Ben Venue

Walk to a low-level viewpoint or begin your high hill climb

There are delightful glimpses of Loch Achray between the trees at the car park where the winding hill route to Ben Venue begins. A trip to the craggy summit is hard work but rewarding for the spectacular Trossachs views. If the high hills aren't for you, you can choose the short Creag Noran trail instead to get a taste of this much-loved landscape.

Sir Walter Scott immortalised Ben Venue in his famous poem, The Lady of the Lake, describing its craggy slopes as ‘fragments of an earlier world’. Its history is indeed written in the landscape – to the north of the summit, near the shore of Loch Katrine, is Bealach nam Bò, the Pass of the Cattle. This is where Highland cattle thieves once drove their stolen herds across the hills.

Walking trails

Walking

Creag Noran Viewpoint Trail

Take a walk through the heather above Loch Achray to get a flavour of the stunning Trossachs landscape without having to climb its mountains. 

Uneven gravel path with some rough rocky sections and muddy patches. Long slopes with some steep sections.

½ miles / 0.9 km

Allow
¼ hour

Activities

Ben Venue hillwalk

Ben Venue may mean 'small mountain' in Gaelic but be prepared for its steep, rugged slopes! On a clear day there are panoramic views from the twin summits. You'll have a bird's eye view over Loch Katrine and the nearby peaks of Ben A'an, Ben More and Ben Lomond, and beyond Loch Lomond to the Arrochar Alps. You may also glimpse the Firth of Forth, the Clyde, the Isle of Arran and the Paps of Jura.

Ben Venue's summit is at 2,386 feet and it's a round trip of 8½ miles. The route to the summit is a serious undertaking and suitable for fit and experienced walkers. Find our more about the route at WalkHighlands.

Facilities and access

Walking

Parking (charge)

The nearest public toilets, shops and places to eat are at nearby Trossachs Pier, on the shore of Loch Katrine.

Car parking information

Payment options: coin, card or RingGo

The charges to park at Ben Venue are:

• £2 for up to 1 hour
• £5 for all day
• £14 for minibus or coach all day 

We recommend you bring both coins and cards with you, just in case. Please park with care and consideration. In particular please park in designated parking areas only and do not block entrances or gates. Nearby car parks with free parking can be found in our local forest list without the £ symbol. 

Annual parking pass available:

Available in advance by downloading the relevant application form and emailing to the Regional Office. Please read our Annual Pass terms and conditions before applying.

Blue badge holders park free. Please display your Blue Badge clearly.

More parking info

Getting here

The car park for Ben Venue is on the A821 between Kilmahog and Aberfoyle, 200m South of the turning to Loch Katrine.

Using SatNav?

FK17 8HZ is the nearest postcode.

Get directions