Walking in the Ochils, Campsie Fells and Lomond Hills

• Location
• Description
• Contents
• Introduction
• Sample Route
• Reviews
• Further Reading

View Sample Route Map

Walk 5 - Ben Cleuch via Ben Buck

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Distance: 9.5km
Height gain: 721m
Time: 3hr
Difficulty rating: 3
Maps required: OS Landranger 58 (1:50,000); OS Explorer 366 (1:25,000); Harvey’s Map – Ochil Hills (1:25,000)
Start point: car park for Alva Glen

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A classic circular route to the Ochils’ highest peak via the second highest point in the range, Ben Buck. Starting from the car park at Alva Glen the route initially approaches Ben Cleuch from the south, along the pleasant ascent of the Craighorn ridge, before curving around via Ben Buck, to reach Ben Cleuch from the north. The route exits the hills by the steep slopes of the Law, back through enjoyable woodland in Mill Glen and Wood Hill Wood. Apart from indistinct paths between Craighorn and Ben Buck, navigation is simple, the going underfoot is good and the views are excellent.

Start at the car park at Alva Glen, at the north end of Alva, and head into the glen, initially walking past a waterfall and then up a series of steps before having to walk under a water-supply pipe. Ten metres after the pipe turn right and walk past a small, fenced-in building (chlorine store) to arrive at a metal-sprung gate. Pass through the gate onto open ground and follow the path uphill to the vehicle track, buffeted by gorse bushes along the way.

Continue along the vehicle track as it rises and doubles back on itself a couple of times. Just as the track straightens to run parallel with Silver Burn on the right, take the vehicle track on the left and stay on this track as it contours around the Nebit and above Alva Glen until the burn is crossed on concrete slabs at GR884987.

After crossing the burn continue for approximately 30–50m and turn right to ascend without a clear path (but over easy ground) up the grassy flank of the Craighorn ridge, also known as the Ogles. Ascend steadily for a distance of approximately 700m before the ground levels out at the start of the ridge. From here is an excellent view of the pronounced form of the Nebit to the south and to the west the impressively steep, east-facing slopes of the Bengengie ridge.

Continue directly north from this point on a vague path, but essentially just maintaining a course along the centre of the ridge, gaining height gradually over the distance of 800m to the summit of Craighorn (583m), marked by a wooden stake in a small collection of stones.

Leaving Craighorn in a rough northeasterly direction the path becomes indistinct, but the aim is to make for the start of the vehicle track at the head of the Glenwinnel Burn (GR888010). A bearing should be taken from the Craighorn summit to this point in low visibility. Approximately 30m from the start of the wide vehicle track (and just where the track bends), turn left on a distinguishable grassy path and ascend fairly gradually uphill on this path to reach the summit of Ben Buck (679m) after a distance of just under 1km. Views from here are limited to those to the north, as the large spine of Ben Cleuch obscures views south and demonstrates the lack of separation from other peaks that means despite its height Ben Buck fails to achieve Donald status.

From Ben Buck follow the faint path in a southerly direction, running parallel to the fence to reach another fence, at which point cross over the stile and turn left uphill for a distance of 400m to arrive at the summit of Ben Cleuch (721m), the highest point in the Ochils range.

From the summit of Ben Cleuch is a 360 degree panorama: in the northwest the Crianlarich Hills and the distinctive peaks of the Lawers range above the Strathearn Valley; westward the ever-present Ben Lomond and Ben Ledi; stretching south, the fertile plains of the Forth and Devon valleys parallel the line of the Ochils range, eventually meeting the isolated Lomond Hills in the east.

Leave the summit following the path in a southeasterly direction, still staying parallel to the fence. The obvious path bends around to join the short ridge and then summit of the Law, marked by a small cairn on the other side of the fence. From this point the descent directly south in Mill Glen starts, moving over good ground that is steep in parts, and can occasionally be muddy and slippery on the well-used paths. The descent becomes steepest just before reaching the convergence of the Daiglen and Gannel Burns, and a short scramble down leads to a small footbridge over the Gannel Burn. Just after the footbridge ascend to the maintained path over rocky and often slippery ground to then descend on the maintained path into Mill Glen.

Once out of the glen, cross the burn and walk along the streets past the Clock Mill to the second turning right into Scotland Place. Head to the tarmac at the end of the road and turn right onto the path that moves for a few metres through undergrowth.

On reaching the next road turn right again, and after a few more metres take the gravel path marked by the wooden sign indicating ‘Alva 3km’. Continuing along this path on open ground with the golf course on the left, Wood Hill Wood is soon entered. A fine old building called ‘The Stables’ is passed, and soon after the path rejoins the car park.

To return to the car park via the lower slopes of the Nebit, head along the diagonal path almost immediately opposite the car park and enter the woodland, following the path as it rises westerly under the shady sycamore canopy. After almost 500m, as a smaller path joins from the right, continue westwards to cross Silver Burn, with the fenced-off remains of an old mine shaft just to the left. Pass through the gate at the end of the woods onto the lower slopes of the Nebit.

Descend the vehicle track used at the start of the walk and take the footpath, also used on the ascent, to find the way back to Alva Glen and the start of the walk.