Ben Vane

Ben Vane is a 915 m Munro above Loch Lomond. The standard walk from Inveruglas is an 11 km (6.75 mi) out-and-back: first along the Loch Sloy hydro access, then steeply up a rocky hillside to the summit, with about 930 m of ascent. Allow 4.5 to 6.5 hours. It suits walkers looking for a standalone Arrochar Alps summit and comfortable with rough ground; this is a hard hill day, not a low-level lochside stroll.

Start at the Inveruglas Visitor Centre car park and cross the A82 to the power station. The big pipes dropping from Ben Vorlich feed the turbines here. Follow the access path and road past the station and under the railway, then stay on the hydro track through Coiregrogain. This first stretch is mostly track rather than mountain path, so the climb proper comes after a long approach. The main track bends toward Loch Sloy; at the junction, turn left onto the stonier track and cross the river bridge. About 400 m beyond it, the track crosses a burn. Pass the first boggy path on the right and take the stepped path just beyond it. That line avoids the wet ground and climbs to a low shoulder at the foot of Ben Vane. Pause there: views open back over the forestry to Loch Lomond.

From the shoulder, the route zigzags up steep grass and broken rock. The upper hillside is eroded and rough underfoot; Loch Sloy opens on your right as you gain height. The summit takes longer than the first rocky bumps suggest. There are a couple of false tops, and one has a short scramble, with easier lines around it. Wet rock can be slippery, and there are few signs once you leave the access track, so the upper path is harder to follow in poor visibility. The summit area is surprisingly flat, with the highest cairn at its eastern end. Loch Lomond is the standout view; higher peaks nearby limit the panorama in other directions. For a photo, look back over Loch Lomond from the eastern cairn and keep some of the summit rock in the foreground.

The usual route returns the way you came, so the steep ground is climbed twice. Don't fold in the west ridge toward Beinn Ìme or the longer Loch Sloy circuit: those are tougher variants, and the circuit includes a rough pathless descent. Parking is at Inveruglas Visitor Centre, on the west side of the A82; the visitor centre has toilets before you leave, and there are no facilities on the hill. Dogs are allowed under Scotland's access rights; keep them under proper control, especially around livestock. Choose another walk if you're after an easy family outing or don't want a short scramble.