Its accessibility from Glasgow and elsewhere in central Scotland, together with the relative ease of ascent from Rowardennan, makes it one of the most popular of all the Munros: it is estimated that around 30,000 people reach the summit each year.[2] On a clear day, it is visible from the higher grounds of Glasgow and across Strathclyde. Ben Lomond's summit can also be seen from Ben Nevis, the highest peak in Britain, over 40 miles (64 km) away. The West Highland Way runs along the western base of the mountain, by the loch.
The name Ben Lomond is generally agreed to mean "beacon mountain" or "beacon hill".[3][4]Lomond is of Brittonic origin and derived from the element lumon meaning "a beacon" (Welshllumon).[5][6][7] This element, preserved in Scots as lum meaning "chimney",[5] is found in other hill-names such as the Lomond Hills in Fife and Pumlumon in Wales.[5] Like these hills, Ben Lomond is likely to have been perceived as a central point, probably the meeting-point of several territorial boundaries, where a signal beacon may have been frequently lit.[5]
Geography and geology
Ben Lomond above Loch Lomond, as seen from the slopes of Beinn Narnain.
Ben Lomond has a craggy summit which appears conical when viewed from the nearby Arrochar Alps range.[8] The mountain comprises two parallel south-southeasterly ridges: the Sròn Aonaich ridge to the east and the Ptarmigan ridge to the west. North of the summit these ridges come together and lead to a 456-metre (1,496 ft) col with Cruin a' Bheinn, a Graham. The summit is grassy and rocky and is marked by a triangulation pillar.
The usual route up Ben Lomond is via the 'tourist path',[8][10][11] a wide, eroded[8] and easy path which is roughly paved in steeper sections.[11] This track was created owing to the mountain's status as one of the most popular[12][13] in Scotland and climbs the gentle Sròn Aonaich ridge, before ascending a steeper section to the rocky summit ridge.
An alternative route follows the Ptarmigan ridge to the summit along a steeper and rockier path.[10] The Ptarmigan path is the second most popular route, followed by a third route which approaches from Gleann Dubh.[12]
Despite the comparative ease of the tourist route, Ben Lomond can present a significant challenge to inexperienced walkers, especially in poor weather conditions.[14] A dedicated Lomond Mountain Rescue Team has existed since 1967 to assist walkers and climbers on Ben Lomond and other surrounding peaks.[15]
A walker descending by the tourist route, seen from the summit in January 2010.
The summit of Ben Lomond seen from high on the Ptarmigan ridge in January 2010.
In addition to natural wildlife, the mountain area supports sheep farming. The National Trust for Scotland is tasked with maintaining a land management programme which sustains a balance of natural habitat conservation and the availability of land for grazing.[13]
Memorial Park and National Park
Since 1995, the area around Ben Lomond, including the mountain summit, has been designated as a war memorial, called the Ben Lomond National Memorial Park.[13] The park is dedicated to those who gave their lives in the First and Second World Wars and was created out of the former Rowardennan Estate with the support of the National Heritage Memorial Fund.[18]
The Memorial Park was officially opened on Armistice Day in 1997 by the Rt Hon Donald Dewar, then Secretary of State for Scotland and later the first First Minister of Scotland. At the opening ceremony he unveiled a granite sculpture by Doug Cocker, a Scottish artist who had won a competition organised by the Scottish Sculpture Trust to design a permanent monument for the park.[18]
