Ben Lomond Facts for Kids

For other uses, see Ben Lomond (disambiguation).

Quick facts for kids Ben Lomond (3195 subways)
Beinn Laomainn
Ben Lomond from Loch Lomond
Highest point
Elevation	974 m (3,196 ft)
Prominence	820 m (2,690 ft) Ranked 30th in British Isles
Parent peak	Beinn Ime
Listing	Munro, Marilyn, County top (Stirlingshire)
Naming
English translation	Beacon mountain
Geography
Ben Lomond (3195 subways) Location in Scotland
Parent range	Grampian Mountains
OS grid	NN367029
Topo map	OS Landranger 56 and Explorer 364

Ben Lomond is a famous mountain in the Scottish Highlands. Its name comes from Scottish Gaelic and means 'Beacon Mountain'. It stands 974 metres (3,196 ft) tall.

This mountain is found on the eastern side of Loch Lomond. It is the most southerly of the Munros, which are Scottish mountains over 3,000 feet (914.4 meters) high. Ben Lomond is part of the Ben Lomond National Memorial Park and the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park. The National Trust for Scotland looks after it.

Ben Lomond is very popular because it's easy to reach from Glasgow and other parts of central Scotland. The path from Rowardennan is quite simple to climb. On a clear day, you can see it from high places in Glasgow. You can even see Ben Lomond's top from Ben Nevis, which is Britain's highest peak, over 40 miles (64 km) away! The West Highland Way walking trail runs along the mountain's western base, right by the loch.

Because Ben Lomond is so well-known in Scotland, many places in other countries have been named after it. You can find "Ben Lomond" in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United States. The mountain is also mentioned in the popular folk song "The Bonnie Banks o' Loch Lomond".

What Does Ben Lomond Mean?
Exploring Ben Lomond's Shape and Rocks
Ways to Climb Ben Lomond
Animals on Ben Lomond
A Special Park: Memorial and National
Images for kids
See also

What Does Ben Lomond Mean?

The name Ben Lomond means "beacon mountain" or "beacon hill." The word Lomond comes from an old language called Common Brittonic. In that language, lumon meant "a beacon."

This old word is still seen in the Scots word lum, which means "chimney." You can find this word in other hill names too, like the Lomond Hills and Pumlumon in Wales. Ben Lomond was probably an important central spot. People might have lit signal fires there often.

Exploring Ben Lomond's Shape and Rocks

Ben Lomond above Loch Lomond, as seen from the slopes of Beinn Narnain.

Ben Lomond has a rocky top that looks like a cone when you see it from the nearby Arrochar Alps. The mountain has two long ridges that run side-by-side towards the south-southeast. These are the Sròn Aonaich ridge on the east and the Ptarmigan ridge on the west. North of the top, these ridges meet.

The very top of the mountain is grassy and rocky. It has a special marker called a triangulation pillar. This pillar helps mapmakers measure distances.

Ben Lomond's rocks are mostly granite, mica schist, diorite, porphyry, and quartzite. The mountain sits on the Scottish watershed. This is an imaginary line that divides Scotland. Rivers on one side flow east, and rivers on the other side flow west.

Ways to Climb Ben Lomond

The most common way to climb Ben Lomond is by the 'tourist path'. This path is wide and easy to follow. Some parts are even paved. It was made because so many people want to climb this mountain. This path goes up the gentle Sròn Aonaich ridge. Then, it gets steeper as it climbs to the rocky top.

Another way to reach the top is by following the Ptarmigan ridge. This path is steeper and has more rocks. It's the second most popular route. A third route comes from a valley called Gleann Dubh.

Even though the tourist path is quite easy, Ben Lomond can still be a challenge. This is especially true for new walkers or when the weather is bad. There's a special Lomond Mountain Rescue Team. They have been helping walkers and climbers since 1967.

Animals on Ben Lomond

The higher parts of Ben Lomond are like an alpine tundra. This means it's cold and windy, similar to the Arctic. Many birds live here, including peregrine falcons, merlins, rock ptarmigan, red grouse, and golden eagles.

A study by the British Trust for Ornithology found something interesting. Ben Lomond might have the most southerly group of ptarmigan birds in Scotland. Other groups of these birds have become smaller, possibly because of climate change.

Besides wild animals, sheep also live on the mountain. The National Trust for Scotland works to keep a good balance. They want to protect the natural homes of animals. They also make sure there's enough land for sheep to graze.

A Special Park: Memorial and National

Since 1995, the area around Ben Lomond, including its top, has been a war memorial. It's called the Ben Lomond National Memorial Park. This park remembers those who lost their lives in the First and Second World Wars. It was created from the old Rowardennan Estate.

The Memorial Park was officially opened on Armistice Day in 1997. The Rt Hon Donald Dewar opened it. He was the Secretary of State for Scotland and later became the first First Minister of Scotland. At the opening, he showed a granite sculpture. It was made by Doug Cocker, a Scottish artist.

When the park was created, the NTS and the Forestry Commission were put in charge of looking after it.

In 2002, the Scottish Parliament created the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park. This was Scotland's first national park! The whole Ben Lomond National Memorial Park is now part of this larger national park.