We are blessed with a wonderful location with about 18 major hills in sight of Thorntree Barn.
So if you are looking for a base to try and do some Munro Bagging, or just some hill walking, then Thorntree is a great base. Edinburgh and Glasgow are within easy range if you don’t fancy that or if the weather is not suitable.
The most well known hills that can be seen include Ben Lomond, Ben Venue, Ben More, Ben Ledi, and Ben Vorlich.
Here are just a few notes on some selected hills at random.
Ben Lomond
Ben Lomond is in full view of Thorntree Barn and forms the centre piece of the view too the North West . It is also the kernel of some of our most wonderful and spectacular sunsets, which we are lucky enough to get on a regular basis
Ben Lomond is one of the most popular Munros at ; so it can be quite crowded on a good day. But the reward is truly fantastic views of the length of Loch Lomond and its islands. The view to the north reveals range beyond range of mountains into the Highlands. The path up is well made, but the optional return down the Ptarmigan ridge is steep and rocky, and muddy lower down.
Rising from the east shore of Loch Lomond to a height of 974m (3,193ft), Ben Lomond offers exhilarating walking and spectacular views across Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park and beyond. The Ben is the most southerly of all Scotland’s Munros.
The best access point is from the car park at Rowerdennan on the East shore of the Loch through Balmaha. There are two routes up the hill. The most easy is obvious – just follow the path. There is a steeper less crowded route up the Ptarmigan Ridge
Ben Ledi
Bend Ledi is the nearest hill to Thorntree and stand right in front of us to the North. Technically, Ben Ledi is a Corbett, standing at 879 m (2884 ft).
The best starting point is the car park at The Stank, just north of the Falls of Leny off the A84, just to the south of Loch Lubnaig.
A constructed path leads from the car park to a fence at about 270M where a rough track continues to the summit via the south shoulder, a distance of just over 3 km. An alternative route following Stank Glen leaves the shores of Loch Lubnaig about 1.5 km north of the start of the main route, reaching the summit ridge near Lochan nan Corp. The two routes may be combined to give a circular walk of about 9 km.
A short distance down to the south-east of the summit trig point, an iron cross commemorates Sergeant Harry Laurie of the Killin Scottish Mountain Rescue team, who died on 1 February 1987 during a rescue operation on Ben More near Crianlarich when the helicopter crashed.[2]
The Ben Ledi ridge continues north, dropping down to about 600 m before climbing again to the summit of Benvane, also a Corbett.
Ben Vorlich and Stuc a ‘Chroin
Ben Vorlich and her neighbour Stuc a ‘Chroin stand on the southern edge of the Highlands and are the most easterly of the Bens in sight of Thorntree. They are a bit more distant from us and a long day if you attempt both hills in the one day.
The easiest way to access them is from the southern shore of Loch Earn, from Ardvorlich where there is normally enough space to park. The pair provide an excellent day out, with fine views to the Ben Lawers range to the north. Ben Vorlich is a straight-forward ascent while the climb from the bealach between the two Munros on to Stuc a’ Chroin offers some easy scrambling up a steep, stone-strewn buttress (this can, however, be avoided).
Head east along the lochside road from the layby, crossing over a stone bridge. Turn right once across and go through a set of stone gateposts. A track runs south from here towards a steading. A sign just before the buildings are reached points hillwalkers right, back over the burn. Turn turn left a few yards on, before entering the gardens of Ardvorlich House, and the track rises quite steeply, running parallel to the burn, to reach a kissing gate. Go through and continue up the track to a wooden gate and stile.
Beyond this, the way curves right and then left, rising quite strenuously over open hillside carpeted with bracken. Higher up, another gate with a stile is passed before the track enters a patch of woodland and fords a small burn. Carry on up the track and it crosses the burn by way of a rather wobbly wooden bridge.
The track ends here and a path strikes off over the open hillside. In years past this was a rather boggy affair, but at the time of writing work is underway to reconstruct it. The route rises up the right hand side of the southern shoulder of Ben Vorlich, skirting above Coire Buidhe to the west. In due course, the path bears left, climbing more steeply on to the ridge. A cairn marks your arrival on the broad shoulder.
Winter – with thanks to WalkHighland.co.uk
Please note that hillwalking when there is snow lying requires an ice-axe, crampons and the knowledge, experience and skill to use them correctly. All route descriptions and difficulties given here are for summer conditions. See our Winter Skills page for basic information on the essential skills, techniques and knowledge needed for winter hillwalking.