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A Kicking for Ben Lomond

A Kicking for Ben Lomond


Postby Lightfoot2017 » Tue Jan 28, 2014 1:10 pm

Am I the only person on WH who is singularly unimpressed with Ben Lomond?

Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with it per se, but it’s just that I feel the hill has a HUGELY disproportionate amount of attention paid to it – solely because it is so close to Glasgow and the bulk of the Scottish population in the Central Belt.

It seems to me that the whole popular mythology which has grown up round Ben Lomond – and the attendant ‘Bonnie Bonnie Banks’ thing - has resulted is a hugely clichéd and often very underwhelming hillwalking experience. I've bagged it twice and have no desire to go a back a third time.

Am I just being an over sensitive, overly critical East coaster? Or are others underwhelmed by the Southernmost Munro?

Answers on a postcard….
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Re: A Kicking for Ben Lomond

Postby malky_c » Tue Jan 28, 2014 2:03 pm

It's a fairly straightforward hill close to a large percentage of the population of Scotland, and it looks fairly impressive and has good views? Bound to be popular really. There are more impressive hills with better views but they are further away.

I've only been up it once, and intend to make my next visit from the north, dropping off to the east. As it is, I can't see any great merit in going up the usual way again when there are so many other places to go. However, I'd probably take a different view if I lived within a 30/40 minute drive of it. I've been up Ben Wyvis numerous times for the same reason, and that's a less interesting hill than Ben Lomond (mind you it has it's interesting corners if you go off the beaten track a bit).
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Re: A Kicking for Ben Lomond

Postby prog99 » Tue Jan 28, 2014 2:06 pm

Looks good from this side

http://www.scottishwinter.com/?p=3515
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Re: A Kicking for Ben Lomond

Postby johnkaysleftleg » Tue Jan 28, 2014 2:16 pm

I found Ben Lomond an underwhelming experience when I climbed it down to the huge numbers on the path and the rather uninteresting route. Perhaps I'd think differently if I climbed it via the Ptarmigan.
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Re: A Kicking for Ben Lomond

Postby gman » Tue Jan 28, 2014 2:30 pm

Does it really get a lot of praise here? I live about 40 mins away & was up there during the summer for the umpteenth time - it was actually more interesting than I remembered, probably because my expectations were low. I wouldn't go up & back on the tourist path though.
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Re: A Kicking for Ben Lomond

Postby electricfly » Tue Jan 28, 2014 3:00 pm

prog99 wrote:Looks good from this side

http://www.scottishwinter.com/?p=3515


If you tackle it from this side make sure your lovely lady work colleague is on standby. You'll need another rip fixed in your trews and it won't be below the knees! ;)
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Re: A Kicking for Ben Lomond

Postby jmarkb » Tue Jan 28, 2014 3:27 pm

The approach from the north from Loch Dhu via Comer farm is a fine antidote for anyone who finds the normal route too dull or crowded. Some route notes and a photo here: http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=20000#p129188
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Re: A Kicking for Ben Lomond

Postby shelbyandamonkey » Tue Jan 28, 2014 5:12 pm

Going up the Ptarmigan Ridge on a nice snowy day does it good I reckon :) Must admit though, I like my hills a bit more remote and quieter. Was my old dads first Munro so I have fond memories of it.
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Re: A Kicking for Ben Lomond

Postby BigT » Tue Jan 28, 2014 6:05 pm

Been up twice, once during the week and once during the weekend. I won't be going on a weekend again any time soon. I do enjoy it, as it is so close to Glasgow it's great to have something to stretch my legs that does not need a 3 day military planning exercise before participation. It's fun in the snow for sure, and if you fluke on a clear day it's worth that long slog up there.
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Re: A Kicking for Ben Lomond

Postby Stuart Angus » Wed Jan 29, 2014 12:03 am

Lightfoot2017 wrote:Am I just being an over sensitive, overly critical East coaster?

Yip......... :lol: ..............it gets panned on here and I've no idea why...............up at least once a year and still love it...........crowds or no crowds :thumbup:
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Re: A Kicking for Ben Lomond

Postby prog99 » Wed Jan 29, 2014 12:36 am

electricfly wrote:
prog99 wrote:Looks good from this side

http://www.scottishwinter.com/?p=3515


If you tackle it from this side make sure your lovely lady work colleague is on standby. You'll need another rip fixed in your trews and it won't be below the knees! ;)[/quote
Going up from this side wouldn't be a hardship, believe me :)
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Re: A Kicking for Ben Lomond

Postby prog99 » Wed Jan 29, 2014 12:37 am

johnkaysleftleg wrote:I found Ben Lomond an underwhelming experience when I climbed it down to the huge numbers on the path and the rather uninteresting route. Perhaps I'd think differently if I climbed it via the Ptarmigan.

Ptarmigan is not too bad really. I've seen folk having to be talked down it.
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Re: A Kicking for Ben Lomond

Postby electricfly » Wed Jan 29, 2014 1:01 am

@prog99 - yeah, I was referring to the OP's trews here and an incident that was discussed in his "crampons advice" post in the Gear and Equipment section of the forum. :)
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Re: A Kicking for Ben Lomond

Postby Kevin29035 » Wed Jan 29, 2014 4:26 pm

Loch and Ben Lomond are pretty much universally celebrated, yet among hillwalkers it seems to be almost universally dismissed (and slated in this case).

My opinion is that if Loch Lomond were in the north west it would be universally praised. I've personally always found Ben Lomond a very aesthetic mountain, and the loch is definitely one of the most stunning, one of the few freshwater that isn't hydro-raised and severely degraded - quite a victory for a loch so close to civilisation and the convenience that goes with that. I'm almost surprised the Craig Royston birch woods didn't end up in the fires of Glaswegian industry.
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Re: A Kicking for Ben Lomond

Postby basscadet » Wed Jan 29, 2014 5:23 pm

I couldnie be doing with the crowds, so I climbed it at night.. Its a braw hill to do in the dark - bonny path all the way means you only need a torch on the darkest of nights :)

Coming down to ptarmigan in the dark however - bruised shins a plenty :lol:
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