Ben Lawers Range

Responsible for this content
Craig MooreMunros
Meall a'Choire Leith (926m, Munro 259)
Meall Corranaich (1069m, Munro 67)
Beinn Ghlas (1103m, Munro 48)
Ben Lawers (1214m, Munro 10)
An Stuc (1118m, Munro 34)
Meall Garbh (1118m, Munro 35)
Meall Greigh (1001m, Munro 135)
Ascent 1750m (5,700ft)
Distance 19km (12m)
Time walking : 7:30hr
Meall a'Choire Leith (926m, Munro 259)
Meall Corranaich (1069m, Munro 67)
Beinn Ghlas (1103m, Munro 48)
Ben Lawers (1214m, Munro 10)
An Stuc (1118m, Munro 34)
Meall Garbh (1118m, Munro 35)
Meall Greigh (1001m, Munro 135)
Ascent 1750m (5,700ft)
Distance 19km (12m)
Time walking : 7:30hr
moderate
Distance 18.9 km
Getting there
There are many possible route choices to ponder over to bag these Munros, but I've found the following route suits me best, though two cars are helpful, one parked at either end. Take your pick at which end to start and direction to head, both have their plus and minus points. On the A827 that runs along the north side of Loch Tay and a few miles east of Killin, a narrow road heads north into the forest. This reaches the Ben Lawers car-park, then climbs up to Lochan na Lairige with its large dam. By a cairn, 0.5 km north of the end of the Lochan na Lairige, there is limited parking. If parking is full, then there is space by the northern end of Lochan na Lairige, where a track heads from the roadside towards the water's edge. The route finishes at the Horn Carver, just east of the Ben Lawers Hotel. Parking is free at the hotel, providing you stop and eat/drink there at the end of your hillwalking day.
Meall a'Choire Leith
From the cairn just north of the northern end of Lochan na Lairige, head northwest on a newly built path. At time of writing (late 2012) the path was still being constructed, but looks as if it will head up to around c600m, from where a wet, indistinct path is traced down to the small hydro dam. Cross the burn below the dam and pick up another wet path to reach the burn coming down from Coire Gorm. Cross this burn, then head north up steep grassy ground. The rate of ascent gradually easies and a small cairn on the summit is reached. Not a great summit, but a good view is given onto the route's remaining Munros.
Meall Corranaich
Leave Meall a'Choire Leith and head south to pick up a path coming from the rim of Meall a'Choire's eastern coire, to follow to the bealach. The path continues up the grassy slopes of Meall Corranaich to meet the eastern source of the Allt Gleann Da-Eig, from where a fainter path is followed up to the crest of the north west arm. A path continues to the small pile of stones on the summit.
Beinn Ghlas
From Meall Corranaich's summit head east on a faint path following some fence-posts. The path becomes more obvious as it starts to zig-zag downhill. In winter this can be slightly tricky. The wet bealach below Beinn Glas is reached and a path is crossed. South-east uphill, initially on pathless ground, start climibng on fairly steep grassy slopes. A faint path on loose terrain evolves into something more obvious which is then followed to the Beinn Ghlas summit. Although a decent sized hill in its own right, Beinn Ghlas is dwarfed by Ben Lawers ahead.
Ben Lawers
Leave the small cairn on Beinn Ghlas and head north-east on a well-worn path heading gently downhill for 1km. Reach the bealach below Ben Lawers, where a well constructed path heads up east-north-east. The summit is attained with its trig point and cairn. At weekends this is a busy place, even in winter, rain or mist. Being the highest peak in the southern highlands, the views are excellent in all directions.
An Stuc
North of Ben Lawers, head downhill on a faint path on easy dry terrain. Drop nearly 200m, to a slight rise which can be by-passed on the left (west) following a faint path. Drop another 100m on a fairly obvious path to the bealach below An Stuc. Cross the bealach and head up north-east-north on a path to the grassy summit of An Stuc.
Meall Garbh
The only tricky part of the route is immediately ahead ! Look for a path slightly to the right (east), do not be tempted by any more obvious worn paths directly downhill. There is a bit of easy scrambling to be had and the bealach is reached quite quickly. An obvious path climbs uphill on grass between slabs to the summit of Meall Garbh.
Meall Greigh
Like Meall a'Choire Leith, Meall Greigh sits some distance apart from the main group of Munros. It is linked to Meall Garbh by line of fence-posts alongside which hugs a path. Follow this path, dropping some 250m to a wet bealach and continue, past the unusual erratic boulder, onto the summit and its small cairn.
Return
Head south-east-south, then south from Meall Greigh's cairn on a faint path over grass to Sron Mhor. Drop steeply due south to enter fairly wet ground at around c500m. Continue south and pick up a path. Past the old sheilings (hardly visibile), cross a fence to take you out of NTS ground. Continue down a path with lots of nettles in summer and autumn, to a farm and pick up the track back to the road at the Horn Carver. Enjoy some food and a pint back at the Ben Lawers Hotel !
