Southern Highlands
1 NN343291 This is a big day, so get an early start. A mountain bike will knock a couple of hours off the approach and return along the Cononish track, but even on foot it’s easy going and relatively quick. From the car park, take the track signed for Ben Lui, heading west past two houses. Cross a bridge over a burn, pass a turnoff for the West Highland Way, then go under the railway. The track now follows the broad River Cononish up-glen, entering the Ben Lui National Nature Reserve before reaching Cononish farm.
2 NN302284 Beyond the farm the track climbs gently westsouth-west. Prominent above is the gorge and waterfall of Eas Anie, and the small working gold mine at its foot. With the distinctive profile of Ben Lui growing ever more impressive ahead, the track contours easily along the flank of the glen before descending to the Allt an Rund, about 2km beyond Cononish. Here the vehicle track ends.
3 NN281273 Cross the stream and pass a small stone-walled enclosure. Now the uphill slog begins in earnest. Following a cascading burn, a steep eroded path climbs into Coire Gaothach. Up on the sloping corrie floor, some large boulders offer shelter for a breather. From here three options are available: 1. Straight up the middle is the classic snow climb of Central Gully (Grade I); 2. The right rim of the corrie, Ben Lui’s North Ridge, a steep but straightforward snow walk (your descent route later); 3. The left flank of the corrie, Ben Lui’s East Ridge (Grade I) – this is the ascent described here.
4 NN273266 Turn left and climb a steep slope to reach the broad crest of the East Ridge overlooking the mouth of the corrie. Follow the ridge, keeping just left of the corrie rim. At first straightforward, the ground soon steepens, leading up to a jagged false summit. In summer this is a scrambly mixture of vegetation and loose rock; when frozen or snow-covered it’s more pleasant, if harder. Skirt left of the first buttress to reach a short craggy band; weave up an obvious line of weakness just left of the corrie edge, climbing a series of little rock steps and airy ledges. Depending on the state of the ground, the weather, and members of your party, a rope might be a sensible precaution. Difficulties and exposure soon ease however, and the continuation ridge to Lui’s true (south-east) summit is much gentler – though scrambling can still be found if you look. The ridge terminates right at the summit. 5 NN266262 Take the narrow summit crest to the slightly lower but cairned north-west top. In winter the edge overlooking Coire Gaothach can be heavily corniced, so give these snow overhangs a wide berth. The descent of the North Ridge starts steep, though soon eases. In poor visibility or icy snow, or when the corrie edge looks corniced, it may prove easier to bypass this section. Alternatively, you can descend Ben Lui’s short north-west ridge instead, which forms the back of another, shallower corrie. At the first safe opportunity, cut back right to the floor of this second corrie, passing just right of a tiny lochan (sometimes buried by snow) to regain the rim of Coire Gaothach. Descend the steep slope into the base of the main corrie to regain your approach path. It’s now a long grind back to Dalrigh.