2018 Reunion Hike Wednesday Walk details
Scout hill walks Easter hike 2018 B team
Wednesday 18th April Ben Ledi (879 m) and Stuc Odhar (638 m)
Distance 11 km (6.8 miles); Ascent 930 m; Time 6 hours Terrain Forestry track at first then a section without a path up a steep slope on moderately rough terrain followed by a moorland section before reaching the tourist path to Ben Ledi. The descent to Stuc Odhar has not been reconnoitred. There is a path, rough at first but becoming well made, from Stuc Odhar to the Glen Finglas Visitor Gateway. For those that use them, walking poles are strongly advised. Start point Bochastle Forestry Commission car park (NN 607 081). This is on the west side of the A821 road a short distance up a rough forestry track and is poorly signposted. It is shortly after the well-marked Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park car park on the east side of the road. Route We will be ascending the southeast ridge of Ben Ledi. The original tourist route followed this ridge from Coilantogle farm. My mother remembered taking this route in the 1930s. Follow the forestry track ignoring the side track to the right beside a gravel quarry. Not long after the track starts to descend gently watch out for a place where the track passes through the remains of an old drystone dyke (NN 588 081). There is a steep slope on the left with a dense forestry plantation on the south side and more open ground to the north Scramble up to the end of the wall near where there is a second green fabric silt trap in the ditch. Pass to the left of the fire pond and go to the fence that marks the end of the plantation. Follow the fence, which is largely broken down, as it goes up the steep slope choosing whichever side is easier. At the top the fence meets a substantial deer fence which should be followed to the NW till it turns SW (NN 580 081). A low and derelict fence continues to the summit. Cross over it and follow the deer fence for about 100 metres before curving round to pick up the summit fence at the top of the slope where there is a pair of boulders. The deviation is to avoid some very wet ground. Continue beside the fence avoiding the peat hag above the first top till the tourist path is reached. This route provides the easiest going although the ridge gives better views. Follow the path to the summit. From the summit continue down the NW ridge for about 200 metres (NN 561 099) before branching off to the west to follow the line of an old fence. At this point the steep slope to the left should have lessened considerably. The fenceline heads southwest then south into An Cunglach (i.e. a narrow defile). Follow the fenceline to the summit of Stuc Odhar. There should be a path down to a stile that connects with a rough but waymarked path heading SSE. The path is quite wet in places but gradually improves. At a junction with a well-made path (part of the Great Trossachs Path) turn right and at the next junction turn left. There are a number of seats on this part of the route for weary travellers. Take either path at the next fork. The left way is steeper but a little shorter. Finally, at the foot of the slope when the visitor centre can be seen turn left at the fence to cross the bridge. The visitor centre has toilets. Details about Glen Finglas can be found at:
https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/wood-information/glen-finglas/.