In winter you will need to carry and be able to use alpine equipment such as … And then we walked back to the hostel where I spent the next three hours sleeping. Just go early to beat the queues. SUPPORT WALKHIGHLANDS IN 2021 Walkhighlands is free for everyone and anyone to use. You don’t need me to tell how to walk to the start from where you’re staying. I’d been in that annoying distance ahead, ensuring my friend kept moving quickly. Elevation gain: 1400 meters gain to a peak altitude of 1748 meters. So cold that the phone battery started draining fast. As we weren’t keen on waking up earlier than needed, we planned to leave the hostel at 4 am. The hike was challenging and particularly steep at the end, however, well worth it with the most stunning views at the top. Opting for the Ptarmigan ridge on the descent makes for a quieter and more interesting return from the summit. 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. Your email address will not be published. From the car park, head towards the toilets and the information centre, the path starts at the back of the building and is clearly marked. The easiest option to descend is to retrace your steps. Though the 5 metres had started to stretch out once we hit the snow. They all said Ben Lomond. From Hobart, the park is a 3 hour drive north on the Midlands Highway (A1). Note: There’s another trailhead you can start at called One Mile Track. And after that the descent was beautiful. I can confirm Fergburger is worth it. 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. The path descends steeply at first. The average walking time of Ben Lomond is around 4 hours, obviously depending on how fast you walk. We saw two groups of people making their way up when we got close to the gondola, both being stunned we had already been to the top. Ben Lomond track is a challenging track with a 1438m elevation gain of the walk. Link them in the comments below and I’ll check them out. Glasgow’s Mountain. It wasn’t deep to start with, and it’s much better than walking on ice. the crowds were quite low as I went really early at that time. It was at about this time when I started to understand why DOC recommends crampons and a pickaxe in the height of winter. The most popular path up to the summit of Ben Lomond is the Tourist Path, which starts at Rowardennan car park (Postcode G63 OAR). Ideally, we’d be there for first light. However, you’re not looking for signs to the “Ben Lomond Trail” and instead, you’re looking for signs to the “Tiki Trail.” This is because the first part of the Ben Lomond track is actually the Tiki Trail (also known as the Queenstown gondola walk.) It’s worth stopping in at the DOC visitor centre too. In summer there can be dozens of people making the journey up each day. How long does it take to walk up and down Ben Lomond? 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. Now that it was light, we could see it easier which if anything slowed us down even more. Ben Lomond walks are a popular excursion for visitors to Loch Lomond Waterfront. Follow the posts the guide book said, so I try to. There are some sharp dropoffs on the way to the peak, so if you’re straying off the poled route, make sure you don’t make any silly mistakes. Leave any useful tips you have too 😉, This would be a good option as a warm-up before doing the Ben Lomond track, Instead of turning left at the saddle, the Moonlight Track continues straight, Your email address will not be published. Views from the top are sensational due to its central position within the Trossachs. Follow the path as it climbs through the woods, crosses a wider track, and continues on up hill above the tree line. The Ben Lomond trail … My friend was a lot slower going from this point on. More details such as how long to walk, riding a bike and fuel costs are available. Trust me, the photos get a lot better. © 2020 Chur New Zealand // Have the best day ever. But, if you want to make your Ben Lomond hike special, wake up early and get to the summit for sunrise. I know I’m a fast hiker, and my friend was confident he is no slouch and would hustle to make it up. We navigated through the Skyline amenities and found the dirt track again. The Tiki Trail trailhead is literally in Queenstown, which I’m assuming you’ll be staying in the night before. And yay, for the trailhead starting in town. Note, the weather beyond the saddle can be treacherous at this time of the year. Felt like I overcame the challenge. On Ben Lomond at the start of my 525-mile, 55 Munro walk to Ben Hope in 1981 This year sees the fortieth anniversary of my first round of the Munros and the twenty-fifth anniversary of my continuous walk over the Munros and Tops. Very hard though. We hadn’t been chatting much on the way up. The path continues to steadily climb. You’re going to follow the road to return to the car park. Take the C401 through White Hills then turn right at Blessington onto Ben Lomond Road (C413). Make the most of our rangers’ expertise by booking a guided walk. It is an uneven and craggy path and you will need your hands to steady yourself in places. The ~15km out and back Ben Lomond Track is one of the more well-known hikes/walks in Queenstown. Ben Lomond hike quick info. Easy unsubscribe links are provided in every email. 5. The climb from the saddle to the summit would be a slower grind. Despite our good intentions weren’t out the door until 4.10. After a short section of forest we got our first glimpse of the Ben Lomond peak. Difficulty3: Medium – hard. I will certainly never forget my 11 th Munro. 