Ledard Farm to Loch Achray

Ledard Farm to Loch Achray is a 6.5-mile, one-way hill crossing from the B829 beside Loch Ard to Ben Venue Car Park at Loch Achray. It climbs Ledard Glen, contours the high rocky slopes below Ben Venue, then drops through Glen Riabhach and forest. Allow four to six hours for roughly 610 metres of ascent. This is a proper hillwalk, with 610 metres of ascent and rough high ground; allow most of a day.

From the layby beside Loch Ard, follow the track to Ledard Farm; the signed Hill Access path leaves before the house. Cross the bridge by the burn and climb through oak woodland, with a waterfall shortly up the glen. The climb is muddy in places, and views open back toward Loch Ard as you gain height. Above the native trees, the route crosses a burn and continues over open, boggy ground toward the first bealach. At the fork in the glen, take the uphill branch rather than the faint line ahead toward the burn.

After the first pass, cross the low fence and follow the rough path along the steep mountain flank. At the next saddle, marked by a large cairn, turn right for Loch Achray. The path straight uphill leads to Ben Venue’s summit; the through-route stays below the top. The Loch Achray line crosses a flat boggy area, then drops on steep, rocky zigzags into upper Glen Riabhach. The descent gradually eases through open moorland, regenerating woodland and plantations.

As the glen opens, Loch Achray and Loch Venachar come into view. Follow the forest paths and tracks down to Achray Water, cross its bridge and continue by the road to the signed path into Ben Venue Car Park. This is point-to-point, so arrange a vehicle transfer or car shuffle between the two ends; there is no public transport to the start. Dogs are allowed under Scotland's outdoor access rules: keep them close to heel or on a short lead around livestock and ground-nesting birds.