Corbett · Fife & Perthshire
Ben Vrackie
Ben Vrackie is Pitlochry's home hill — the 841m Corbett that everyone who has spent a weekend in Highland Perthshire seems to have climbed. The mountain rises directly behind the village of Moulin, a mile up the road from Pitlochry itself, and the pitched path to the summit is among the busiest non-Munro hill paths in Scotland. The summit gives a panorama south over Strathtay to the Trossachs and north to the wild bulk of Beinn a' Ghlò. Beloved as an introduction to Corbetts and as a regular fitness round by locals.
Quick facts
- Height
- 842.2m/ 2763ft
- Distance
- 11 km
- Ascent
- 740 m
- Time
- 3–5 hrs
- Grid ref
- NN951632
- Parking
- NN944597
- Nearest city
- Perth
- Dogs
- Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗
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Standard route
woodland path 20% · moorland path 40% · stony path 30% · summit plateau 10%
Park at the Moulin car park behind the Moulin Hotel (NN944597). The path is signed throughout: through birch woodland, across a footbridge, then steeply up onto open moor. Pass the small loch — Loch a' Choire — sitting in a corrie about three-quarters of the way up, then climb the final steep stony section to the trig point. Descent reverses the line. Allow 4–5 hours including time at the loch.
Terrain
Excellent pitched-stone path from Moulin all the way to the upper hill — by some distance the best-built Corbett path in central Scotland. The final section above the loch is rougher: loose stones over a steeper gradient. The summit plateau itself is broad with a trig pillar and shelter wall.
In winter
Snow lies on the upper hill from December through February in most years. The path stays obvious under cover but the final stony pull above Loch a' Choire ices up readily and a slip there has consequences. Crampons rarely essential but useful; an axe should be carried. Ben Vrackie produces winter incidents disproportionate to its unassuming height because it attracts walkers underestimating Highland conditions.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow2h 50m
- Edinburgh2h 45m
OS maps: OS Explorer OL49
Mobile signal: Reliable EE/Vodafone in Moulin and on most of the lower path; weakens on the rim of Coire na Cròiseige; brief 4G on the summit looking south to Pitlochry
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 04:33
- Sunset
- 21:52
- Civil dawn
- 03:33
- Civil dusk
- 22:52
NOAA Solar Calculator · 31 May 2026
On a long-distance route
Ben Vrackie sits within 5km of these named long-distance walks — useful for trail-pack rest days or section extensions.
Around Ben Vrackie on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Pitlochry station
Schiehallion, Ben Vrackie, Beinn a Ghlo, Edradour distillery
3km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Pitlochry
Perthshire base — Schiehallion, Beinn a Ghlo, Ben Vrackie
3km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: Blair Athol
Pitlochry — main town distillery and home of Bell's blends
3km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Ben Vrackie — common questions
- How hard is Ben Vrackie?
- Ben Vrackie is rated 2/5 (moderate) on the OutdoorSCOT scale. The standard route covers about 11km with 740m of ascent and takes most walkers 3-5 hours. Terrain: Excellent pitched-stone path from Moulin all the way to the upper hill — by some distance the best-built Corbett path in central Scotland.
- Where do I park for Ben Vrackie?
- Standard parking is at NN944597 near Perth. Check the parking grid reference on an OS map before travel; informal laybys can fill on summer weekends.
- When is the best time to climb Ben Vrackie?
- The standard good-weather months for Ben Vrackie are March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November. Outside those months, expect winter conditions on the high ground — full mountain kit, navigation skills, and a check of the SAIS avalanche forecast for the relevant region.
- Can I bring my dog up Ben Vrackie?
- Yes, but dogs must be kept on a lead — there is livestock or ground-nesting bird interest on the route.
- Is there mobile signal on Ben Vrackie?
- Reliable EE/Vodafone in Moulin and on most of the lower path; weakens on the rim of Coire na Cròiseige; brief 4G on the summit looking south to Pitlochry
- Is Ben Vrackie safe in winter?
- Snow lies on the upper hill from December through February in most years. The path stays obvious under cover but the final stony pull above Loch a' Choire ices up readily and a slip there has consequences. Crampons rarely essential but useful; an axe should be carried. Ben Vrackie produces winter incidents disproportionate to its unassuming height because it attracts walkers underestimating Highland conditions.