Ledard Farm to Loch Achray

1. There is a good sized layby on the road alongside Loch Ard opposite the track to Ledard Farm. Begin the walk along the track to the farm, which is well-signed. Before reaching the farmhouse, parts of which are very ancient, a footpath sign (marked for Loch Achray and Ben Venue) marks a left turn. Follow this across the bridge and alongside the burn to the right. It then climbs between two fences before turning to the right again. A short distance further there is a fine waterfall.

2. Continue beside the burn and then along a wooden boardwalk before passing through a gate in a deer fence. The path now climbs into fine woodland on the west side of the burn, giving some fine views back to Loch Ard. The path is muddy in places but the beautiful deciduous trees and fine setting are compensation for this. A wooden marker post indicates where to fork left further uphill - though the arrow carved on the post isn't very legible.

3. The section up the wooded glen continues for over a kilometre until the native trees are left behind. The upper reaches of the glen have geometric blocks of commercial sitka spruce plantations and are much less attractive, but the path does at least keep to the open ground. The burn is crossed with the aid of some iron beams just above a small waterfall, shortly followed by a high stile over a deer fence. The path continues on the far side but from here to the bealach it is very boggy and eroded. At one point a giant mud-slide has wiped out a section of path.

4. The route bears right for the final ascent to the bealach where a low fence is crossed by a stile and Ben Venue comes into view at last. Continue on the path which contours the steep mountainside to the left of a ridge-line at first. After just over half a kilometre is descends briefly into a second bealach, marked by a very large cairn. The path divides here; the branch heading steeply uphill directly ahead leads up to the summit of Ben Venue. To head for Loch Achray, however, turn right. This path crosses a flat boggy area before descending a steep, rocky zigzag into the upper reaches of Glen Riabhach.

5. The path continues down Glen Riabhach on the left side and is very boggy and eroded on this section. It heads for a gap in a fence on the edge of the forestry plantations ahead. Once through the gap the path through the trees is broad and dry. Pass through the plantation and then continue across more open ground, eventually with views of Loch Achray. When a forestry track is reached head diagonally across onto a path on the far side - the route is now following the blue marker posts.

6. Continue downhill to a signed junction. Take the left turn here, signed for Achray Hotel and Ben Venue car park. Further on a marker post indicates where to turn right to continue the descent. At the next junction, also signed, turn left to follow an undulating path that eventually descends to a track running close to the Achray Water. Turn right onto this, and then left where a marker indicates a turn to a path over the attractive bridge over the Achray Water. On the far side, turn right and follow the tarmac road. Just before this joins the public road to Loch Katrine, turn right onto another waymarked path. This soon divides - both branches lead to the Ben Venue car park on Loch Achray, though the right hand option is marginally quicker.

Have you found an error or is any information wrong or missing?

Please let us know by using the error report form.