Photographs and route maps of Ben Vane and Ben Vorlich above Loch Sloy in Loch Lomond National Park

Big Ben Vorlieh dominates the northern end of Loch Lomond and offers a relatively straightforward ascent to a high summit with extensive views. Under snow and ice the mountain is certainly trickier with a couple of rocky steps to be negotiated and full winter gear of ice axe and crampons are essential.
The approach from Ardui via Coire Creagach is a popular route and can he combined with a return over the east-north-east ridge of the Little Hills.
Park in the layby opposite the underpass leading to Ardlui Station and walk south back along the road for about 100 metres. Go through the next underpass under the railway and follow the track to a gate and stile on the left. Cross the burn and head up and right to a further gate giving access to the open hillside. Continue ascending in the same line on a wet and ill-deﬁned path aiming for the wooded base of craggy-crested Stuc na Nughinn, the first of the Little Hills which lies directly ahead to the south-east. This brings you to a stile in a fence on the edge of the prominent
deep-cut burn draining from Coire Creagach from where the path becomes much better deﬁned.
Follow the path to a small dam and pipeline, then ascend directly from a small bridge over the pipeline before a second small dam, to gain an upper corrie, then north-west to the col between Ben Vorlich and Stub nan Coinnich Bhacain. From here the broad north-east ridge leads to the North Top, followed by the summit, capped by a cairn. The trig point just to the south crowns the southern summit, which is two metres lower. The views are spectacular, with the Paps of Jura and Ben More on Mull visible out west.
For all the extra distanee it is worth continuing south to the trig point topped southern summit for a fine view to Ben Lomond and down Loch Lomond.
From the summit head north-east to gain the ridge line and follow it east to the col below the first of the Little Hills. Go over this 808m summit and descend its rocky eastem side with care to the next col. Another small top is climbed before the 793m cairned top of the second Little Hill.
From here turn north and follow the long ridge steadily down towards Ardlui and Loch Lomond, passing over the knobbles of Stnc na Nughinn to the foot of the ridge, where a steeper descent between crags leads to the treeline and a fence and stile above the prominent deep-cut burn. With care it is possible to follow the fence left and down to the burn, cross over and ascend beside a continuation fence to reach the stile on the ascent route.
Alternatively, go over the stile and continue down the ridge to cross the burn lower down, or continue on to pass under the railway before Stuckendrion farm to gain the main road and follow it back to Ardlui.

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