The Trossachs may be a prime destination for tearooms and coach parties, but don't be fooled - there's still quality hillwalking to be found here. Ben Venue is a pint-sized hill but one of full-fat character, rising steep and rugged from dense woods to offer expansive views over Loch Katrine and the sawtoothed Southern Highlands skyline. The standard ascent from the Achray side is a well-used path, a bit heavy on the pine plantations and a very roundabout route to the top. It'd be a shame to go down the same way, so instead the descent described here makes the best of Ben Venue's wilder and more attractive northern side, leading you on a tough off-trail leg to the little-trodden Bealach nam Bo.
Detailed description
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Difficulty: ModerateDistance: 6.47 miles (10.41 km)
Total ascent: 685m
Steepest Gradient: 25% (1 in 4)
Time: 4 – 5:30 hours (Walking)
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Additional Information
Start/Finish:Car park at the entrance to the private road to the Loch Katrine dam, NN500068
Nearest town:
Callander
Terrain:
The standard route of ascent up Gleann Riabhach is an obvious trail, and even has the odd signpost lower down in the woods. If forestry operations are underway in the glen then detours might be in place. At the time of writing (Jun 2012) the detour is very circuitous and hard going in dense pine woods. Beyond the treeline the going can be a little boggy in places, but the path remains clear to the summit cairn. However from here the descent as described is steep and pathless, and some nous is needed to ad-lib your way through rocky outcrops. From the Bealach nam Bo you're back on a path to the finish.
Guidebooks:
The Corbetts & Other Scottish Hills, SMC
Weather and Hill Conditions:
mwis: Southeastern Highlands – Met Office: West Highlands Maps:
OS Explorer 365 (1:25,000), OS Landranger 57 (1:50,000) Directory Listings:
Find more Listings near this route Tourist info:
Aberfoyle (08452 255 121); Callander (08452 255 121); Tarbet (Loch Lomond) (08707 200 623)
Further Routes
by Dan Bailey UKH
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- Bynack More 19 Oct, 2023
- Beinn a' Mhuinidh 4 Oct, 2023
- Loch Ossian round - Seven Munros by Train 15 Sep, 2023
- Beinn Dronaig - 30km of Solitude 23 Aug, 2023