Ben Ledi

Ben Ledi From Callander

This distinctive Corbett presents a noble cone from much of the Forth valley due largely to it’s prominent position on the southern edge of the Highland boundary fault. Having driven past it a million times en route to bigger, higher, harder mountains further north, I chose this first real day of spring to finally park the car and put my feet on it. I should have done it years ago!

Approaching the Summit

An excellent path rises through the conifers from the car park at the southern end of Loch Lubnaig. After crossing a small but lively burn above the tree line, it turns south and climbs to the skyline intercepting the mountain’s long southern ridge at about 500m. Morning mist and clearing cloud precluded much in the way of grand views but a clearer day undoubtedly gives a great vista west across the Trossachs towards Ben Lomond and the Arrochar Alps. Similarly, to the east you will see across the upper Forth valley back towards Stirling and the Ochils whilst to the south, the Campsie Fells fill the horizon. The path now rises over a series of false summits, none of them particularly arduous until you get to the top of Ben Ledi (879m; hill of the slope).

The Crowded Summit

This being Saturday and a nice day to boot, it was no surprise to see many others on such an accessible hill. That said, the summit, when it arrived complete with cairn, memorial cross and OS trig point, was fair teeming with assorted couples, families and one pretty large walking club! No matter, the sun was out now and it was very warm – allowing shorts and t-shirt to be worn for the first time this year! You now have a view north to complement the other directional vistas. Ben Lui to the NW and the Ben Lawers group, Ben More and Stob Binnean to the NE, are particularly conspicuous.

Descending the North Ridge

North from the summit, an obvious ridge, marked with rusting fence posts, descends and winds its way for 6Km to another Corbett: Benvane. The first part of this ridge forms the corrie headwall of the unfortunately named Stank Glen (stank = Scots: watercourse or drain) and this offers the best way down with or without the inclusion of Benvane in your day. Today, after pausing (for quite some time) in the warm sun at the equally unfortunately named Lochan nan Corp (small loch of the dead), leaving Benvane for another day seemed entirely appropriate!

Ben Ledi From the Stank Glen

The key to locating the descent route is the bealach just south of the lochan. The bealach is also named after the dead, this being an old ‘coffin route’ along which the locals would carry their dead from Glen Finglas to St Bride’s Chapel on the shores of Loch Lubnaig. The descent route follows the Stank burn eastwards into the Stank Glen to pick up an excellent way-marked footpath that leads easily back down through the forest to the shores of Loch Lubnaig. The circuit is about 10Km long and would make a good short winter’s day or, perhaps much better, a long, warm summer stroll complete with several sunbathing stops!

A Fine Hill

Check out my future plans for similar walks on: http://www.hillways.co.uk/summer/summer.htm