Ben Lomond Scotland from Ptarmigan Ridge Guide
If you’re looking for a hiking adventure in Scotland, then look no further than walking Ben Lomond, an easily achievable Munro (a hill over 3000 ft or 941m).
Standing at 974m, Ben Lomond is in Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park and is the most southerly of the Munros and offers stunning views over Loch Lomond and the surrounding areas.
Ben Lomond was my first munro hike (of what I’m sure will be many). We decided to hike Ben Lomond via Ptarmigan Ridge on a beautiful sunny day in February. The hike was challenging, but not too difficult with no exposure of scrambling and so it’s the perfect introduction to Munro bagging.
One of the things that makes Ben Lomond such a great walk in the Trossachs is that it’s surrounded by beautiful scenery. You really get a feel for the mountains of the Trossachs and the Highlands from the summit. It’ll honestly probably surprise you just how mountainous Scotland can be!
If you’re planning a visit to Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park this year and looking for some hiking guides, then check out this hiking guide to Ben Lomond.
This guide takes the trail up Ptarmigan Ridge which is usually quieter and a bit harder than the Ben Lomond Mountain Path or ‘Tourist’ Route.
Looking for a great easy hike in Scotland? Check out this Ben A’an hiking guide in the Trossachs!
How to get to Ben Lomond trailhead
When it comes to how to get to Ben Lomond, getting to the trailhead for Ben Lomond is relatively easy and is often done as a day trip from Glasgow.
The journey from Glasgow to the Ben Lomond parking lot is less than 1 hour’s drive and you’ll go past some beautiful scenery on the way as you drive up the eastern shores of Loch Lomond.
I started this hike from the Rowardennan car park which is at the far end of a long road and about as far as you can go by car on the eastern side of Loch Lomond.
Along the way there are a couple of pubs, some campsites and beautiful views.
This car park can get very busy in the summer and even in February it was almost full by the time we arrived.
Parking costs £5 for the full day and it’s a good idea to have the RingGo app on your phone so you can pay for parking, or remember to have change in your car.
Check out my guide to hiking Ben Nevis near Fort William
What to know before walking Ben Lomond
In addition to checking the Ben Lomond weather, you must always abide by the following:
- Always practice leave no trace ethics and pack out anything you take with you.
- Stick to pre-existing trails to avoid eroding the landscape
- Always pack layers and waterproofs – this is Scotland after all!
- Tell someone where you are going and when you expect to be back.
- Make sure you walk with your 10 essentials.
OS Maps are awesome for hiking in the UK. I’ve never found anything quite like them when in other countries. They have all features like churches, rivers, peaks, viewpoints and more. You can get paper maps (which are great for finding new places), and their app is super useful too.
Walking the Ben Lomond via Ptarmigan Ridge trail
From the Rowardennan car park, head to the opposite end to the way you drove in, towards the Youth Hostel. There will be signposts and a clear trail going through the wood.
After around 1km on this trail, follow the sign and take a trail on your right that begins to head up hill.
Soon, you’ll come out of the trees and get your first views of the trail ahead of you as well as Loch Lomond behind you.
On the day I hiked Ben Lomond with my friends, the sun was shining and I had to quickly shed my layers down to just a t-shirt which was unexpected for February!
The path up Ptarmigan Ridge is a consistent climb with only the slightest relief about 4km in when the paths gets a little less steep (but not quite flat), and makes a turn towards hikers’ right as you get closer to the ridge and the summit of Ben Lomond.
Feel free to take breaks as and when you need to and enjoy the views!
The final climb to the summit when walking Ben Lomond is steep and some of the path has steps to help you climb up it.
Keep on going as you’re almost there!
Once at the summit of Ben Lomond, there’s a trig point (and usually quite a few people).
Take you time to enjoy the impressive views of the surrounding area.
One of my favourite things about hiking in Scotland has quickly become how easy it is to spot other summits I’ve done. From up on Ben Lomond we could see over towards The Whangie, and easy walk near Glasgow, Ben Ledi, Stuc a Chroin and more.
For our descent, we decided to take the Mountain Path down to make this into a loop trail. Plus, I don’t know about you, but it’s often easier to hike up the steepest way that to ty and hike down it!
The Ben Lomond tourist route has wider paths though you still need to pay attention to your footing as it’s uneven in places and you don’t want to roll your ankle!
Back at the car park, we took a break lochside after walking Ben Lomond. And my friend, who never misses an opportunity to go for a swim, took a dip in Loch Lomond!
Stats for the Ben Lomond walk
For you trip walking Ben Lomond, here are some things you should know.
Ben Lomond hike via the Ptarmigan Route Circular
- Distance: 12.1 km
- Elevation: 971 m
- Ben Lomond walk time: 4-6 hours
- Difficulty: moderate – strenuous
Ben Lomond Mountain path out and back
- Distance: 12.4 km
- Elevation: 961 m
- Duration: 4-6 hours
- Difficulty: moderate
**All stats are rough guides and should not be taken to the metre**
You can use this AllTrails route to follow the trail if you have AllTrails+.
What to pack for hiking Ben Lomond in the Trossachs
What to pack for this hike depends on what season you’re hiking in.
- Check out my day hike packing list here.
- If you’re hiking in summer you should pack sunscreen, sunglasses, layers, water and bug spray as well as everything in the 10 essentials for hiking list.
- Here is what to wear hiking in hot weather
- Check out this post on the best leggings for hiking or what to wear hiking in summer for more details and my gear recommendations.
- If you’re hiking in winter after the snow has started falling you’ll need microspikes at the very least. If there is a lot of snow you will probably need snowshoes.
- You should also take plenty of layers including a fleece layer, a puffy insulated jacket and a wind and waterproof outer layer. Hats and gloves are also necessary as well as a good backpack to keep everything in.
- You should also pack water and some snacks too to keep you going as they’re part of the 10 essentials for hiking!
- Planning a hiking date? Check out what to wear on a hiking date but still look cool.
Final thoughts on walking Ben Lomond Scotland
Hiking Ben Lomond via the Ptarmigan Trail is a challenging yet worthwhile experience.
You’ll get beautiful views of Loch Lomond and the surrounding hills in the Trossachs and beyond when walking Ben Lomond.
The Ptarmigan Ridge path winds its way up through the trees before coming out to some stunning views for the majority of the trail. The climbing uphill is relentless, but the views from the top of Ben Lomond make it all worth it.
Once at the Ben Lomond summit, take a moment to rest, recover, and enjoy the panoramic views before returning via the tourist route for a more gradual descent.
This is a great first munro for many just getting started on their munro bagging journies!
Looking for more Munros? Take a look at this guide to the Stuc a Chroin walk.
FAQs about the Ben Lomond hiking trail
How long does it take to hike Ben Lomond?
How long does it take to walk up and down Ben Lomond?
Is Ben Lomond harder than Snowdon?
Is Ben Lomond a hard hike?
Last Updated on June 2, 2023 by Hannah
Hannah started That Adventurer after graduating back in 2013 and has documented all of her adventures since then. From backpacking South America to city breaks in Europe, a 3 month road trip across the USA in a self-converted van and 6 years living in Canada, you’ll find posts on all of this.
Hannah specialises in active travel and on That Adventurer you’ll find hiking, walking, biking, skiing and all sorts of active travel guides to allow you to see a destination in an adventurous way.
Now back in Europe, you’ll find new guides as Hannah and her husband spend the next year ‘digital nomading’ from Norway to Portugal, Switzerland to Scotland and places in between.
