Ben Lawers – A stunning Scottish Classic

Ben Lawers is the 10th highest Munro and the highest mountain on the Lawers range, making it a superb viewpoint. Climbing the lower Beinn Ghlas first (which is also a Munro), and walking over a wonderful ridge on well-made paths, is a true Scottish classic – ideal for beginner hillwalkers.

You start your walk in the Ben Lawers car park , which is already at an altitude of more than 400m, giving you a nice headstart on this hillwalking adventure. Cross the road and walk through a gate . You can either walk on the right or left side of the burn. The route in this description leads along the left side, which is the main path.

You cross some burns that don’t present any difficulties, and eventually, the path bends right leading to a gate . Walk through and continue on the path that shortly forks off to the left . The left path is the return route, so keep right and work your way up the hill. The view back starts to open up as you gain height.

Eventually, the gradient eases as you emerge on the broad ridge leading to the summit of Beinn Ghlas . You get a superb view of the ridge linking Ben Lawers to Beinn Ghlas. Continue along this path over the fairly broad ridge that dips slightly down into a bealach before sloping upwards again.

On the last pull-up to the second Munro of the day, you come across the steepest section of the walk . It’s not exposed, however, as you stand on a good path, and it’s a reasonably broad slope.

Finally, you arrive at the summit cairn of Ben Lawers . The view back across the ridge to lower Beinn Ghlas is impressive, and the views over Loch Tay and to the other peaks of the Lawers range are superb as well.

After enjoying the views and possibly lunch, you head back to the ridge leading to Beinn Ghlas. On the lowest point in the bealach, you will see a path forking off to the right . Take this one to avoid a re-summit of Beinn Ghlas. Instead, you contour it on a lower level.

The path is well-made and easy-going, gently leading you back down. Eventually, you reach the path again that leads to the fenced area, where you’ve come from earlier, and back to the car park.