Ben Ledi

There is a point in the Scottish summer where you give up waiting for a "nice day" and decide to go a proper walk whatever the weather. The day had come and we decided we were up for the challenge of Ben Ledi. We even brought waterproof trousers...

Just past Callander the start of the walk can be found off the A84. We pulled in at the sign for Strathyre Forest Cabins and parked in the carpark to the left when over the bridge. There is a rough map and information board in the car park about Ben Ledi. The walk starts along the path you've just driven, next to the bridge. Then head upwards through what was once woodland but is now felled apocalyptic type land. The path is very clear for most of the walk and involves some steep steps and strenuous climbing.

We regularly passed other walkers (well, other walkers regularly overtook us...) which helped make the path clear. From the start of the walk beautiful views of Loch Lubnaig and across Callander are clear. You quickly gain height on this climb and soon we were inside a cloud. Luckily the weather wasn't too bad for us and there was only some drizzly rain with some strong winds, but the fog was very thick the further up the hill you ascend. At this point it was difficult to judge how high we were or how far we had to walk, this possibly being a good thing. There are a number of false summits but the path continued to be clear. We continued on and finally noticed the cross, a memorial which is very close to the summit. Spotting the cross through the fog was an eerie moment and something I can imagine featuring in a Gothic Victorian novel. Keep going a very short distance and you will come to the cairn and trig point which mark the mountain's peak. Here we had a brief stop and took a picture. Unfortunately, at this point we had no view, but from photos and other people's descriptions I believe that on a clear day the view is stunning with vistas including Ben Lomond, the Arrochar Alps and all the way to the Wallace Monument and Stirling.

Heading back we retraced our steps down the hill. It was a relief to get out of the strong winds and fog of the summit and emerge to the views of the loch below. Altogether this is one of the most challenging hills we have walked and probably the highest (at 879m according to google). Although a very popular and accessible mountain many people we passed had sticks and proper walking equipment. Even if the weather seems nice I think things could quickly change on Ben Ledi and I'd recommend taking some extra water, snacks and possibly some waterproof trousers. After this climb my legs ached for a good 2 days but it was worth it.

 The Facts on Ben Ledi:

• We started from the car park just to the left of the bridge at the Strathyre Forest Cabins turn off (just outside of Callander).
• There weren't any toilets in the carpark but there are free ones in Callander. 
• Walking at a steady pace this walk altogether took us around 5 hours.
• According to my pedometer (ooo technical!) I done around 20,000 steps/ 14.5km.
• Difficult points: Throughout the walk there are steep sections and on the hill side we walked up a small burn which had a lot of loose stones. Walking back down I slipped once due to wet slab stones. The walk is also quite long.
• Wear: Weather appropriate clothing. Hill walking boots, jackets, possibly sticks if you use them.
• Perfect for someone wanting a challenge and, on a good day, a beautiful view. There were also a number of mountain bikers up the hill when we were there. 

For further information on Ben Ledi I'd recommend this page.

Cnoc Coinnich

On our Bank Holiday Friday my mum and I decided to make the most of the extra day on our weekend and the early Autumn sunshine to go a hike. Our pick was Cnoc Coinnich, a hidden peak among some more well known hills like The Cobbler and Ben Donich. We parked the car at Ardgarten Visitor Centre, just past Arrochar. As you enter the visitor centre drive over the bridge and continue to the left until it leads you to the Coilessan Events car park.

From the car park the walk begins through the locked gate and cross over the burn. Continue a short distance until the Coilessan Glen signpost where you make a turn to the right. From here the clear path continues to climb through some conifers with views of the mountains all around.

Continue on straight, ignoring a cycle path on the left. The walk is constantly climbing but is not too steep at this stage and the path is clearly marked. Leave the main path at the signpost for Lochgoilhead 6km and follow a more rough up and down path over two footbridges. Then it is time for the proper climb which follows the side of the burn. This is the steepest part of the walk and I don't feel ashamed to say we took a brief break half way up to catch our breath and admire the views.

At the top of this ascent is a fence with a style to climb over. We saw 3 sheep in this area but they quickly wandered off after our arrival. There is no path for the last part of the climb but continue straight, looking out for the cairn marking the summit. Parts of the hilltop are a bit boggy so take care to try and avoid these.

Once at the cairn it is time to appreciate the views of the surrounding mountains and lochs. There is also a small lake at the top of the hill. We crouched at the cairn to take pictures, admire the sights and shelter from the strong wind. Although it was a calm September day at the top of Cnoc Coinnich the wind was very strong and standing was even difficult. The beauty of this walk was how remote it felt, considering how close it is to Arrochar, Tarbet and the hussle of Loch Lomond. We didn't pass another person and from the summit no signs of modern Scotland could be spotted, apart from some far off cottages. I'd recommend this walk on a clear day to really take advantage of the surrounding views, but I think it would be perfect for any season. We returned by the same route, feeling the buzz of having accomplished something with our Friday.

The Facts on climbing Cnoc Coinnich:

• Starting point is from the Coilessan Events car park in the Ardgarten Visitor Centre, just past Arrochar.
• Nearest public toilets are at the start of Ardgarten Visitor Centre and are free.
• Climbing Cnoc Coinnich takes around 2hours 30mins- 3hours.
• Distance is 6miles/ 9.5km.
• Difficult points: Steep climb by the burn up to the hilltop; strong winds at the summit.
• Wear: Hiking/ hill walking boots and perhaps bring a hat or hairband if you have long hair as the winds at the top are very strong.
• Perfect for those who want a bit of a challenge, and seek the reward of stunning views that are rarely seen by others. Remember to add your stone to the cairn!