Ben Lui
Encyclopedia
Ben Lui is a mountain
in the southern Highlands
of Scotland
, at the head of Glen Fyne. It has five well-defined ridge
s radiating out from the summit. Four corrie
s lie between the ridges; including Coire Gaothaich which lies on the northeast side of the mountain.
Ben Lui is the highest and most famous of a group of four Munro
s that lie south of Glen Lochy, and about 10 km north of the top end of Loch Lomond
. The other three peaks in the group are Beinn a' Chleibh
, Ben Oss
and Beinn Dubhchraig
.
The Ben Lui range of peaks is designated as a National Nature Reserve
. The cliffs and rocky outcrops are particularly moist, with lower than normal levels of acid
ity in the soil
. This leads to an unusually lush growth of mountain plants, with saxifrage
s, moss
es and lichen
s being especially evident.
The simplest and shortest ascent of Ben Lui may be made from Glen Lochy, near the point where the burn
of Eas Daimh flows into the Lochy. A path leads up through an area of forestry
and then onto the northwest ridge, reaching the summit in just over 3 km. Descent may be varied by visiting Beinn a’ Chleibh, which lies 2 km to the south west.
The above route, however, does not do justice to Ben Lui, and by coming in from the east one may better appreciate the shape of the mountain, particularly Coire Gaothaich. One may either start from Tyndrum
Lower station
or Dalrigh
in Strath Fillan; tracks from both starting points merge, and follow Glen Cononish to the foot of Ben Lui. From here the route follows the northern ridge of the mountain, Stob Garbh, to the summit, the distance being about 9 km. This route is particularly treacherous in winter, even as late as April, when the final third of the ascent is often extremely icy. Furthermore, it can be extremely difficult to navigate through the crags around the upper rim of the Coire Gaothaich in poor visibility.
By descending via the south east ridge the walker may elect to include Ben Oss (and possibly Beinn Dubhcraig) in the route before returning to the start. If transport can be arranged a reasonably fit hillwalker
can traverse all four Munros of the Ben Lui group in a day.
Ben Lui stands at the Head of Glen Fyne.
A lochan on the slopes of Ben Lui has been identified as the source of Scotland's longest river, the Tay
.
Mountain
Image:Himalaya_annotated.jpg|thumb|right|The Himalayan mountain range with Mount Everestrect 58 14 160 49 Chomo Lonzorect 200 28 335 52 Makalurect 378 24 566 45 Mount Everestrect 188 581 920 656 Tibetan Plateaurect 250 406 340 427 Rong River...
in the southern Highlands
Scottish Highlands
The Highlands is an historic region of Scotland. The area is sometimes referred to as the "Scottish Highlands". It was culturally distinguishable from the Lowlands from the later Middle Ages into the modern period, when Lowland Scots replaced Scottish Gaelic throughout most of the Lowlands...
of Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, at the head of Glen Fyne. It has five well-defined ridge
Ridge
A ridge is a geological feature consisting of a chain of mountains or hills that form a continuous elevated crest for some distance. Ridges are usually termed hills or mountains as well, depending on size. There are several main types of ridges:...
s radiating out from the summit. Four corrie
Cirque
Cirque may refer to:* Cirque, a geological formation* Makhtesh, an erosional landform found in the Negev desert of Israel and Sinai of Egypt*Cirque , an album by Biosphere* Cirque Corporation, a company that makes touchpads...
s lie between the ridges; including Coire Gaothaich which lies on the northeast side of the mountain.
Ben Lui is the highest and most famous of a group of four Munro
Munro
A Munro is a mountain in Scotland with a height over . They are named after Sir Hugh Munro, 4th Baronet , who produced the first list of such hills, known as Munros Tables, in 1891. A Munro top is a summit over 3,000 ft which is not regarded as a separate mountain...
s that lie south of Glen Lochy, and about 10 km north of the top end of Loch Lomond
Loch Lomond
Loch Lomond is a freshwater Scottish loch, lying on the Highland Boundary Fault. It is the largest lake in Great Britain by surface area. The lake contains many islands, including Inchmurrin, the largest fresh-water island in the British Isles, although the lake itself is smaller than many Irish...
. The other three peaks in the group are Beinn a' Chleibh
Beinn a' Chleibh
Beinn a' Chleibh is a Scottish mountain. It is linked to Ben Lui by a short ridge.-References:* The Munros, Scottish Mountaineering Trust, 1986, Donald Bennett ISBN 0-0907521-13-4...
, Ben Oss
Ben Oss
Ben Oss is a Scottish mountain situated in the Stirling Council area, six kilometres south west of the village of Tyndrum within the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park.- Overview :...
and Beinn Dubhchraig
Beinn Dubhchraig
Beinn Dubhchraig is a Scottish mountain that is situated eight kilometres west of Crianlarich in the northern part of the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park.- Overview :...