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. 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. We really have seen some amazing views from the top. We were less than 500 metres from the summit when the oranges started to glow on the horizon as dawn came through. From Drymen take the B837 North to Balmaha. For me, not only is it a great source of fitness and calorie burning, but it … The road drives the east shores of Loch Lomond. The path from the top of the gondola to the saddle is longer but less steep while the path from the saddle to summit in shorter but much steeper and technical. But I hared up there with the friend a few minutes behind. Yvonne’s first night-time Munro. You should stop off at one of the many shingle beaches on the road south and enjoy Loch Lomond from the shore. A moderate walk (mountain (above 600m)) in national park Loch Lomond and the Trossachs in Argyll and Bute, Scotland, about 9.80km (6.09 mi) long with an estimated walking time of about 5:30h. Even if you do not climb up Ben Lomond, the Trossachs offer spectacular scenery and views. This was my first sunrise hike of 2020 and wow, the Ben Lomond summit hike delivered in spades! Best day ever type stuff. The ~15km out and back Ben Lomond Track is one of the more well-known hikes/tramps in Queenstown. For reference, we made it up the Tiki Trail in 35-minutes. Take a read of the DOC warnings before considering if this walk is suitable for you. There was no way I was missing the sunrise. The Rowardennan Lodge Youth Hostel offers a stunning location and pleasant accommodations for those on a budget. It is suitable for families with children, but unsuitable for prams & pushchairs, wheelchairs. The terrain is relatively easy and in a convenient location – near Glasgow, Ben Lomond tends to attract a lot of attention from international tourists. Phew. The path crosses a small stream via a footbridge. 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. But for the purposes of this post, I’m using the Tiki Trail trailhead which is what I used and the most common route. This is going to be helpful when it’s dark (especially if you haven’t walked any of the Tiki Trail). Ben Lomond is the most climbed of the Munros (Scottish mountains over 914m), not only because it’s the most southerly, but also because of the direct ascent to its 974m summit. Height: 974m Time to climb: 4-6 hours round trip Car park: Check location here Difficulty: Moderate Gear: Scotland packing list Where do you park to climb Ben Lomond? If you’re driving into Queenstown to do the hike, you may need to pay for parking. As usual, the trail is well maintained. What was also on my mind was knowing that we weren’t going straight up the peak to the summit. We set off up the Tiki Trail, a trail I haven’t walked in years. After trying to admire the views, we were both feeling chill. This included perhaps 30 minutes at the summit. We had less than 3 hours to make it and did so, but are both reasonably fit. There is one main car park for Ben Lomond, located here.. It’s at the very end of a long rural road running up alongside the eastern shores of Loch Lomond. Turn up Power House Road to the car park. We were acutely aware of the ice now and avoided it wherever possible. We were loving the views all the way back down. When2: October 2020. With that said, we were at the summit for about 30 minutes before we started beginning the journey back. With the head torch on 7, I set a solid speed up the hill. Just a few short stops to take photos/admire the views. The mountain is composed of a central massif with an extensive plateau above 1,200 metres (3,900 ft) and high outlier peaks projecting from the mountain. A great walk up a great Munro, altogether it took us 6hours and 30mins to get up and down Ben Lomond. You’ll drop off to the right of the ridge for the final leg. The first 10 have collectively and individually been the source of many challenges and happy memories. I arrive at the turn for the Ben Lomond saddle track and meet a friendly farmer who advises I turn back, which seemed odd given how great the day was shaping up to be. We don't want to charge a subscription as it would be a barrier for beginners and for those who can't afford to pay. The path up is well made, but the optional return down the Ptarmigan ridge is steep and rocky, and muddy lower down. 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. I did see this spot a few minutes walk from the trailhead that’s $7 for 12 hours. Note: I walked with a mate from the hostel. DOC suggests 6-8 hours for the 11km return trip which gives you an idea of how long it can take. After 16.9km arrive at the Rowardennan Hotel, where you can start the hike from if you are staying there, or a little over 200m later you’ll see the Ben Lomond car park. You’ll walk over a flat section before a final, steep switchback. I'm okay in my trusty walking boots, but those day trampers may find it a bit challenging. walks in Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park. Much better than the 6.12 am it could have been if the clocks hadn’t moved forward. Ben Lomond is the most southerly of the Munros and is located in the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park. From Queenstown, follow the road around the lake toward Glenorchy to a roundabout (walking time from Queenstown, about 15 minutes). 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