Ben Vorlich (Loch Earn)

Ben Vorlich, at 985 metres, is one of the most popular beginner-friendly Munros in Scotland, rising above the south shore of Loch Earn in Perthshire and offering a well-worn path throughout. It should not be confused with the other, considerably steeper Ben Vorlich above Loch Lomond.

The route starts from informal roadside parking near the hump-backed bridge over the Ardvorlich Burn on the south side of Loch Earn. A track passes through stone gateposts and the grounds of Ardvorlich House before climbing steadily alongside the burn, crossing a bridge near a dam at around 2 kilometres. From here a well-maintained path continues up the lower slopes; at around 550 metres the path takes a sharp turn uphill onto the ridge proper, becoming well-worn but unmaintained as it climbs, zig-zagging through loose scree in its upper reaches to reach the trig point at the summit, with fine views to the Ben Lawers range and the Crianlarich peaks.

Most visitors return the same way, making this a satisfying and genuinely accessible Munro day. More experienced walkers often continue west along a line of fenceposts to the Bealach an Dubh Choirein, from where the considerably more serious neighbouring Munro of Stùc a' Chròin can be reached via a steep, rocky scramble known locally as "the Prow."

The straightforward out-and-back route is around 11 kilometres with roughly 945 metres of ascent, typically four to five hours; combining with Stùc a' Chròin extends the day significantly and adds genuine scrambling difficulty.

Despite its reputation as an easy first Munro, the summit and upper ridge are fully exposed to weather from the south — the mountain's position on the edge of the Highlands means it can catch conditions sweeping up from the Central Belt, so full hillwalking equipment remains essential regardless of how straightforward the path appears.

Parking is informal and very limited, holding around ten cars; it fills quickly on good weather days and there is no public transport directly to the start, though buses serve nearby Lochearnhead and St Fillans.