O.S. Triangulation Pillar - Ben Venue, Stirling. - U.K. and Ireland Trigpoints on Waymarking.com

Ben Venue, the small or pointed mountain, is situated in The Trossachs in the Southern Highlands of Stirlingshire. Typical of the area, the mountain is a craggy affair overlooking the lochs of Katrine and Achray. It has twin summits, with the most easterly at 2386 feet or 727 metres, sporting a stone built trig pillar. The pillar has suffered damage in recent years and is now around half the height it once was, but the flush bracket remains on the western face. The pillar has a commanding position overlooking the eastern flank of the mountain. Most of the mountains of the Southern Highlands are in view.

STEEPNESS: After a relatively easy walk lower down, the last ascent on the craggy western flank is steep, with handwork required in places.

TERRAIN: A good path lower down, then mostly rocky ground with one serious boggy section.

ACCESSIBILITY: The popular signposted route to the summit starts at the Ben Venue Car Park on the A821 at the western end of Loch Achray. There is then a four mile route taking a clockwise path westwards, northwards and then eastwards, eventaully ending at the eastern summit. Other routes are available, but not signposted.

NAVIGATION: The well signposted route runs westwards through the forest before emerging on the open hillside where the signs end. From here the well worn path continues westerly, then northwards to reach the first rocky section. After this the boggy section is reached before another climb up to the western col where a cairn is situated. From here the path, now fainter, weaves its way up the crags in an easterly direction. A path branches left towards the true summit, with the route to the east summit continuing on eastwards to the east summit and the remnants of the pillar.

DANGER: Some handwork required on the rockier sections higher up. The one boggy section can also be awkward.