Ben Lomond

Ben Lomond, at 974 metres, is Scotland's most southerly Munro and one of the most climbed mountains in the country, its familiar profile visible from the southern end of Loch Lomond and drawing around 50,000 walkers to the summit each year.

The route starts from the Rowardennan car park, following a well-built path — around a metre wide, maintained jointly by Forestry and Land Scotland and the National Trust for Scotland — through regenerating native woodland before emerging onto open hillside. The path climbs steadily past several gates and deer fences, becoming rockier with some stone-pitched zig-zags around the halfway point at Sròn Aonaich, where the gradient eases onto a broader ridge with expanding views over Loch Lomond and its islands. The final section climbs the mountain's distinctive summit cone directly, with the path having been substantially rebuilt in recent decades after erosion scarred the hillside up to 25 metres wide.

Most walkers descend by the same route, though a rougher and more adventurous alternative continues north-west from the summit, descending a steep rocky slope to a col before climbing over Ptarmigan and following a narrow, rocky ridge back down towards Rowardennan — giving fine views across to the Cobbler and the other Arrochar Alps.

The straightforward up-and-down route is around 12 kilometres with roughly 950 metres of ascent, typically taking four to six hours depending on fitness and pace; the Ptarmigan return adds distance and rougher terrain.

Despite its popularity and well-built path, Ben Lomond remains a genuine mountain — the summit sits above a steep corrie, weather can change quickly, and full hillwalking equipment including ice axe and crampons is essential whenever snow is present, particularly on the narrower and more exposed Ptarmigan descent.

The Rowardennan car park is chargeable and fills quickly at weekends and in fine weather; a summer-only ferry runs from Tarbet Pier, with regular buses to Tarbet from Glasgow and Balloch.