.
The Ben Lui range of peaks is designated as a National Nature Reserve
National Nature Reserve
For details of National nature reserves in the United Kingdom see:*National Nature Reserves in England*National Nature Reserves in Northern Ireland*National Nature Reserves in Scotland*National Nature Reserves in Wales...
. The cliffs and rocky outcrops are particularly moist, with lower than normal levels of acid
Acid
An acid is a substance which reacts with a base. Commonly, acids can be identified as tasting sour, reacting with metals such as calcium, and bases like sodium carbonate. Aqueous acids have a pH of less than 7, where an acid of lower pH is typically stronger, and turn blue litmus paper red...
ity in the soil
Soil
Soil is a natural body consisting of layers of mineral constituents of variable thicknesses, which differ from the parent materials in their morphological, physical, chemical, and mineralogical characteristics...
. This leads to an unusually lush growth of mountain plants, with saxifrage
Saxifrage
Saxifraga is the largest genus in the family Saxifragaceae, containing about 440 species of Holarctic perennial plants, known as saxifrages. The Latin word saxifraga means literally "stone-breaker", from Latin + ...
s, moss
Moss
Mosses are small, soft plants that are typically 1–10 cm tall, though some species are much larger. They commonly grow close together in clumps or mats in damp or shady locations. They do not have flowers or seeds, and their simple leaves cover the thin wiry stems...
es and lichen
Lichen
Lichens are composite organisms consisting of a symbiotic organism composed of a fungus with a photosynthetic partner , usually either a green alga or cyanobacterium...
s being especially evident.
The simplest and shortest ascent of Ben Lui may be made from Glen Lochy, near the point where the burn
Stream
A stream is a body of water with a current, confined within a bed and stream banks. Depending on its locale or certain characteristics, a stream may be referred to as a branch, brook, beck, burn, creek, "crick", gill , kill, lick, rill, river, syke, bayou, rivulet, streamage, wash, run or...
of Eas Daimh flows into the Lochy. A path leads up through an area of forestry
Forestry
Forestry is the interdisciplinary profession embracing the science, art, and craft of creating, managing, using, and conserving forests and associated resources in a sustainable manner to meet desired goals, needs, and values for human benefit. Forestry is practiced in plantations and natural stands...
and then onto the northwest ridge, reaching the summit in just over 3 km. Descent may be varied by visiting Beinn a’ Chleibh, which lies 2 km to the south west.
The above route, however, does not do justice to Ben Lui, and by coming in from the east one may better appreciate the shape of the mountain, particularly Coire Gaothaich. One may either start from Tyndrum
Tyndrum
Tyndrum is a small village in Scotland. Its Gaelic name translates as "the house on the ridge". It lies in Strathfillan, at the southern edge of Rannoch Moor.The village is notable mainly for being at an important crossroads of transport routes...
Lower station
Tyndrum Lower railway station
Tyndrum Lower railway station is one of two railway stations serving the small village of Tyndrum in Scotland. This station is on the Oban branch of the West Highland Line, originally part of the Callander and Oban Railway...
or Dalrigh
Dalrigh
Dalrigh is a hamlet in Scotland near Tyndrum. The name means "The King's Field" in the Scottish Gaelic language. The origin of the name stems specifically from the Battle of Dalrigh which was fought there in 1306, when King Robert I of Scotland was defeated by the Clan MacDougall....
in Strath Fillan; tracks from both starting points merge, and follow Glen Cononish to the foot of Ben Lui. From here the route follows the northern ridge of the mountain, Stob Garbh, to the summit, the distance being about 9 km. This route is particularly treacherous in winter, even as late as April, when the final third of the ascent is often extremely icy. Furthermore, it can be extremely difficult to navigate through the crags around the upper rim of the Coire Gaothaich in poor visibility.
By descending via the south east ridge the walker may elect to include Ben Oss (and possibly Beinn Dubhcraig) in the route before returning to the start. If transport can be arranged a reasonably fit hillwalker
Hillwalking
In the British Isles, the terms hillwalking or fellwalking are commonly used to describe the recreational outdoor activity of walking on hills and mountains, often with the intention of visiting their summits...
can traverse all four Munros of the Ben Lui group in a day.
Ben Lui stands at the Head of Glen Fyne.
A lochan on the slopes of Ben Lui has been identified as the source of Scotland's longest river, the Tay
River Tay
The River Tay is the longest river in Scotland and the seventh-longest in the United Kingdom. The Tay originates in western Scotland on the slopes of Ben Lui , then flows easterly across the Highlands, through Loch Dochhart, Loch Lubhair and Loch Tay, then continues east through Strathtay , in...
.
External links
- Computer generated summit panoramas North South index
- Ben Lui NNR
