Photographs, route description and maps of an ascent of Ben Vorlich above Loch Sloy and Loch Lomond

Location: lnveruglas, Loch Lomond
Map: OS Landranger 56 ( GR 295125 )
Distance: 8 miles /12.5km
Time: 4 hours 30 minutes
Terrain: hill paths

Ben Vorlich is an extensive mountain which can be climbed from several directions. One of the most popular starting points is Ardlui to the east, but Inveruglas to the south offers quicker and easier access, besides an opportunity to ascend the long and less frequented south ridge.
From the large car park at lnveruglas, just north of Sloy Power Station, follow the signposted path past the power plant back to the padlocked access road to Coriegrogain farm and Loch Sloy dam.
Go through the kissing gate and follow the road under the railway bridge.
There's a shortcut on the left almost immediately after the bridge onto a path which ascends beside the Inveruglas Water to meet the access road after the big bend. This passes through pleasant woodland but can be boggy in places.
After the initial ascent from Loch Lomond, the access road levels out below the broad frontal face of Ben Vorlich's south ridge.
The route ascends to the right of a burn with scattered trees in its lower reaches in the centre of the face. Although
there are scattered animal paths, there's no established path. It may look steep from below but don't worry, it's not too had.
At the electricity sub-station, turn right on to a subsidiary access road which traverses east across the hillside below the face.
Gain the hillside as soon as possible beyond the burn and ascend steadily up grassy and heathery slopes with some bracken to reach the broad upper ridge where the ground levels out. The ascent gives fine views east to Loch Lomond, lnversnaid and Ben Ledi beyond and west to Ben Vane and Beinn Ime.
Once you're on the ridge a path leads north over a series of knobbly tops towards the summit. The most enjoyable route takesthe ridge direct although the rockier sections can be bypassed by a path on the right. Beyond the second top the route joins the well-worn path ascending from Loch Sloy and becomes much wider, continuing through a broad trough created by a massive landslip on the west face, to arrive at a tiny lochan.
The main path continues to the left, but the most direct and straightforward route is to stick to the high ground further right. Here a lesser path skirts to the right of the small crag gains the ridge and leads directly to the trig point on the south top.
From here. continue along the ridge to the summit, about two metres higher, which is marked by a cairn on a small crag.
Return by reversing the line of ascent or, though a little longer, descending by the Loch Sloy path to the access road. The top of this path is steep and eroded with scrambly sections, while the bottom is quite boggy. From here follow the access road which heads back to the electricity sub-station and Inverugias.

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.