Climb Ben Ledi (Gaelic = the hill of the shoulder)
If you got to the top -
record your name & comments HERE
Search this site . Guestbook . Email
Easy Walks . Medium Walks . . . .
Distance Height Start Approximate time Parking |
5 miles (may be extended to 7) 2800 ft A84 at Stank car park GR586092 2 - 4 hours Car park at A821 (Stank) |
Ben Ledi Charity Walk |
List of harder walks
 Trossachs area Killin area Crianlarich area Tyndrum area Lomond/Arrochar area Dalmally area Glencoe and Fort William area |
Rough walking, lengthy with steep sections and many 'false summits'.
A serious walk in winter conditions - allow double time. In fresh drifted snow the track can be impassible. The headwall of the corrie to the east of the summit ridge forms a dangerous cornice after heavy snow - keep well clear..
Ben Ledi is not a ‘Munro’ but is in a prominent position on the southern edge of the Highlands and can therefore be seen from many parts of the southern Highlands in Scotland's National Park.
Traditional route is from Stank car park (about 3 M north Callander on A84, turn left at 'Forest Cabins' sign to cross a metal bridge, ). This route is well marked and visible all the way to the top. If planning to go all the way over to return by Stank Glen, be aware that the right turn off the Bealach nan Corp IS NOT MARKED and is easily missed. If you find the track rising gently, or pass a small lochan you have missed the turn and will end up on Ben Vane if you don't turn around!
Description
Take the wide gravelled path which starts at the bridge and climb steeply through plantation for about half a mile to exit the woods and continue at the other side of a timber track. Another half mile and a long flight of rough stone steps takes you into a dip to cross the burn and a stile where the engineered track ends at height about 1500 feet.
After crossing the stile the track veers SSE and climbs fairly steeply below craggy outcrops, don't be tempted to short-cut up the crags as they are steeper than they look! Half a mile past the stile the track climbs suddenly to the right and doubles round to head approx NW for one mile up the long east shoulder to the summit. Be warned there are 3 false summits!
At the summit trig pillar the view to the south east over Callander extends past Stirling and the Wallace monument and the Ochil hills to the Firth of Forth and Kincardine bridge and beyond.
A little west of south and about 16 miles away is the distinctive lump of Dumgoyne hill at the end of the Campsie hills with the high-rise towers of Glasgow beyond. A little further west and on a clear day the firth of Clyde and Goat Fell on Arran may be seen.
Panoramic view Mountain indicator from summit
Further round to the west, behind Ben Venue, is Ben Lomond, and now almost due west, The Cobbler (looking as if it has two horns) and the Arrochar Alps.
A little west of north west, and about 20 miles distant is the distinctive peak of Ben Lui with its huge corrie, and 12 miles to the north west beyond Ben Vane are the Crianlarich peaks including the distinctive twins of Ben More and Stobinian.
20 miles away to the NNE is the Lawers range and Tarmachan Ridge, then round to the north west and a mere 7 miles distand is Stuc a Chroin, Ben Vorlich, and slightly closer, Ben Each.
Closer still, to the east below Ben Ledi is Loch Lubnaig, to the south Loch Venachar and Achray, and to the west is Glen Finglas, and a glimps of Loch Katrine and in the distance, Loch Arklet.You can now return by the same track,
or
Continue in a generally northerly direction along the ridge past the ragged summit of Creag Coire na Fuaire then to follow an old fence for less than a mile to Bealach nan Corp (the pass of the dead - an old coffin road), approx GR558 110. Turn right here ( if the ground starts to rise again you have missed the turn off and you'll end up on Ben Vane ) to follow a rough track down beside the burn for about half a mile to cross a stile and join a newly formed gravel path. Keep to the left (don't take a path joining on the right) and cross a burn by huge stepping stones. A little further down this path, re-cross the burn by a bridge and continue down the track with the burn on your left. Drop down to join a forest road wher you turn right for just a few yards before turning left onto a track beside the burn heading down into the woods.
About 200 yards down the path a splendid waterfall is on the left. Continue down the path to another forest track, but turn off almost immesiately to the left to pass through a little more woodland before joining a timber road leading down to the riverside. Join the riverside pathway and head downstream for about 3/4 mile to the carpark.
In good conditions, it is a relatively easy climb on mountain grasses and some slightly squelchy peat beds to the summit of Ben Ledi.
The Rotary Club of Callander and West Perthshire
Ben Ledi Sponsored Ascent, Saturday 7th June 2008
General Information
The key feature of this sponsored walk is that all participants can choose any good cause that they wish to support.
For example they could be:-
• local charity such as CHAS, Strathcarron, or nearest Maggie Centre,
• any national charity,
• local good cause such as the Baden Powell Hall restoration,
• young person who is taking part a specific approved project,
• school PTA for school funds or a charity a school supports,
• youth group, sports club, old folks club or church activity.
.
If you would like to support a cause of your choice The Ben Ledi walk, organised by Rotary, is an ideal vehicle to enable you and your family/ friends/colleagues to find sponsors and raise funds 80% of which goes to your cause, 20% to be shared this year by Scottish Society for Autism, Beatson Institute for Cancer Research and Killin
Mountain Rescue. Continued support from Callander based Caledonian Country Wear and Morrison Construction will enable all our costs to be covered and make no entry fee necessary. All money raised goes to charity. On June 9th 2007 178 entrants raised over £11,000 for some 30 good causes.
Ben Ledi, at 879 metres not far short of a Munro, is a challenging but not too demanding a climb. In our previous events, there have been participants from every decade from under 10 to over 70 who completed the course. Regular hill walkers find it an easy climb. Some, who take little strenuous exercise, find it quite tough.
Volunteers from the Killin Mountain Rescue team are at check–points and in radio contact with each other and the Start/Finish base. Walkers have to be properly shod and clad, keep to the marked route, reporting at all check-points and at the finish. Those under 16 may only walk as members of family or other adult led groups.
If you would like Entry and Sponsorship Forms
- either download here,
- pick them up at CCW, 79 Main st. Callander,
- or e-mail richard-a.cooper@virgin.net
Website created and maintained by . . . . Disclaimer
All texts and images on this site © Ali Reid and InCallander. Permission for use normally given on request. Conditions apply.
gallery Viewpoints Scenic Drives Outdoor Activities History & Legend Rob Roy MacGregor Map of Scotland HotMap Scottish songs Lyrics Southern Villages Scottish Towns Cities Trossachs Guest Houses National Park Scotland information centres Loch Lomond Isles Loch Lomond Trossachs Brig o Turk Killin & Breadalbane Loch Earn Aberfoyle Inversnaid - Aberfoyle Strathyre St Fillans Stirling Balquhidder Glen Southern Villages Castles Loch Katrine Steamer Perth & Perthshire Crieff in Strathearn Scotland Accommodation Loch Tay Scottish Towns Cities What's on Bus Services sitemap Balquhidder Glen Hillwalking in Scotland Some Munros in Scotland Map of Scotland Bed and Breakfast in Callander Homepage
The Trossachs - the place to be! Callander - the place to be in The Trossachs.
Callander in the Trossachs - the place to be in the Loch Lomond National Park