Alas, my friends, this is what happens when you don’t keep track of the hills you have climbed…you forget, when, where and who you climbed with. I know I have climbed Ben Lomond twice in my lifetime, once with my university pals N, A, M, R, and S, and once with C. 

Did you know that some people are SO extreme, they do rounds of Munros. This means that they do the entire 282 mountains over and over again to create a series of rounds. Other extreme people constrain themselves to the winter months e.g they give themselves four months during the winter period to complete all 282. 

Once will be enough for me (that is if I even complete all 282 mountains), but there’s no sin in climbing a mountain as many times as you like. Each time offers a unique experience and a different story…and will always be worth it (I say this with a pinch of salt). I was fortunate enough in that both times I climbed Ben Lomond,  I had insanely good views. I mean really amazing – the views where you can see for miles with no wind at the top to blind you. 

Ben Lomond is one of those hills that everyone has heard about; it’s on everyone’s list and is one of the easier Munros to climb because a clear path ascends the whole way up. If navigation isn’t your strong point, then this is the Munro for you (although, I’d still advise to chose a clear day and don’t do it in the winter as winter climbing is always uncertain). You’d be unfortunate (or extremely lucky) to find a day where there’s nobody on the hill, so even if you do get lost (which you won’t), you can always follow the drunken group of lads heading up the hill. 

Having said it is one of the easier Munros, I have to admit that I have always struggled up this hill. I wasn’t that unfit when I climbed it the first time, but for some reason I just really struggled (admittedly I was hungover). It likely was my mental state which I’ve found severely affects my ability when climbing a munro. But, my point is, don’t underestimate Ben Lomond just because people say so. 

I climbed this famous mountain back in 2017 with my Uni pals. In fact, Ben Lomond holds a soft spot in my heart as it was the first Munro I ever climbed –  I almost climbed one when I was younger, but alas, that is a story for another time. I was 19 at the time and didn’t quite know what to expect. It’s also key to note that I had been out drinking the night before and was feeling quite rough. (On a side note, I really wouldn’t encourage this.) 

It was a really sunny day and we arrived in the carpark early in the morning. S, my ginger haired friend, asked if I needed to share his suncream. Naive and vain, I waved my hand carelessly, progressing to the bottom of the mountain.  Also note that I had brought one tiny bottle of water. In my earlier days (not that I’m really in my later days), I was very ill prepared and I thought that on a day of 25 degrees that I would only need a 300ml bottle. 

We set off at a fast pace, my friends, who weren’t known for being fit, firing up the side of the mountain. I was left in the dust, sweating like a pig at the butcher’s, realising that I was that one friend that was holding everyone back. It didn’t help that S, who also stayed at the back, continuously lathered himself in sunscreen. 

I progressed onward, blissfully unaware of the burning flesh that was to come that night. One of our hiking partners, M, was insanely fit so he ran to the top, leaving the group behind. He returned an hour later having sumitted at record speed. However, he failed to mention that he had projectile vomited at the top due to the intense heat, so I spent the entire hike feeling jealous of his hiking capabilities, unaware of his sore stomach.

We reached the top to a good view. There was no wind at the top, and the views were amazing, but it was muggy. I was beginning to feel my lack of water would not suffice, but surely nature’s natural reserves would quench my thirst. 

Nature provided and I found a stream on the descent. A stream might be somewhat of an exaggeration. It was a tiny trickle of some yellowish water that looked drinkable. Now, I don’t want to promote anything dangerous and if you’re looking for sage advise on drinking water up hills, then look here. However, I have drank from many streams my entire life and I have lived to tell the tale. I once asked what purification tablets were at an outdoor talk and people laughed at me, but I’ve genuinely never used them. 

I think the simplest option is to bring enough water (they say a litre per Munro, but that’s not always feasible). If you look at guidance, judge accordingly, then you’ll be fine. I still struggle these days, but an investment in a hydration pack has done me the world of good. You can get cheap ones here. They’re not the best, but will do the trick if you don’t want to buy an Osprey one. 

We ended the hike with a lovely swim in Loch Lomond and having a loch side barbecue. I had to rush home for a hawt date I had that night, and managed to struggle my way into a burning lace dress – it rubbed my sunburn and caused blisters for the next week. If you take anything away from this…then it’s to wear sunscreen. 

I returned to Ben Lomond just under a year later with the formerly mentioned hawt date, and climbed it once more. This time we walked from our Sallochy Campsite. Again, probably because we added a two hour walk to the beginning to the hike, I really struggled. This time I had brought enough water and feeling like an expert, I guided said partner up the mountain, feeling frightfully accomplished. All was going splendid, splendid views at the top, splendid pics at the end. We even ended our walk getting dinner in the Rowardennan Lodge Youth Hostel, just at the bottom of the hill. As the sun set came in, we smiled at one another reminiscing our very outdoorsy romantic weekend. But wait…the sun was setting and we still had a two hour walk back to the campsite…and we didn’t have head torches. Not wanting to walk along the dangerous road, or by the dark sea, we sprinted back to the campsite, catching the final light. 

Despite wanting to regurgitate our meal after our fast-paced walk and feeling fatigued, the evening ended with the most beautiful sunset. 

Let’s see what my third time up Ben Lomond brings…