Ben Vane (translation: unknown) is located within the middle of the Arrochar Alps. It sits at a height of 915 meters/3002 feet and is No.283 in the Munro heights. Although one of the smallest of the Munros in Scotland it has numerous false summits that make it seem larger than what it really is.

Within the Arrochar Alps there are four peaks of Munro status. These are:

Ben Vane, Beinn Ime, Beinn Narnain and Ben Vorlich. Also worth mentioning is the excellent Corbett peak The Cobbler

Due to its position within the range Ben Vane does not get the notiriety of its fellow peaks, but is still a popular excursion for the avid hillwalker.

Route

From the car park at Inveruglas, cross the road and head along the footpath past the power station until reaching a locked gate that gives access to the hill road by way of the adjacent kissing gate. Follow the hill road that leads to Coiregrogain. Ben Vane will become obvious directly in front of you.

Continue along the road until bearing left at the small bridge over Inveruglas water. Follow this road for roughly 800 yards until a path on the right, just before a smaller bridge, begins your journey up Ben Vane. The path quickly crosses a small stream and then heads upwards, steeply, through very muddy ground. The muddy ground relents slightly when levelling out from your initial climb and a gradual climb begins, on rocky ground, along the path towards a large amount of outcrops.

The first set of outcrops has a spot with a nice overhang which provides shelter (if raining) or rest prior to begining your relentless 45 degree climb to the summit. Continue upwards through a large set of outcrops,

zigzaging along the path occasionally, until reaching the top of the many outcrops that were visible from below.

Take a short breather to admire the view down to Loch Sloy and over to Ben Vorlich.

From here the summit looks visible, however its not and there are a further two false summits to reach before the true summit can be seen. I can tell you that I was not flavour of the month with my eldest daughter and her friend when I kept saying 'There's the top there, only another ten or fifteen minutes to go' only for me to have to say it again and again and again.

The final climb to the summit proved my saviour though. A good few bits of scrambling for us all to do and the fun was restored, especially for the two kids as they were thoroughly looking forward to going back down what they had just scrambled up.

The summit is fairly flat topped with two cairns and either a giant puddle or a very small lochan.

Descend by the same route as you ascended or north via Beinn Dubh(773m) which eventually leads down to Loch Sloy and then meets with the hill road you initially travelled along.

A lot of people also take in a further two peaks after completing Ben Vane. You can continue southwest to Beinn Ime(1011m) and from this summit head southeast to Beinn Narnain(926m).

Getting There

From Glasgow take the A82 road via Loch Lomond direct to Inveruglas.

Inveruglas can also be accessed from Stirling, Perth or Edinburgh by joining the A85 and turning left onto the A82 road at Crianlarich.

Red Tape

There is no red tape.

Maps and Books

Landranger Map 56, OS Map Explorer 364, The Munros book by Cameron McNeish page 16.

Accommodation

There is a hotel in Tarbet and various guest houses in Arrochar.

Various campsites are available on route.

Mountain Conditions

Ben Vane is accessible all year round however, as you can get four seasons in one day in Scotland, care should be taken at all times.

Weather forecast ukie.accuweather.com/ukie/mountain-forecast.asp?partner=accuweather/

Avalanche forecast http://www.sais.gov.uk/

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