Munro · Fife & Perthshire
Ben Chonzie
Ben Chonzie (931m) — sometimes called Ben-y-Hone — is the most southerly Perthshire Munro, an isolated rounded summit standing well clear of the main Breadalbane chain above Comrie. The hill is famous for its mountain hare population and is widely regarded as one of the easiest Munros — a broad gentle whaleback with a clear stalkers' path most of the way to the summit shelter cairn. A popular first Munro for Central Belt walkers.
Quick facts
- Height
- 930.4m/ 3052ft
- Prominence
- 647 m
- Distance
- 16 km
- Ascent
- 819 m
- Time
- 5–8 hrs
- Grid ref
- NN773308
- Parking
- NN742273
- Nearest city
- Perth· 35km
- 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
Glen Lednock path 35% · Open hillside 45% · Summit plateau 20%
Park at the small lay-by at Coishavachan in Glen Lednock, north of Comrie. Take the rough estate landrover track north up the glen for around 4km, then follow the clear stalkers' path west onto the broad south ridge of Ben Chonzie. Climb gently to the summit cairn and stone shelter at the high point. Return reverses the line. Around 13km return with 700m of ascent — a gentle Munro day.
Terrain
The Glen Lednock estate landrover track gives firm fast surface for the lower part of the approach. The stalkers' path onto the south ridge is clear and well-trodden. The summit area is broad mossy turf with a substantial cairn and stone shelter at the high point. The descent reverses the line on excellent path. Watch for mountain hares in summer.
In winter
A reasonably gentle winter Munro by Perthshire standards. The broad summit collects wind-blown snow but seldom produces avalanche-prone slopes. The Glen Lednock side road can drift but the A85 at Comrie stays gritted. The relevant forecast area is SAIS Southern Cairngorms. Phone signal is reasonable at the trailhead but fades on the open hill.
Best time of year
Getting there
- Glasgow2h 37m
- Edinburgh2h 47m
OS maps: OS Landranger 51, OS Landranger 52
Mobile signal: Reasonable signal at Comrie. Coverage fades past 700m on the open hill. Save maps ahead of you drive up Glen Lednock.
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 05:01
- Sunset
- 21:44
- Civil dawn
- 04:07
- Civil dusk
- 22:38
NOAA Solar Calculator · 23 July 2026
On a long-distance route
Ben Chonzie sits within 5km of these named long-distance walks — useful for trail-pack rest days or section extensions.
Around Ben Chonzie on the SCOT network
Getting there, basing yourself, and what to do off the hill.
Getting there: Gleneagles station
Glen Devon; Ochil ridges; Auchterarder; PGA Centenary course access
24km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TripSCOTBase yourself in Aberfeldy
Loch Tay base — Ben Lawers, Tarmachan ridge, Birks of Aberfeldy
20km from the hill
tripscot.co.uk
On TasteSCOTAfter the hill: The Glenturret
Crieff — Scotland's oldest working distillery; Famous Grouse Experience
10km from the hill
tastescot.co.uk
Ben Chonzie — common questions
- How difficult is Ben Chonzie?
- Ben Chonzie carries a 4/5 (challenging) grade on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Count on about 16km, 819m of ascent and a 5-8 hour day on the standard route. Ground conditions: The Glen Lednock estate landrover track gives firm fast surface for the lower part of the approach.
- How much drop does Ben Chonzie have?
- The drop is 647m: measured from the summit of Ben Chonzie down to the saddle joining it to higher terrain.
- Where's the parking for Ben Chonzie?
- Park at NN742273. 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 Ben Chonzie?
- Aim for May, June, July, August, September, October on Ben Chonzie. 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 Ben Chonzie?
- 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 Ben Chonzie?
- Reasonable signal at Comrie. Coverage fades past 700m on the open hill. Save maps ahead of you drive up Glen Lednock.
- Is Ben Chonzie safe in winter?
- A reasonably gentle winter Munro by Perthshire standards. The broad summit collects wind-blown snow but seldom produces avalanche-prone slopes. The Glen Lednock side road can drift but the A85 at Comrie stays gritted. The relevant forecast area is SAIS Southern Cairngorms. Phone signal is reasonable at the trailhead but fades on the open hill.
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