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Ben Ledi and Benvane

Ben Ledi & Benvane from S end of Loch Lubnaig

Start/Finish

S end of Loch Lubnaig. Leave A84 Strathyre to Callander road at S end of Loch Lubnaig and cross the obvious bridge over the river flowing out of the loch. This is at NN 586 092. Once across bridge, turn left and drive down a short, rough track where there are 3 car parks.

Distance/Time

18 km    Approx 8 hours

Peaks

Ben Ledi, 879 m, NN 562 097.

Benvane, 821m, NN 535 137. OS sheet 57.

Introduction

This walk gives good views in all directions including Ben More and Stob Binnein, Stuc a' Chroin and Ben Vorlich and Ben Lomond. The ascent of Ben Ledi is straightforward but the continuation to Benvane is a quite strenuous extension along an undulating ridge with much up and down on a poor path which is often wet and boggy and passes through several peat hags.

Route

(1) From the car park, return to the beginning of the rough track. At the bridge, go left and, within 20 m, find the start of an obvious way marked path going uphill. Follow this good path up through the forest. The path emerges from the forest at a track. Cross the track and follow the obvious continuation of the path. This leads uphill to eventually reach the SSE ridge of Ben Ledi. The path, boggy in places, continues up this ridge and over a few shoulders to reach a cairn with a cross. About 50 m further is a large cairn which marks the summit of Ben Ledi, 879 m.

(2) Descend N on a path down a broad ridge which turns NW then back to N to reach a shallow bealach, Bealach nan Corp, from where the descent path into the Stank Glen starts. A line of old fence posts goes down this ridge. Continue following the path and fence posts up a gentle rise to reach a hollow containing the picturesque Lochan nan Corp which is a popular lunch spot. Continue on the now boggy path, still following the fence posts. The path passes a second lochan and turns NW over Stuc Dhubh before dropping to the lowest point between the two hills. Continue NW, still on the path, before the ridge swings W, WSW then NNW to the summit plateau. The fence posts lead to this plateau but pass significantly W of the top which is a medium cairn marking the summit of Benvane, 821 m.

(3) Retrace to the Bealach nan Corp along the ridge with all its undulations and boggy ground. Turn left, E, and follow the boggy and loose path down into the Stank Glen. Lower down, the path reaches a fence and stile, after which the path significantly improves and soon reaches a track. Continue to a junction and take the narrower track which is roughly straight on and descends to join another track lower down. Follow this across a burn (in a culvert below the track) then fork left down a way marked path through the forest to emerge on another track. A spectacular waterfall can be seen from this section of path. Once on the track, this leads down to the S end of Loch Lubnaig where it meets a tarmac road which leads back to the start.

Notes

(a) This walk took place on 16th February, 2002 and 16th October, 2011.

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