Climbing in Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park has a long and celebrated history and for those seeking adventure there are plenty of opportunities to experience it first hand.

There are a number of established climbing venues in the Park and depending on your discipline there are some great climbs to go for. These include classic multi-pitch mountain routes on the Cobbler, like Punsters Crack and Whither Whether both considered to be amongst the finest routes in the country, or fully equipped sport climbing at Glen Ogle.

Winter classics include gullies like Central Gully on Ben Lui, waterfall ice such as Eas Anie, and mixed routes such as Monolith Grooves on Beinn an Lochain and the classic Cobbler Traverse. Bouldering has developed over the last few years too and there are now a number of well developed venues including the Ben Ledi Boulders and those of Glen Croe and Glen Massan.

There are plenty of places to stay if you are visiting as part of a holiday with accommodation available close to the majority of the main venues.

The main places to go climbing are:

The Arrochar Alps: Mountains located around the coastal village of Arrochar, includes the Cobbler and the Brack, offering a wide range of summer and winter climbing of all grades.

Glen Croe: Accessible single pitch rock climbing on a variety of outcrops on the southern flank of the Cobbler.

Argyll: There are a number of accessible crags and outcrops scattered throughout this area of the Park. Options include single pitch cragging, bolted outcrops and bouldering. The area is surprisingly mountainous with many rocky summits and buttresses including some which have produced a few winter lines.

Ben A’an: Scenic rock climbing area overlooking the historic Loch Katrine. Mostly single pitch climbs in the lower grades including some old time classics like the ‘Last Eighty’.

Ben Lui: Heralded by many as the ‘finest mountain in the Southern Highlands’. The ‘Central Gully’ takes the headwall of Coire Goatach to reach the grand 1130m summit.           

Beinn Chuirn: Situated close to Ben Lui, the Eas Anie waterfall often freezes to create a splendid two-pitch icefall. It is accessed via Glen Cononish from Dalrigh off the A82 road.

Cruach Ardrain: This lofty Munro above the railway village of Crianlarich holds the fine ‘Y Gully’ which offers a lengthy direct line of ascent up the winter north face.

Glen Ogle: The home of Scotland’s premier sport climbing venue. Climbing on the South West facing “sunnyside” can be a delight on a warm summer evening when the breeze often keeps the midges away, the Dark side is altogether different, with generally harder climbing and a few fierce test pieces.

Useful websites include www.scottishclimbs.com and www.ukclimbing.com

Safety

When you are out climbing it is important that you take personal responsibility for your own actions and act safely. Climbing involves specialist equipment and you must know how to use it properly which may require training.

It makes sense to prepare contingency plans in the event of an unforeseen event, to carry an appropriate first aid kit and to consider specialist first aid training. The Mountaineering Council of Scotland provides a wealth of advice on their mountain safety web pages.

Please respect the environment, others and follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.