Ben Venue may be small in stature but it is a mountain of real character, the finest in the Trossachs when seen across Loch Venachar, Loch Achray or Loch Katrine. The ascent is a great walk with both boggy and rocky ground higher up, and stunning views from the summit.
Summary
Good forest tracks and paths to the tree-line, then a very boggy path to the col and a final rocky path to the summits
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1. There are several possible starting places for Ben Venue, including one from Ledard Farm on Loch Ard (described separately) and one from Leannach car park on the Dukes Pass from where a waymarked forestry track joins with this route, beginning from the Ben Venue car park on Loch Achray. Begin by following the path that leaves the car park from the end nearer the information board. There are good views on the first section, both back to Loch Achray and up to Ben A'an, but most eyes will be on Ben Venue, seen magnificently ahead - a great advantage of starting from here. When a path junction is reached turn left following the blue / green marker post - the other arm of the loop can be followed on the way back. The path crosses a wooden boardwalk across a marshy area. Beyond this it reaches a tarmac road very near to the public road. Turn sharp left here to follow the private road, soon signed for the Loch Katrine dam. The road runs close to the foaming Achray water.
2. Look out for a waymarked path heading off to the left and follow this to the Achray Water bridge. Cross the attractive bridge and continue to reach a track. Turn right here - signed for Ben Venue. After a few hundred metres turn left onto another path (waymarked) heading up through the trees. This undulates for a while before descending to reach another track. Turn right here onto a path which climbs through the forest before emerging at a forestry track. Turn left along this and then right at the next junction, again signed for Ben Venue. Head diagonally across the next forestry track onto the path beyond. The wide path/track now climbs gently along the north side of Gleann Riabhach. This area has been felled permitting views up the steep slopes towards the mountain, and back over the lochs.
3. Continue towards and pass through an area of densely-planted Sitka spruces. At the far end of this the path passes through a gap in a fence to reach the open hill. Almost immediately the previously solid surface becomes extremely boggy and eroded. Continue to the head of the glen which is climbed by a steep zigzag with some rocky going. This leads to another flattish area of bog which the path crosses before curving round to reach the lowest point on the ridge, marked by a large cairn.
4. The cairn marks a junction of paths; a path off to the left here traverses the hillside to reach another bealach and is a through-route to Ledard Farm on Loch Ard. For Ben Venue, turn right at the cairn and climb steeply at first before continuing along the eroded path on the knobbly ridge. Excellent views now begin to open up over sections Loch Katrine over to the left, backed by several Munros, whilst further left Ben Lomond is particularly prominent.
5. Continue on the main path which crosses a low rise before descending to a boggy area. From here it cuts across the ridge to the right, climbing up to the gap between the twin summits of Ben Venue. Most people follow the main path to the southeast summit, with an easy rock scramble leading up to the trig point. This has the best views of Lochs Achray and Venachar and over towards the Lowlands.
6. There is a second summit to the left (the northwest summit) which is slightly less dramatic and marked by a small cairn. This is actually the true highest summit of the mountain, and it has the best views over Loch Katrine and towards scores of Highland mountains. It is well worth visiting both summits before beginning the descent. This is best made the same way, unless transport has been arranged in which case you could reverse the climb of Ben Venue from Ledard Farm.
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