Ben Ledi

Ben Ledi: a Trossachs Corbett

Ben Ledi rises above Callander and Loch Lubnaig on the southern edge of the Highlands. Its recorded height is 878.6 m, usually rounded to 879 m. It is a Corbett, with 528 m of prominence.

Choose the right route

The usual approach starts beside the bridge off the A84, at NN587091, and climbs the south-east ridge. Returning the same way gives a shorter outing. Plan its distance and timing from the exact start point and route you intend to follow.

The longer Stank Glen circuit is about 10 km with 770 m of ascent. Allow 4–6 hours in suitable conditions, plus extra time for stops or slower progress. It continues beyond the summit before descending into the glen. The 10 km figure is for the complete circuit, not the climb alone.

Underfoot and navigation

Expect steep stretches, stone steps, open grass and rocky ground. Stank Glen is rougher and can be boggy. Carry a map, compass and backup navigation, and know how to use them. The mountain route is not continuously waymarked.

The Stank Glen turn at Bealach nan Corp is easily missed. Continuing too far can lead towards craggy ground. Poor visibility makes this descent more demanding; retracing the ascent is the simpler option.

Snow or ice changes the outing substantially. Cornices can develop above the corrie east of the summit ridge. Keep away from their edges and be prepared for winter navigation, ice axe and crampon use where conditions require them. Check the forecast, allow for short daylight and choose a lower walk if the conditions exceed your skills.

Parking and facilities

Follow the A84 turn signed Strathyre Cabins, south of Loch Lubnaig, cross the bridge and turn left for the Ben Ledi car park. This is not Strathyre village. Parking is limited and can fill early. Check Forestry and Land Scotland's visitor information and current notices before travel.

Use Callander or Strathyre for toilets, shops and refreshments. There is no bus to the trailhead; the Kilmahog stop has an additional approach on foot. Check the current Trossachs Explorer timetable and your return connection.

Summit, views and history

The summit has a trig point and cairn, with an iron memorial cross nearby. Clear conditions open views across Loch Lubnaig and Loch Venachar to Ben Lomond, the Arrochar Alps and the southern Highlands.

The cairn commemorates Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee in 1887. The cross remembers Sergeant Harry Lawrie of Killin Mountain Rescue Team, who died during a rescue helicopter crash on Ben More on 1 February 1987.

The name is usually linked to Gaelic Beinn Leitir, meaning 'hill of the slope', although its derivation is debated. The Ben Ledi area's Dalradian bedrock includes metamorphosed sandstone and finer metasedimentary rocks of the Ben Ledi Grit Formation.