Stank Glen
Very scenic walk in Stank Glen, in the Trossachs, close to Ben Ledi. Fab views over Loch Lubnaig.
Despite its unglamorous name, there is nothing stank about it – its simply beautiful.
We were looking for a decent walk but not too long as we were a bit late getting out on this March Sunday.
We chose Stank Glen because we wanted to check out Ben Ledi for another time.
We got to the car park around 12.30pm and it was chocka. Luckily some speedy soul was just leaving so we nabbed his place. This is also where we’ll start when we do Ben Ledi (when there’s not a pile of snow on top).
THE ROUTE
Leave the car park and head straight on along the road towards the Forest Lodges for a kilometer or so.
Swing left up a track about 500m before the lodges and follow the waymarkers.
At the first bend you can follow a wee path to detour to a waterfall. Or carry on to the 3rd bend and detour downhill to the waterfall.
After returning to the track instead of turning left and following it around another bend, take the path on the right heading uphill. There used to be trees here but they’ve been cut down. Keep zig zagging up (there’s another waterfall on the right).
Eventually you reach a track. Do a right then a quick left onto the path which now climbs steeply. Look back at the view.
The path comes to a track where there’s a wide cleared area. Go straight across this and follow the path as it curves around the left side of the glen.
You cross 3 streams.
At the head of the glen, there is a narrow but defined path to the left which goes to Ben Ledi. Ignore that and turn right to cross a stream with stepping stones.
There are nice views back down the glen.
Head back down the glen until you reach a T junction.
Go left here to continue descending and the track bends left to a junction. Now supposedly there is an option to go left to look at the view of Loch Lubnaig … don’t do this as the trees have grown so much that you can see diddly squat.
So do a sharp right here still following the waymarkers. There’s a lovely view of Ben Ledi and its crags and pinnacles.
Then its just a matter of following the track downhill. There’s another ‘non viewpoint’ to see the waterfall – yup! Blocked by trees!!
Eventually you come to the holiday lodges.
We stopped in at the friendly café at the lodges for tea and cake before heading back to the car.
Oh and I almost forgot … I found a wee geocache just before the car park (there were 2 others that I completely forgot about until it was too late!)
Stats:
Start: car park off A84 near Forest Lodges
Near Loch Lomond in the Trossachs
9km/ 5.75 miles
Ascent 360m
Time 2.5 hours