Overview

Ben Lomond is one of the most popular Munros in Scotland and for good reason. It’s a fantastic mountain to climb and offers some of the best views in the country. The mountain is located in the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park and is easily accessible from Glasgow and Edinburgh.

The path up Ben Lomond is another fantastic example of a well-maintained path that makes it easy to follow all the way to the summit. There are sections where the path can be a bit rocky and steep, but it’s nothing too technical and most people should be able to manage it.

Given it’s popularity, you will undoubtedly meet a lot of other hikers on their way up or down the mountain.

Starting Point

The hike up Ben Lomond starts from the car park at Rowardennan. The car park can get very busy, especially on weekends, so it’s best to get there early to secure a spot. The car park is well sign-posted and easy to find. Summer holidays can also pose a bit of a challenge, on my most recent visit, the car park was almost full by 10am.

What You’ll Need

Whilst this is marked as one of the easier Munros, it’s still a good idea to be prepared. I’ve gone up the mountain a few times now and each time has presented different challenges in the form of the conditions.

I recommend having a look at the Munro Checklist for a full, general list of what you should generally take with you when tackling the Scottish Munros.

Each time I’ve done this, I’ve spotted a number of folks ill-prepared for the conditions. This invariably leads to them turning back early when they’re not able to manage the conditions, or even worse, they get stuck and have to be rescued.

My top tip is to never underestimate just how quickly the weather can change in the mountains and ensure you’re prepared for the worst.

Route

You start off by walking through the toilet block that acts as a small visitor’s center. You should see a place to fill your water bottles and a sign post demarcating the start of the hike.

The path is beautifully maintained and easy to follow. It’s a mix of compact gravel and some larger stones that aren’t too difficult to navigate.

You will eventually reach a crossroads, at which point you need to continue straight through in order to continue up the mountain.

The path will then wind it’s way up the mountain, presenting some fantastic views of Loch Lomond behind you and to your left. Bring your camera or charge your phone, you’ll want to capture the views.

With regards to paths, it’s about as straightforward as you can get to navigate. There are no cut off paths or sections that you need to be careful of, so follow the path straight up the mountain.

For the most straightforward route, once you reach the summit and take a moment to enjoy the views, you can then head straight back down the mountain via the same route you came up.