A quick hello and your thoughts?

[dazza_mac]

Hi all, just a quick hello from a former Munro Magic user (apologies if classed as improper language!)
Heading up Ben Lomond for the first time and having a debate about the route. He's mentioned about going up the easy path tk the summit and then return route via Ptarmigan whereas I planned to do it vice versa. We've come to a wee stalemate so any thoughts or advice would be appreciated!

This is a far better site than MM btw!

Cheers Daz, currently having a pint in Edinburgh talking about getting organised for tomorrow!

[Steve B]

I would suggest going up ptarmigan and down the tourist path. A lot more interesting that way. Enjoy

[Oldman]

Hello Dazza
I've done Ben Lomond both ways. The tourist route is relatively uninteresting whilst the Ptarmigan Ridge is very interesting. Next time I do it I'll probably go up and down the Ptarmigan Ridge and leave the tourist route to the tourists.

Oldman

[gammy leg walker]

Up the tourist route & down the Ptarmagin,the views along Loch Lomond on the way down are stunning.

[NickyRannoch]

Up the tourist route & down the Ptarmagin,the views along Loch Lomond on the way down are stunning.

Agree

[Chrisabelle]

Have to disagree, although I've only been up the once, it definitely has to be UP Ptarmigan and DOWN tourist path

[hills]

Haha, looks like you are going to have to toss a coin. My tuppenceworth would be up the tourist path, down the ptarmigan, this uses the easier path to take the sting out of the ascent, then suck in the super views on the interesting descent. Good luck whichever you do..

[rockhopper]

I'll hold the jackets.. been up the tourist route 4 times, down the tourist route 3 times and down ptarmigan once - personally, if you're looking for a loop, I'd go up tourist and down ptarmigan....but I can remember seeing a report which started over to the east off the B829 at Blairuskinmore just south of Loch Dhu and Loch Chon...hope you enjoy whichever way you decide - cheers

[dazza_mac]

Thanks everybody for their comments .

We're away relatively early doors in order to beat the rush as tomorrow is probably the best day forecast for the past wee while! I dare say we will have a chat 'en route' the morra and will let you know what the outcome is...I'm the better map reader so will probably beat him down with that!!!

All the best, Dazza

[IamAJMiller]

So which way did you do it? Pros and cons?

[dazza_mac]

Well, a good day had by all on Saturday. I have to say that the route taken (we went up the tourist route, down the Ptarmigan) was probably the best route for all involved within the party. Sarah, my darling wife who's relatively new to the whole walking game, would not have taken kindly to the ascent via the Ptarmigan (a bit too strenuous initially) but I do think that the final scramble to the summit she would have enjoyed. The weather was clear at the base but cloud cover with occasional breaks for vistas over the Arrochar Alps was worth the walk alone! Cheers for all the comments and all the best to everyone who took the time to reply.

Daz

[dazza_mac]

So which way did you do it? Pros and cons?

Hi mate, the ascent up the tourist route is REALLY easy, path most of the way(barely broke a sweat at my wifes pace) but the views of Loch Lomond, Arrochar Alps and to the east are pretty spectacular on a clear day. The Ptarmigan route is by far the most interesting, the 200m drop from the summit is particularly good fun. Not too steep a descent overall, apart from a couple of spots, but if I was doing it again, I would ascend and descend via the Ptarmigan without even thinking about it and as Oldman mentioned, leave the tourist route to the tourists!

All the best, Dazza

[dazza_mac]

Wee summit shot - Darryn (me) Sarah, Stuart and Laura

[hills]

Nice one, glad you had a good day.