How difficult is Ben Vane?

Ben Vane carries a 4/5 (challenging) grade on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Count on about 12km, 900m of ascent and a 5-8 hour day on the standard route. Underfoot: The hydro road approach is firm tarmac and gravel.

What is Ben Vane's prominence?

424m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Ben Vane to the next higher ground.

Where do I park for Ben Vane?

Most walkers start from NN323098. Verify the grid reference on an OS map before you set off — space is tight on busy summer weekends.

When is the best time to climb Ben Vane?

May, June, July, August, September, October give the most reliable conditions on Ben Vane. Beyond that window the high ground turns wintry: carry full mountain kit, be confident navigating, and check the SAIS avalanche forecast for the area.

Is Ben Vane dog-friendly?

Yes, but dogs must be kept on a lead — there is livestock or ground-nesting bird interest on the route.

By Gary

Photo: Richard Webb / CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

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Munro · Arrochar & Trossachs

Ben Vane

Ben Vane (915m) — "the middle hill" — is the smallest of the Arrochar Alps Munros but probably the steepest for its height, a striking pyramidal cone above Inveruglas on Loch Lomond. The summit is a small rocky platform with views over Loch Lomond to Ben Lomond and across to Beinn Ime. Almost always climbed by the direct east face from Inveruglas — there are no easy lines.

Quick facts

Height: 915.76m/ 3004ft
Prominence: 424 m
Distance: ~12 km
Ascent: ~900 m
Time: 5–8 hrs
Difficulty: 4 / 5Serious
Grid ref: NN277098
Parking: NN323098
Nearest city: Oban· 46km
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

Inveruglas path 25% · Very steep hillside 55% · Summit 20%

12km · 900m ascent · 3.9 hrs

Park at the Inveruglas visitor centre on the A82 and take the hydro access road north-west towards Loch Sloy. After 2km branch left up the steep east shoulder via a worn but unrelenting path that climbs almost 800m in 2km. The summit is a series of small rocky tops; the official cairn is at the western end. Around 12km return with 900m of ascent.

Terrain

The hydro road approach is firm tarmac and gravel. Above, the ascent is one of the steepest constant-angle climbs on any Munro — a worn earth path with rocky steps gaining 800m in barely 2km. The summit area is small rocky platforms and short turf with a small cairn marking the high point.

In winter

A surprisingly serious winter hill given its low altitude. The relentless steep east face becomes very avalanche-prone after westerly snowfall and the descent in iced conditions is committing. Check MWIS West Highlands. The A82 stays open at Inveruglas in normal conditions.

Outside the SAIS network. No Scottish Avalanche Information Service forecast covers Ben Vane. 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 18m
Edinburgh2h 13m

Parking: NN323098

OS maps: OS Landranger 56

Mobile signal: Reasonable signal at Ardlui on Loch Lomond. Reception tails off above 600m. Download maps before leaving the car from Ardlui.

Current conditions

Daylight Today

14h 44mwalking daylight

Sunrise: 06:34
Sunset: 20:01
Civil dawn: 05:55
Civil dusk: 20:39

NOAA Solar Calculator · 7 September 2026

Ben Vane weather: forecast, wind exposure and winter notes →

Pair with

Curated multi-hill combinations from Ben Vane.

Two-hill day
Ben Vane + Beinn Narnain
Ben Vane and Beinn Narnain from the Arrochar/Inveruglas area — two contrasting Arrochar Alps Munros in a day.
16km · 1300m ascent · 7 hrs

On a long-distance route

Ben Vane sits within 5km of these named long-distance walks — useful for trail-pack rest days or section extensions.

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Around Ben Vane on the SCOT network

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

On TripSCOT

town

Base yourself in Luss

West Loch Lomond village — Highland Boundary, Loch Lomond Way

19km from the hill

tripscot.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.

Ben Vane — common questions

How difficult is Ben Vane?: Ben Vane carries a 4/5 (challenging) grade on the OutdoorSCOT scale. Count on about 12km, 900m of ascent and a 5-8 hour day on the standard route. Underfoot: The hydro road approach is firm tarmac and gravel.
What is Ben Vane's prominence?: 424m of prominence. That's the vertical drop from the summit to the col that links Ben Vane to the next higher ground.
Where do I park for Ben Vane?: Most walkers start from NN323098. Verify the grid reference on an OS map before you set off — space is tight on busy summer weekends.
When is the best time to climb Ben Vane?: May, June, July, August, September, October give the most reliable conditions on Ben Vane. Beyond that window the high ground turns wintry: carry full mountain kit, be confident navigating, and check the SAIS avalanche forecast for the area.
Is Ben Vane dog-friendly?: 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 Vane?: Reasonable signal at Ardlui on Loch Lomond. Reception tails off above 600m. Download maps before leaving the car from Ardlui.
Is Ben Vane safe in winter?: A surprisingly serious winter hill given its low altitude. The relentless steep east face becomes very avalanche-prone after westerly snowfall and the descent in iced conditions is committing. Check MWIS West Highlands. The A82 stays open at Inveruglas in normal conditions.

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