Walking Route: Ben Lui, Southern Highlands

Walking Route - Ben Lui, Scotland

Dalrigh > Coronish > Ben Lui > Coronish > Dalrigh

Average Time: 6 hours 15 mins

Distance: 11.2 miles (18 Km)	height Gain: 3643 ft (1004m)
Ben Lui, near Tyndrum, looks a formidable challenge, but this cunning route threads its way to the summit.	Maps: OS LR 50, OS Explorer 364 Online: Streetmap
Strenuousness: 3 Technicality: 2 Photo Grade: 4	Start Point: NN 342 291

Overview Approaching Ben Lui from the east a walking ascent looks out of the question, with the imposing walls of Coire Gaothaich looking insurmountable. Once in the confines of the coire however, a route slowly emerges to the summit of one of Southern Scotland's highest Munros, and the source of the River Tay.

Approaching Ben Lui - by Dunroamin

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Section 1: Dalrigh to Ben Lui

Distance: 5.5 miles (8.9km)

height Gain: 3293ft ( 1004m)

Average Time: 3 hours 45 minutes

From the car park at the Dalrigh, just south of Tyndrum, take a track west over a bridge then under the railway bridge to reach open ground. After a mile Ben Lui makes its first appearance as the path continues along the banks of the River Coronish.

Not as inaccessible as it looks - Dave C

Continue past Coronish Farm, skirting a small plantation to your left and begin to ascend towards Coire Gaothaich. The track ends at the Allt an Rund, one of two tributaries that vie for the title of "Source of the Tay".

Once across the Allt an Rund the path rears up steeply into Coire Gaothaich, before a brief levelling at the coire floor.

Initially the path heading south is obvious, picking its way steeply onto a spur, but disappears as it reaches more level ground. Now head west to join the south ridge of Ben Lui and the summit.

The summit looms in winter - Peter Kemp

The main summit cairn gives spectacular views from its imposing position directly above the headwallof Coire Gaothaich. To the west lies the coast, with Crianlarich and Ben More to the east.

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Section 2: Ben Lui to Dalrigh

Distance: 5.7 miles (9.1km)

height Gain: 350ft (107m)

Average Time: 2 hours 30 minutes

From the summit cairn head north to a second cairn, and a path onto the North East Ridge. This drops to a col where a cairn indicates the start of a series of steep zig-zags back down into Coire Gaothaich. Once back in the coire floor retrace your inbound steps to the starting point at Dalrigh.

High on the mountain - Ben Bloggs

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Route Map