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Mountain activities planned for Ben Lawers

The National Trust for Scotland team at Ben Lawers are hosting a packed programme of events, including walks and a navigation course, over the next few weeks.

Events get underway with an introduction to mountain plant identification which takes place from Friday 29 June to Sunday 1 July. This weekend course teaches how to how to use keys to identify mountain plants on this botanically rich nature reserve.

The course requires a reasonable level of fitness and starts at 19.00 on Friday 29 June at the Ben Lawers NNR office, Lynedoch, Killin and finishes on Sunday 1 July at 16.00. Booking is essential and the course costs £50.

Younger visitors can also get close to nature on a Close Encounters walk which takes place on Tuesday 10 and Tuesday 24 July ay 10.30am. Expert rangers will lead younger visitors in activities and games that will bring them closer to some of the less obvious animals and plants that live on the lower slopes of Ben Lawers. It costs £5 for a child and £2 for adults and participants should meet at the national nature reserve car park.

A more arduous opportunity is offered on 11 July, with a mountain flowers walk. This seven hour walk will take you to see some of the arctic-alpine plants for which these hills are famous. The walk requires a reasonable level of fitness – meet at the Ben Lawers NNR car park. It costs £25 for adults and £12.50 for children. Booking is essential.

Then on the evening of 11 July, join Ben Lawers ranger Helen Cole for an illustrated talk on the alpine plants which make the reserve famous. The free talk starts at 20.00 at the NTS Lynedoch office in Killin.

Then, go on Hillside Safari on 18 July at 13.30. Rangers will guide you on the varied plant and animal life on the lower slopes of this famous nature reserve during this 2.5 hour walk. It costs £5 for adults and £2 for children.

Next, an indoors activity to give a taste of the outdoors – Ben Lawers rocks and beautiful blooms takes place on 23 July. One of our rangers will lead you through a fun family activity exploring the geology, wildlife and wild flowers at Ben Lawers National Nature Reserve. Meet at the NTS base, Lynedoch, Killin at 10am – it costs £2 for children.

Heading back out onto the hill on 25 July, visitors can learn vital mountain navigation skills under the expert guidance of Trust rangers. This day long course will give you a chance to get to grips with the basics of how to use a map and compass in the hills. A reasonable level of fitness is required and booking is essential. The course costs £12.50 for adults and £7 for children. Meet at the Ben Lawers NNR car park at 10.30am.

Also on 25 July, this time in the evening, some along and hear more about the Trust’s work to repair our mountain footpaths. Alasdair Eckersall, Property Manager at the National Trust for Scotland’s Ben Lomond, provides an illustrated talk on the pioneering work that goes on beneath our feet. The talk begins at 20.00 at the NTS office, Lynedoch, Main Street, Killin and there will be refreshments and an opportunity for discussion at the end of the talk. For more information or to book any of these events, call 0844 4932136.

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You should always carry a backup means of navigation and not rely on a single phone, app or map. Walking can be dangerous and is done entirely at your own risk. Information is provided free of charge; it is every walker's responsibility to check it and to navigate safely.