful waking up early with no one around and wonderful views down Loch Lomond. No matter what time of year you choose to visit Scotland and climb Ben Lomond, you can almost guarantee there will be rain or drizzle.Â. Based on my experience, this route definitely is more tricky and requires you to traverse more wet and slippery sections of rocks. Ben Lomond Saddle is one of the most stunning views in all of New Zealand. Combined with the Tiki Trail, the Ben Lomond Track is 14 km long. Currently the Forestry Commission are cutting down trees infected by a disease, they are planting replacements. It is projects like this one that help to keep the paths in such good condition. Setting off at that time you should get to the summit just before 12pm, ideal for lunch (with a view) at the top. Rowardennan is approached by car (there are no busses) via an 11 mile dead-end road from the village of Drymen. Due to it's proximity to Glasgow, Ben Lomond is probably one of the busiest mountains in Scotland. Unfortunately for us, this was during the period when the whole region was under some lockdown restrictions so we couldn’t eat in (pretty gutting as they had a log fire in there!!!!). Will there be snow avalanche during that period? At 4 miles, you've climbed 2,100 vertical feet, and the trail crosses to the west side of the ridge. The Ben Lomond rangers and volunteers work hard to protect the pathway for the ever increasing visitor numbers. It is known as a Munro, because it has a height of over 975 metres. Don’t forget to subscribe below to receive our monthly See Loch Lomond e-newsletter. Wear sun screen and smidge (midge repellant), bring snacks/lunch, stock up at The Village Shop in Balmaha, next to the Oak Tree Inn (the last shop before Rowardennan). It took me about 2 hours and 15 minutes to get up and about an hour and 45 minutes to come down, so the 4 hour guideline was spot on. He said he has climbed 5 times now and has never had a view from the top. I'm an Economics graduate with a passion for travel. From the Skyline Gondola to the Ben Lomond Saddle and back is … The peak rises to 974m and the views from the trig point at the summit are truly spectacular. I am planning to take gondola and climb Ben Lomond for another 2 hours (one way) on 15 May 2019. There is a shorter walk that takes about 45 minutes round trip, that takes you on a tour of some old sites. It takes approximately 2-3 hours to complete the ascent and descent of Ben Aan, depending on how long you linger at the top to admire the views (and we recommend that you do)! This climb belongs to the Ben Lomond. I climbed Ben Lomond in October 2020, and was fortunate enough to be blessed by wonderful weather and even a Scottish hiking companion on the route back down. These are the best ones selected among thousands of others on the Internet. The most popular path up to the summit of Ben Lomond is the Tourist Path, which starts at Rowardennan car park (Postcode G63 OAR). So allow 5 hours for the walk in total. Ben Lomond (974m, Munro 183) Ascent: 975m (3,200ft) Distance : 11km (7m) Time: walking : 4:20hr* running : 1:30hr *Naismith's rule : 4km/h distance + 600m/h ascent : Start/finish : Rowardennan (grid ref : … Good walking boots and appropriate socks are highly reccomended. You’ll may even need more suitable gear, so it’s best to seek some advice from those more experienced. Ben Lomond is the most prominent mountain in the North Ogden area. The highest point has a height of 974m and can be climbed within 2.5 hours in good weather conditions. Beyond the saddle is Ben Lomond Station where the track becomes a marked route. We drove this in our campervan that we converted and didn’t have any trouble getting up and down. Over this distance, you climb 1060 heightmeters. Here’s a look at my experience, and any tips for climbing Ben Lomond that I picked up along the way. Climbing Ben Lomond in Queenstown Approaching Ben Lomond. Or how..." | Check out answers, plus see 210 reviews, articles, and 246 photos of Ben Lomond on Tripadvisor. Ben Lomond is one of the most popular mountains in Scotland. The mountain has many rocky outcrops and 3 summits. Here's a look at my wonderful experience hiking Ben Lomond. Share with friends. However, there is a good achievement at having 'bagged a munro' and climbed to the top of the iconic mountain that provides Loch Lomond with its name. There are two routes heading to and from the summit of Ben Lomond. Note: Some posts may contain affiliate links. Ben Lomond, Rowardennan: "How long does it take to hike Ben Lomond? Starting from Upper Blessington, the Ben Lomond ascent is 17.9 km long. Cruise Loch Lomond run twice daily sailings by their water bus from Tarbet on the west side of Loch Lomond. Situated next to the east shore of Loch Lomond no peaks with a similar height are in the direct surroundings. It’s located at the end of the Orange route, and they were selling water, some cakes, crisps and other snacks. The grade here is generally uphill, but with a little up and down. I will of course have proper gear with me. Rowardennan is on the West Highland Way, with a Youth Hostel and Hotel. Some basic navigation skills are necessary to climb this mountain. From here, the terrain becomes steeper and rougher as it approaches Ben Lomond's 1,748m summit. Ben Lomond is only 4m lower than Scafell Pike, so I thought Ben Lomond would be a better climb since S.P. There’s a very good chance of there being snow and ice higher up the mountain, making it much more treacherous and making the path harder to follow. Good waterproofs are essential for the climb, as well as decent walking shoes. Ben Lomond is certainly one of the most enjoyable climbs in the northern Wasatch, in fact, I would say it is the best peak climb in that region. First up, here’s a few teaser pics from my walkÂ. Your support goes a long way. This entire region is surrounded by incredible mountains, all just begging to be climbed. Even if you don’t plan on hiking all the way up to the Ben Lomond Summit, just completing the Ben Lomond Saddle is worth the climb! As far as I am aware, Ben Lomond is open all year round. Ben Lomond stands at 3195feet/974metres and is peak number 184 in the Munro heights table. Like we did well as you climb the footpath beyond the saddle the. In Rowardennan is approached by car ( there are two main ways to this... 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