Ben Vane — Route Guide

Ben Vane is a mountain full of character. At 915m it only just scrapes into Munro classification, but don’t let that fool you — this is one of the steepest, most relentless climbs in the Arrochar Alps, with scrambling, false summits, and some of the best views over Loch Lomond and Loch Sloy that you’ll find anywhere.

It’s a Munro we’d been driving past for years on the A82, always seeing other hikers tackling it and telling ourselves “next time.” Well, on a fine August morning, it was finally our turn to bag our 19th.

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Route Overview

• Ben Vane — Munro — Middle Mountain — 915m
• Total distance: 13.8km
• Total ascent: 959m
• Moving time: ~4.5 hours
• Difficulty: Moderate to Strenuous — long walk-in, steep upper slopes with some scrambling

The route starts with a fairly long, flat walk-in from Inveruglas along the road past the Sloy Hydro-Electric Power Station and up towards Loch Sloy. The mountain itself then hits you with a steep, unrelenting ascent with a few scrambling sections and several false summits before you reach the top. It’s an out-and-back route.

Getting There and Parking

We parked at Inveruglas Pier on the A82, right on the west shore of Loch Lomond. It’s a pay and display car park with toilets and a small cafe nearby — a nice bit of civilisation before heading into the hills.

From Glasgow, it’s about 50 minutes up the A82 along Loch Lomond. You’ll pass Inveruglas on the way to Arrochar — it’s well signposted. Compared to some of the more remote Munro starting points, this one is easy to get to and has decent facilities.

The Walk-In — Inveruglas to the Turn-Off

From the car park, the route heads back along the A82 briefly before turning off past the Sloy Hydro-Electric Power Station. You follow a tarmac road for roughly 2km, passing through a gate for walkers on the left-hand side. This walk-in is flat and easy going — a gentle warm-up for what’s coming.

The giant pipes running down from Ben Vorlich to the power station are an impressive sight. The whole Loch Sloy hydro scheme has a fascinating industrial history — and if you’re an Outlander fan, you might recognise the dam from Season 7.

Eventually you reach the point where the path branches off the road and heads uphill to the right. We followed the Walkhighlands directions and the turn-off is clear enough, though you could miss it if you’re not paying attention — look for a path heading up to the right of the road.

The Ascent — Steep, Steeper, False Summits

This is where Ben Vane earns its reputation. Once you leave the road, the gradient ramps up immediately and doesn’t let off. The path heads in a north-westerly direction up increasingly steep hillside, and it’s a proper slog.

Ben Vane is notorious for its false summits. You think you’re nearly there, you push through one more steep section, and… there’s another rise ahead. And then another. It’s a mountain that tests your patience as much as your legs. I lost count of how many times I thought “surely that’s the top” only to crest a rise and see more hill ahead.

Higher up, there are a couple of sections that require hands-on-rock scrambling. Nothing technical — you won’t need ropes — but it’s more than just walking. There’s an easier line off to either side if you’d rather avoid the scramble, though the direct route is more fun in good conditions.

As we climbed higher, the views back down were fantastic. We were lucky enough to get brilliant weather for the full day, and the panorama just kept expanding — Loch Lomond stretching out below, the surrounding peaks sharpening against the sky.

Ben Vane Summit — 915m

The summit finally arrives — and it’s worth every false top you cursed on the way up. At 915m, Ben Vane sits at the very bottom end of Munro height, but the views are anything but modest.

The highlights from the top are Loch Sloy directly below to the north-east, with the dam and Ben Vorlich beyond it. The rest of the Arrochar Alps spread out to the south-west, with A’ Chrois looking particularly impressive across the deep glen. On our clear August day, we could see Beinn Ime and Beinn Narnain towering nearby, and Ben Lomond was visible to the south-east across Loch Lomond.

We stayed and had our traditional jam sandwiches at the top, soaking in what felt like a 360-degree highlight reel of the Southern Highlands.

The Descent

We headed back down the same way we came up. The steep sections that were tough on the lungs going up are tough on the knees coming down — take your time, especially on the scrambling sections which are always trickier in descent.

Once you’re back on the flat road section, it’s an easy walk back to Inveruglas. We were back at the car in just over 6 hours total, with legs that had definitely earned a rest.

When to Climb Ben Vane

Summer (May–September) gives you the best conditions and longest days. The steep grassy slopes dry out and the scrambling sections are much more manageable with dry rock. This is when we did it and the conditions were ideal.

Autumn and Spring can be excellent on a clear day, but the steep upper slopes get slippery when wet. The grass becomes treacherous and the scrambling sections need more care. Good grip on your boots is essential.

Winter (December–March) turns Ben Vane into a more serious undertaking. The steep slopes hold snow and ice, and the scrambling sections become proper winter mountaineering territory. Crampons and an ice axe are essential, along with the skills to use them. The false summits are harder to navigate in whiteout conditions on a mountain you don’t know.

Combine With

Ben Vane is usually a full day on its own — the 13.8km distance and 959m of ascent is plenty. However, if you’re staying in the Arrochar area, Beinn Ime and Beinn Narnain can be accessed from Arrochar village on another day, and Ben Lomond is about 30 minutes’ drive south along the loch.

For a different kind of outing nearby, the Glen Loin and Coiregrograin Circuit starts from the same Inveruglas car park and is a much gentler walk through the glen below Ben Vane.

Tips for This Route

• Don’t underestimate the walk-in. The 2km road section is flat and easy, but it adds distance to what’s already a long day. Factor it into your timing.
• Embrace the false summits. They’re frustrating, but they’re part of Ben Vane’s character. Just keep going — the real summit is obvious when you finally get there.
• The scrambling is avoidable. If you’re not comfortable with hands-on-rock, there are easier lines to either side of the scrambling sections. In wet conditions, taking the bypass is the sensible choice.
• Bring plenty of water. The steep ascent is thirsty work and there’s no reliable water source once you leave the valley floor.
• Poles help on the descent. The steep grassy slopes are hard on the knees, especially after the effort of getting up.

Frequently Asked Questions

How hard is Ben Vane? Harder than its Munro height might suggest. The steep, unrelenting ascent with scrambling sections and multiple false summits makes it physically and mentally demanding. It’s not a beginner Munro — build up your fitness on something like Schiehallion or Ben Chonzie first.

How long does Ben Vane take? Allow 4.5–6.5 hours round trip. The long walk-in adds time that you might not expect from a 915m summit. We completed it in about 6 hours.

Where do you park for Ben Vane? Inveruglas Pier on the A82, west shore of Loch Lomond (G83 7DW). Pay and display with toilets and a cafe nearby.

Is Ben Vane suitable for dogs? The walk-in is fine, but the steep upper slopes and scrambling sections make this a tough one for dogs. If your dog is experienced on rocky, steep terrain they could manage it, but the scrambling will likely need you to assist them. Keep them on a lead near the power station and any livestock.

What are the false summits like? Ben Vane is famous for them. You’ll think you’re at the top at least two or three times before you actually are. Each false summit reveals another rise ahead. It’s character-building — just keep your sense of humour and keep climbing.