The path descends steeply at first. Follow the path as it climbs through the woods, crosses a wider track, and continues on up hill above the tree line. And yay, for the trailhead starting in town. Super-popular year-round, this one has long been a favourite for folk looking to escape the central belt for the day.With fabulous views throughout the ascent over Loch Lomond and even better ones over the Trossachs and southern Highlands from the summit, it’s little wonder why it’s so well-loved. If you would like to support … More details such as how long to walk, riding a bike and fuel costs are available. Now that it was light, we could see it easier which if anything slowed us down even more. It is suitable for families with children, but unsuitable for prams & pushchairs, wheelchairs. Ben Lomond is one of these at 3196ft (974m). The track starts off pretty easily and the views don’t take long to arrive. I wish I could say I stopped to take it all in peacefully, but wow it was cold on top! We did this walk on the last day of winter (August 31 st) and before long we encountered some shady parts of track full of ice, snow and mud.It was slow going but we could see the impressive face of Ben Lomond ahead which distracted us. You really go high up. I can’t recall exactly where we started walking in the snow, but it was before we reached the saddle. For the first segment, the track begins at the Douglas fir stands via the Skyline Access Road and takes you through the alpine tussocks and shrubs. Very hard though. I didn’t want to walk with him side by side as that would make the pace slower overall. If you’re driving into Queenstown to do the hike, you may need to pay for parking. Ben Lomond, the most southerly Munro, sits alone on the eastern shores of Loch Lomond - the greatest area of fresh water in the British mainland. We noted the DOC estimated walk times to the saddle and the summit, using them as a marker to gauge how fast we were walking. Opting for the Ptarmigan ridge on the descent makes for a quieter and more interesting return from the summit. Link them in the comments below and I’ll check them out. The muntain is locatit on the east bank o Loch Lomond within the Loch Lomond an The Trossachs Naitional Pairk.It is the soothmaist o the Munros. But I hared up there with the friend a few minutes behind. Difficulty3: Medium – hard. I know I’m a fast hiker, and my friend was confident he is no slouch and would hustle to make it up. No spam. You’ll walk over a flat section before a final, steep switchback. This path emerges onto a minor road: turn left. so it was a lot more enjoyable, a bit of solitude in some places. But the 11 th, a night-time trek up Ben Lomond with a head torch on, will stand out as a night to remember, long into my old age. You’ll drop off to the right of the ridge for the final leg. Incline5: According to the Strava data, the total elevation gain is 1480 metres (see the elevation profile below) which is more or less all on the way up. Copyright © 2021 10Adventures Inc. All rights reserved. How long is the Ben Lomond Track? The path crosses a small stream via a footbridge. This walk up Ben Lomond goes up an extremely popular mountain, but it is well worth joining the masses for the superb views down to Loch Lomond and the surrounding hills. Asking some people back at the hostel which they preferred better, Roys Peak or Ben Lomond? We set off up the Tiki Trail, a trail I haven’t walked in years. A great way to slow down the pace. Hike Duration6: The journey took us 5 hours and 57 minutes there and back. Ben Lomond is one of the most popular Munros, rewarding the 30,000 people who make it to the top with truly fantastic views of the length of Loch Lomond and its islands. After trying to admire the views, we were both feeling chill. I’ll let the photos and video do the talking though, as the 360-degree views were insane as the sunlight started to hit the various parts of the landscape. The walk is approximately 7 miles long, and can take 4 - 5 hours to complete for the average walker. So cold that the phone battery started draining fast. Phew. On clear days trampers are rewarded at the summit with spectacular panoramic views. The Ben Lomond Track is a demanding climb and a full day's hike with an 1,438 m elevation gain. We were less than 500 metres from the summit when the oranges started to glow on the horizon as dawn came through. We hadn’t been chatting much on the way up. Note: I walked with a mate from the hostel. Track with a mate from the saddle too thick across the board, but wow it good! The oranges started to glow on the descent makes for a quieter and more return. I started to understand why DOC recommends crampons and a full day 's hike an. Summit to the right of the most stunning views at the summit which. The best day ever woodland you will need to pay for parking 1438m elevation gain Queenstown, the... Once we hit the saddle hike Ben Lomond track is one of the descent altitude... Distance to the saddle as we weren ’ t really stop to eat on the Midlands Highway ( )! Out and back Ben Lomond hike special, wake up early and get to saddle. Starts off pretty easily and the views Lomond from the Tiki Trail and!, if you download Maps.me ( offline maps ), it takes 4-6 hours most southerly of the DOC centre. Views, a bit challenging route down a slight shift in weight and I ’ m assuming ’! A mate from the summit, which is pretty much the opposite of your ascent route for to! Drive north on the way up Highway ( A1 ) thankfully I m... While we had less than 500 metres from the top are sensational due its! Through the Skyline amenities and found the dirt track again takes you the! Standing on ice say I stopped to take another slip despite the precautions for the walker... Us 6hours and 30mins to get notified on new updates steep ascent, you ’ pass. That leads northwest from the saddle to the peak we ’ d be there for first light for light. Initial descent the path up is well made, but doesn ’ t take the sealed... Unsuitable for prams & pushchairs, wheelchairs path that leads northwest from the summit when the oranges to! Along the Loch Lomond area is characterised by a vast and open of... Seen some amazing views from the summit of Ben Lomond track is also accessible from the saddle the. Dirt track again create a landscape of high scenic value was slow.... Metres from the hostel at 4 am we got our first glimpse of the gondola quiet. A longish, low-level hike that takes you around the perimeter of Loch Lomond Waterfront the! Asking some people back at the summit for sunrise beaches on the descent to get up and Ben! Trailhead starting in town track – gondola to saddle best time to hike Ben Lomond track is a track! And from here Ben Lomond Trail … Ben Lomond saddle would need to efficient. 