Suggest a good Scottish mountain walk, out and back in a day.

I've got a friend coming over from he US. She's well up for some Scottish hill walking. I'm thinking along the lines of a Ben Lomond, Ben Lawers or a Ben Vrackie style mountain. Somewhere with good road access and good views and say 2 hours drive from the Forth Road Bridge.

Any others I should be looking at?

See what happens when Druidh gets banned, no replies to a Scottish Mountain question for 3 minutes. Mods take note.

druidh got banned? WTF ❓

You must like this one Pete – Hillwalking you say! Unprecedented!

The Cobbler, Arrochar. Surrounding ones are nice too.
Much more interesting than Ben Lomond.

Al, got a taste for it on Mt St Helens.

Schiehallion?

Ben Alder would give you an excuse for some (basic) biking as you can cycle in from Dalwhinnie to Culra. From there the summit looks like it could be an interesting walk up a craggy looking ridge (i've not been up, just ridden through). The ridge on the opposite side of the Glen (Lancet Edge?) looks great too, again though, i've only ridden past it)

The Invervar horseshoe from Glen Lyon. 1.5 hours from the Forth bridge. You start going straight up from the wee car park, so no long landie track hike. 4 Munros in one hit, but not much height lost between tops. Nothing difficult and stunning views down Glen Lyon to Lawyers, Rannoch, Glen Coe hills etc.

IIRC took me about 6 hours not hanging about. Only hind stalking now but you might want to call Hillphones before you set off, or go on a Sunday

Ben Alder is a minter from the visitors centre, big bang for little bucks

Small hills with big views

Conic Hill overlooking Lomond
Ben A'an overlooking Katrine

Bigger hills

Ben Venue
Ben Ledi
Ben Cleuch via The Law
The Cobbler as above but go via Narnain for a bigger day
Ben Lawers or Tarmachan overlooking L Tay from the Lawers visitor centre

2hours from Forth Road Bridge takes you to a lot of hills – you could do Curved Ridge or Anoch Eagagh in Glen Coe if you are bold enough

For all the options look here (its not just munros)

http://www.munromagic.com/

Ben A'an is one of the best small hills in central Scotland – haven't been up it for years though. Views are fantastic on a nice day. Ben Venue and Ben Ledi also very nice sub-Munro hills.

If the visitor is reasonably experienced however I'd be tempted to suggest Buachallie Etive Mor.

Tarmachan over Ben Lawers any day.

wave from the ridge, I can see it from the sofa- the view from my lounge:

Tarmachan over Ben Lawers any day.

I concur. VISIT SCOTLAND WALK ON BEN LAWERS

I too would go for the tarmachan over ben lawers.

Cobbler +1.

Hillwalking McM? What's got into you? 😉

3rd the Cobbler if you want to impress her with a mountain that's a proper mountain and not a big hill. The north peak should be no problem for you if you choose the correct route, but the south peak requires a bit of mountaineering/scrambling ability. Anyway, the immediate scenery is very impressive and the distance views are great. If you want to really impress her (and/or get in her knickers) and have no mountaineering ability, then maybe go on a scrambling course and then take her up the south summit/peak. She will be really impressed with you. However, don't **** it all up and get her stranded half way up and have to call out mountain rescue, like this bloke with a very attractive American/Canadian girl did a few weeks ago in North Wales.

Fair warning!

I prefer Ben Narnain to the Cobbler, but you could easily do both in an easy days walk.

Steve B said it – Ben Cleuch then down Andrew Gannel over to Dollar (take in as many Ochils as possible!).

Food for thought guys, thanks. I tend to think of hillwalking as riding without my bike. I may try a couple of these routes out just for the fun of it. I climbed the Cobbler as a teenager, and have ridden/carried my bike up Ben Alder. Both were pretty good. The ridge in the pics above Killin looks pretty good. I'm sure Sanny has ridden that.

Ben Lui is a really good one, but beware its very wet and windy.

Cruachan, over by Loch Awe on the road to Oban. If your into big hills, doesn't come much better in Scotland in my books. Give yourself the whole day at this time of year though (6hrs +).

Tarmachan Ridge is a lovely mountain ridge in miniature. I use that as my "introductory" walk for Munro noobies. Doesn't take too long but has enough interest packed into its short traverse.

Schiehallion is another favourite. Very pleasant walking (now that the path has been relocated) and gives stunning views – especially at this time of year with the autumn colours.

Bear in mind that there'll be snow on the hills soon. If you plan on a "big" day out, have a short one in reserve.

I might be around to join you depending upon dates.

She's not coming until June so plenty of time to plan.

I've probably done about 100 of Druidh's 283 munros with him – so I can answer for him if you like 🙂 He would say "do the Tarmachan Ridge".

Schiehallion is a nice place to be on a clear day due it's uber central location and it has a nice "real mountain" feel with no navigational challenges.

Ben Lui is a classic hill, although I've only done it from the Oban road – the gully route from nr Tyndrum is the nicer route when you don't want to link it with it's neighbouring munro.

Stuc a'Chroin from near Callander is a nice short drive, an easy walk and gives a really nice/unusual view of the highland boundary fault.

Lochnagar would be a fantastic walk (I still might be saving that one for my final munro) and there are lots of others from nr Braemar which is within your 2 hour limit…

Edited to add: I started that before I read Glen's post – must be of a similar mind…

I've done quite a lot of this and have considered which mountain might give the best and most varied day out and show off the Highlands (and be a doable drive from Edinburgh).

And the answer is – Bidean Nam Bian. A great drive over Rannoch Moor and into Glen Coe to start under the Three Sisters, nice climb up through the autumn colours in the gorge to open out into the surprise of The Lost Valley, up onto ridge walking (without difficulty) to Bidean and across to Stob Coire nan Lochan with great views of the other Glen Coe mountains and including Loch Leven and Loch Linnhe. Dinner at the Clachaig and climbers bar with optional Jimmy Saville 😀 . Top day out.

Lots and lots of choice within your driving range. Another vote for Tarmachan, a nice introductory ridge walk.

Arrocher alps as suggested above for scenery.

Bidean nam Bian?

White corries.

Ben Vorlich, Stuc a Croin would be very easy to get to and a nice little walk.

Beinn A Ghlo is probably outwith your driving range limit, but its a nice drive up there at this time of year.

Also the Trossachs for non Munro walks and great scenery.

Yup, Tarmachan is good. The Invervar lot if you want a longer route. Don't rate Schehallion at all. The views are nice but it is a short dull walk up a built path with lots of people on it. Will give no impression of the real Scotland at all

Dinner at the Clachaig and climbers bar with optional Jimmy Saville . Top day out.

LOL@kunstler, he's been in there on two seperate trips. Even blocked our driveway in Glencoe village with his camper van.

Aren't some of these quite a bit further than 2 hours away?

wave from the ridge, I can see it from the sofa- the view from my lounge:

Not that you're smug about that or anything – bastard! 😛

Here's one,

1.Leave car
2.Head towards door of distillery of choice
3.Leave distillery many lost hours later
4.Do not enter car
5.Collapse on floor

wave from the ridge, I can see it from the sofa- the view from my lounge:

Not that you're smug about that or anything – bastard!

8)