Ben Lora

As Sumara is locked away in the shed and I am not allowed to work on her until Monday it means that I have some time to fill. As I sat in the campervan I could see a lovely hill across the loch, so I decided to climb up it. I say climb, but it is just a walk really.

I’ve been up Ben Lora before when I was training for the Scottish Islands Three Peaks Race about ten years ago. Actually I twisted my knee when I was running down which wasn’t too clever. If you are based in Oban and about to do the Scottish Islands Three Peaks then it is a very handy training hill to run up. To get to the start, drive over the Connel Bridge and after about a mile you will come across a café and bookshop on the left hand side with a garage on the right hand side. Just before the garage on the right is a small car park where the walk starts. There is also a car park on the left so you’ll be pushed to mess up the parking.

The Noticeboard.
You won’t need a map for this one. Just follow the posts with red and blue stripes, then with just blue stripes. Then come back down again!

The first part of the walk is through woodland on smooth gravel paths. There are lots of primroses to admire.

Some areas of the trees are felled. I suppose “scruffy” is good ecology wise but it does look a bit of a mess.

Here is a view over to Dunstaffnage Marina. Soon you will come across a gate with a sign saying 900 m to the top. At this point the path gets rougher.

There is a slight descent into a boggy bit before the final climb. Even after ten years I remembered every inch of this route – I suppose the pain of running up the hill fixes it in your mind. Watch out for those rotten planks!

The last part is a bit ankle twisty if you are running but a relatively easy walk

Ben Lora Summit. Just 308 m but enough to put a bead of sweat on your brow. Lovely 360 degree view. I suppose it took about an hour to climb up but I didn’t have a watch so that’s just a guess.

October 2022 Update

While preparing the boat for a haul out, we decided to take a break and walk the woofer up Ben Lora and have a cup of tea in the nearby Book Shop Café. We found a nice extra short walk after Ben Lora to a beach so if its hot work it would be a good place for a cooling dip. However, beware of the café opening times. It is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Amazingly the garage by the pink shop is closed “Sunday to Friday” and it only opens on Saturday for three hours!

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