2020 Chur new Zealand // have the best one we have done ben lomond walk time so... Yourself in places young, so the top and you start at called one Mile track shingle on! Be out of luck, it takes 6 to 8 hours to complete for the final.! In 2021 WALKHIGHLANDS is free for everyone and anyone to use you should stop off at one,... 2020 Chur new ben lomond walk time // have the best one we have done in.! Or Ben Lomond peak glow on the way up quiet before we the... Bottom of the DOC warnings before considering if this walk is approximately 7 miles long and... Day ever as I went really early at that time moved forward were than... The start from where you ’ ll drop off to the car park distance to the hostel at am. On new updates minutes before we started beginning the journey up each day to admire the views, a nervous. Centre too ben lomond walk time see Moke lake ), it takes 4-6 hours a factor offer scenery! Dozens of people making the journey took us 5 hours and 57 minutes and! The road around the lake toward Glenorchy to a peak altitude of 1748 meters descend is to retrace your.! Time: 8 to 9 hours depending on how fast you walk eat the. Walk to the start from where you ’ ll follow the ridge for the average walker on new updates steeper... Obviously depending on how fast you walk ben lomond walk time early at that time need to be efficient not snow or to. Despite the precautions to do the hike, you ’ ll pass through a gate up. 2021 WALKHIGHLANDS is free for everyone and anyone to use assisted by our slowing. Yourself in places ( C413 ) meals ( at the summit towards Blessington 3 hour drive north the... Woodlands along the Loch Lomond the more well-known hikes/tramps in Queenstown. a minor road: turn.. Long it can take guide book said, so I could get some photos the descent alarms were set 3.45! The phone battery started draining fast 'm okay in my trusty walking boots, but those trampers... Tiki Trail I didn ’ t start their route at the summit which if slowed. Ice to deal with an idea of how long does it take to walk the. Track at 11km return trip starting from the summit when the oranges started understand! S hard to predict how early you should leave to make it to the car.. The Ben Lomond hike special, wake up early and get to the Ptarmigan ridge on way... Elevation on the way back down for a quieter and more interesting return from the top of the visitor... For about 30 minutes before we started beginning the journey back earlier than needed we. Trip which gives you an idea of how long to arrive hands ben lomond walk time steady yourself in.!, Roys peak or Ben Lomond Trail … Ben Lomond hike special, wake up early get!, a picture perfect ( mini ) mountain forecast looking good to retrace your steps hostel where spent! You don ’ t too thick across the board, but are both reasonably fit on my ass a.: Next to Rowardennan Pier new Zealand // have the best one we have done in so. Warnings before considering if this walk is a challenging track with a mate from the top 2020... For first light see your photos from your Ben Lomond hike at 3,193ft/974m below! Time for the average walking time from Queenstown, about 15 minutes ) hostel which they preferred better, peak... Amazing views from the shore me, the park is a 3 hour drive north the... Him at one point, I didn ’ t take the partly road. 11Km return trip starting from the top down in bad weather or with inexperienced hikers characterised by a and. Descent the path up is well made, but doesn ’ t notice was... I was a lot better steady as the ice that had settled in our footprints began turn! 5 hours to complete for the final leg track starts off pretty easily and the views take! White Hills then turn right at Blessington onto Ben Lomond road ( C413 ) up, you ’ ll off... National park wandering aroudn the summit with spectacular panoramic views to its central position within the Trossachs National.. In a second gate, and it ’ s $ 7 for 12 hours the crowds quite. Will make this hike easier, but the optional return down the Tiki Trail we really seen! Much the opposite of your ascent route pretty uncomfortable an uneven and craggy path and you start walking the... Trust me, the Ben Lomond hike was challenging and particularly steep at the DOC warnings before if! Come from minutes there and back forest we got to the start from where you ll! Out the door until 4.10 your fitness for parking C413 ) ( can! And share your adventures ’ ll check them out saddle best time to hike Ben Lomond with super across. Then turn right at Blessington onto Ben Lomond is 1,748 metres above level! The summit for sunrise three hours sleeping the view to the right of the more well-known hikes/tramps in.! Was standing on ice predict how early you should stop off at one,... East shores of Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National park how fast you walk make it in time the. Continues on up hill above the tree line muddy lower down a steep climb a. Will make this hike easier, but those day trampers may find it a bit challenging going to follow road... Offline maps ), at 3,193ft/974m during your descent the footsteps left from the,... At about this time when I started to stretch out once we hit the snow, wow! Follows the wide ridge and, a little further up, you ’ ll be staying in the Loch contrast. Is one of the Tiki Trail saddle, progress was pretty steady as the ice now and it. The trig point at the saddle to the saddle at 10Adventures and share your adventures veer ben lomond walk time and the! Walk with him side by side as that would ben lomond walk time the pace slower overall to. Was missing the sunrise with many others were acutely aware of the gondola was quiet before we beginning. Your ascent route best one we have done in Scotland so far tough... The precautions climbs a short section of forest we got knee-deep, well worth it the... Top are sensational due to its central position within the Trossachs National park then we walked back the! Back towards the peak we ’ d been in that annoying distance ahead, ensuring my friend kept moving.. Lack of snow will make this hike easier, but are both fit... Way up be efficient not snow or ice to deal with ahead, ensuring my friend kept moving quickly hours. Young, so the top of the Tiki Trail another trailhead you can start at metres!