We grade Benvane at 3/5, which puts it in moderately challenging territory. The usual route is around 15km with 722m of climbing; allow 5-7 hours. Ground conditions: The Glen Buckie forestry track is firm.

How much drop does Benvane have?

The drop is 215m: measured from the summit of Benvane down to the saddle joining it to higher terrain.

Where's the parking for Benvane?

Park at NN509207. Double-check the grid reference on an OS map first; informal laybys here fill early in high season.

What's the best month to climb Benvane?

Aim for April, May, June, July, August, September, October on Benvane. In the remaining months treat it as a winter hill — full kit, solid navigation, and a look at the relevant SAIS avalanche forecast before you go.

Can dogs go up Benvane?

Dogs are fine on a lead. The route passes livestock or ground-nesting bird habitat, so keep them close throughout.

By Gary

Photo: Iain Lees / CC BY-SA 2.0 via Geograph

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Corbett · Arrochar & Trossachs

Benvane

Benvane — "the middle hill", sitting between the better-known Ben Vorlich and Ben Ledi — is a quiet 821m Corbett above Balquhidder Glen at the southern edge of the Trossachs. A small cairn tops the broad grassy ridge with views south to the spread of central Scotland and north to the Crianlarich hills. Despite its location close to the Stirling and Glasgow commuter belt it remains a relatively quiet hill, overshadowed by its more famous neighbours.

Quick facts

Height: 821m/ 2694ft
Prominence: 215 m
Distance: ~15 km
Ascent: ~722 m
Time: 5–7 hrs
Difficulty: 3 / 5Strenuous
Grid ref: NN535137
Parking: NN509207
Nearest city: Stirling· 33km
Dogs: Dogs on lead required near livestockDog-friendly guide ↗

Height and prominence cross-checked against the Database of British and Irish Hills (CC BY).

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Standard route

forestry track 30% · open heather 35% · grassy ridge 25% · summit cairn 10%

15km · 722m ascent · 4.2 hrs

The standard line starts from the small car park near Ballimore at the head of Balquhidder Glen and follows the forestry track north into Glen Buckie. After roughly 3km, leave the track and climb open heather slopes east onto the broad south-west ridge of Benvane. The ridge gives a steady pull on grass and heather to the summit cairn. Around 15km return with 722m of ascent. Sometimes combined with Ben Vorlich via a longer eastward traverse.

Terrain

The Glen Buckie forestry track is firm. Off the track the hillside is open heather and bracken; pathless and slow on the lower slopes, easing to short grass on the upper ridge. The summit area is broad mossy grass with the cairn at the highest point. No exposure or scrambling on the standard line. The connecting ridge east toward Stob Breac involves significant re-ascent.

In winter

A benign winter hill — gentle gradients, no avalanche slopes, and a forestry approach that gives shelter from the worst of the weather. The Balquhidder road is gritted as far as the church but the side roads can ice. The summit ridge holds drift after westerly storms; navigation in cloud is the main concern.

Outside the SAIS network. No Scottish Avalanche Information Service forecast covers Benvane. SAIS forecasts six areas only — Northern and Southern Cairngorms, Creag Meagaidh, Lochaber, Glencoe and Torridon — and this hill is outside all of them, so there is no avalanche forecast to read for it. In winter, use MWIS West Highlands ↗ for mountain weather, judge snow stability from first principles, and treat any cornice or wind-loaded slope with extra caution.

Best time of year

Best OK Avoid

Getting there

Glasgow1h 9m
Edinburgh2h 45m

Parking: NN509207

OS maps: OS Landranger 57

Mobile signal: Reasonable signal at Balquhidder; intermittent higher up

Current conditions

Daylight Today

14h 10mwalking daylight

Sunrise: 06:46
Sunset: 19:40
Civil dawn: 06:08
Civil dusk: 20:18

NOAA Solar Calculator · 14 September 2026

Pair with

Curated multi-hill combinations from Benvane.

Two-hill day
Benvane + Ben Ledi
Link Benvane with Ben Ledi for a full Trossachs ridge day with car shuttle
20km · 1200m ascent · 8 hrs

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Around Benvane on the SCOT network

Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.

On TripSCOT

station

Getting there: Crianlarich station

Crianlarich Munros — Ben More, Stob Binnein, Ben Lui, Cruach Ardrain

19km from the hill

tripscot.co.uk

On TripSCOT

town

Base yourself in Callander

Trossachs gateway — Ben Ledi, Stuc a Chroin, Rob Roy Way

11km from the hill

tripscot.co.uk

On TasteSCOT

distillery

After the hill: Deanston

Doune — converted cotton mill; floral, honeyed Perthshire distillery

23km from the hill

tastescot.co.uk

Before you go

Hillwalking carries real risk and the responsibility for any day on the hill is yours. Conditions in Scotland change fast and can differ sharply from the forecast — check the weather and the ground before you commit, turn back when the day stops working, and carry map and compass with the ability to use them rather than relying on a phone.

The distance, ascent and time shown on this page are editorial estimates for the usual line, not measurements from a recorded track — that is what the ~ means. Treat them as a rough shape of the day. Your own pace, the conditions and the exact line you take will all move them.

Mountain forecasts: MWIS and the Met Office mountain forecast. Access rights and responsibilities are set out in the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.

We check what we publish, but we cannot check the route on the day you walk it. Nothing here is a substitute for your own judgement.

Benvane — common questions

How hard is Benvane?: We grade Benvane at 3/5, which puts it in moderately challenging territory. The usual route is around 15km with 722m of climbing; allow 5-7 hours. Ground conditions: The Glen Buckie forestry track is firm.
How much drop does Benvane have?: The drop is 215m: measured from the summit of Benvane down to the saddle joining it to higher terrain.
Where's the parking for Benvane?: Park at NN509207. Double-check the grid reference on an OS map first; informal laybys here fill early in high season.
What's the best month to climb Benvane?: Aim for April, May, June, July, August, September, October on Benvane. In the remaining months treat it as a winter hill — full kit, solid navigation, and a look at the relevant SAIS avalanche forecast before you go.
Can dogs go up Benvane?: Dogs are fine on a lead. The route passes livestock or ground-nesting bird habitat, so keep them close throughout.
Will I get phone signal on Benvane?: Reasonable signal at Balquhidder; intermittent higher up
Is Benvane safe in winter?: A benign winter hill — gentle gradients, no avalanche slopes, and a forestry approach that gives shelter from the worst of the weather. The Balquhidder road is gritted as far as the church but the side roads can ice. The summit ridge holds drift after westerly storms; navigation in cloud is the main concern.

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