Walkhighlands

Hi all, I’m planning to hike Ben lawers near killin in a few weeks but want to bivvy part way up the descent on one night. I know there is parking at the base on the way up to the reservoir (with toilet facilities) but I was wandering if I can park overnight, how much it costs and if I can pay by card (or better to bring coins)?

grant453 wrote:I know there is parking at the base on the way up to the reservoir (with toilet facilities)

It's a long time since there were any toilet facilities there - 15 years? The "new" car park is on the opposite side of the road (west) and slightly lower down than the old one that had the visitor centre. There are public loos back down in Killin and over in Glen Lyon, but nothing in between.

That isn’t what I asked. My questions were:
- can I park overnight,
- how much does it cost
- can I pay by card (or better to bring coins)?

The answer you got from Dave was surely helpful in updating you on current facilities? Your rather ungracious reply is unlikely to elicit further responses I'd have thought. I'm sure you didn't mean to come over as rude

If comes across as ungracious I apologise but my question was not about the facilities as I want to wild camp (it just looks like on Google maps that there is a large building next to the parking.

My question was with regard to being able to park there overnight and how much it costs to park.

I think this is the car park you're thinking of https://www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/ben-lawers/planning-your-visit
Officially, it costs £3, or free for NTS members.
I suspect that overnight parking is tolerated. to get an official answer to your questions, you can contact the ranger direct.

See https://www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/ben-lawers/planning-your-visit

£3 a day to park or free if a member of NTS (or regular NT).

I can't remember if the parking meter takes coins/ cards etc but I dare say National Trust Scotland may be able to tell you.

For overnight parking, I don't know what the deal is as I've only been for day trips. There is a small amount of parking after the NTS car park where you should be able to park overnight but that might be occupied by diggers as there are some major repairs to the road starting 9th May for 4 weeks.

£3 to park according to the National Trust for Scotland website, but no mention of overnight parking

https://www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/ben-lawers

Probably worth contacting them directly and asking, not least to check areas to camp even in a Bivvy as I know that there're lots of conservation issues at Ben Lawers - it has incredibly diverse flora & fauna and they don't want people straying far from the paths for that reason.

I’ve driven past that car park the last few years to do hills and it’s been very busy. A lot of people seem to park on the verge either side which may solve your problem of overnight parking but beware as some of the verges are soft and I’ve seen cars having to be pushed back out. It’s extremely popular so I would get there early. Especially as that’s a holiday weekend.

The NTS website asks visitors to not park overnight at their car parks, pointing to lack of facilities. As to whether this would enforced, does not say. There are a number of other small spots to park further up the road that could be an option.

Would that include all the multi day trips out of their Linn of Dee car park. I have never had a problem with that