Ben Venue - one of the rockiest hills in the Trossachs - is not in view from Loch Ard, which results in this approach being quieter than that from Loch Achray. Nonetheless the beautiful broadleaved woodland of the lower Ledard Glen provides a picturesque approach, though the upper glen is boggy. Once on the ridge, the views are magnificent.
Summary
Path up the Ledard Glen is very muddy in places and boggy higher up. On Ben Venue itself the going is rough and rocky.
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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. Another path comes up from the right here - the usual ascent route for from Loch Achray. To continue the ascent climb steeply ahead from the bealach 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 Loch Achray.
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