There are many possible route choices to ponder over to bag these Munros, but I've found the following route suits me best, though two cars are helpful, one parked at either end. Take your pick at which end to start and direction to head, both have their plus and minus points. On the A827 that runs along the north side of Loch Tay and a few miles east of Killin, a narrow road heads north into the forest. This reaches the Ben Lawers car-park, then climbs up to Lochan na Lairige with its large dam. By a cairn, 0.5 km north of the end of the Lochan na Lairige, there is limited parking. If parking is full, then there is space by the northern end of Lochan na Lairige, where a track heads from the roadside towards the water's edge. The route finishes at the Horn Carver, just east of the Ben Lawers Hotel. Parking is free at the hotel, providing you stop and eat/drink there at the end of your hillwalking day.
Meall a'Choire Leith
From the cairn just north of the northern end of Lochan na Lairige, head northwest on a newly built path. At time of writing (late 2012) the path was still being constructed, but looks as if it will head up to around c600m, from where a wet, indistinct path is traced down to the small hydro dam. Cross the burn below the dam and pick up another wet path to reach the burn coming down from Coire Gorm. Cross this burn, then head north up steep grassy ground. The rate of ascent gradually easies and a small cairn on the summit is reached. Not a great summit, but a good view is given onto the route's remaining Munros.
Meall Corranaich
Leave Meall a'Choire Leith and head south to pick up a path coming from the rim of Meall a'Choire's eastern coire, to follow to the bealach. The path continues up the grassy slopes of Meall Corranaich to meet the eastern source of the Allt Gleann Da-Eig, from where a fainter path is followed up to the crest of the north west arm. A path continues to the small pile of stones on the summit.
Beinn Ghlas
From Meall Corranaich's summit head east on a faint path following some fence-posts. The path becomes more obvious as it starts to zig-zag downhill. In winter this can be slightly tricky. The wet bealach below Beinn Glas is reached and a path is crossed. South-east uphill, initially on pathless ground, start climibng on fairly steep grassy slopes. A faint path on loose terrain evolves into something more obvious which is then followed to the Beinn Ghlas summit. Although a decent sized hill in its own right, Beinn Ghlas is dwarfed by Ben Lawers ahead.
Ben Lawers
Leave the small cairn on Beinn Ghlas and head north-east on a well-worn path heading gently downhill for 1km. Reach the bealach below Ben Lawers, where a well constructed path heads up east-north-east. The summit is attained with its trig point and cairn. At weekends this is a busy place, even in winter, rain or mist. Being the highest peak in the southern highlands, the views are excellent in all directions.
An Stuc
North of Ben Lawers, head downhill on a faint path on easy dry terrain. Drop nearly 200m, to a slight rise which can be by-passed on the left (west) following a faint path. Drop another 100m on a fairly obvious path to the bealach below An Stuc. Cross the bealach and head up north-east-north on a path to the grassy summit of An Stuc.
Meall Garbh
The only tricky part of the route is immediately ahead ! Look for a path slightly to the right (east), do not be tempted by any more obvious worn paths directly downhill. There is a bit of easy scrambling to be had and the bealach is reached quite quickly. An obvious path climbs uphill on grass between slabs to the summit of Meall Garbh.
Meall Greigh
Like Meall a'Choire Leith, Meall Greigh sits some distance apart from the main group of Munros. It is linked to Meall Garbh by line of fence-posts alongside which hugs a path. Follow this path, dropping some 250m to a wet bealach and continue, past the unusual erratic boulder, onto the summit and its small cairn.
Return
Head south-east-south, then south from Meall Greigh's cairn on a faint path over grass to Sron Mhor. Drop steeply due south to enter fairly wet ground at around c500m. Continue south and pick up a path. Past the old sheilings (hardly visibile), cross a fence to take you out of NTS ground. Continue down a path with lots of nettles in summer and autumn, to a farm and pick up the track back to the road at the Horn Carver. Enjoy some food and a pint back at the Ben Lawers Hotel !
Difficulty
moderate
Technique
Stamina
Highest point
1,190 m
Lowest point
184 m
Start
Coordinates:
OS Grid
NN 59417 41612
DD
56.545410, -4.288170
DMS
56°32'43.5"N 4°17'17.4"W
UTM
30V 420797 6267527
w3w
///schooling.decreased.toast
Note
all notes on protected areas
Coordinates
OS Grid
NN 59417 41612
DD
56.545410, -4.288170
DMS
56°32'43.5"N 4°17'17.4"W
UTM
30V 420797 6267527
w3w
///schooling.decreased.toast
Arrival by train, car, foot or bike
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Reviews
Difficulty
moderate
Distance
18.9 km
Duration
4:14 h
Ascent
1,496 m
Descent
1,871 m
Highest point
1,190 m
Lowest point
184 m
Statistics
2D
3D
Maps and trails
Distance
km
Duration
: h
Ascent
m
Descent
m
Highest point
m
Lowest point
m
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