Ben Oss facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ben Oss |
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| Scottish Gaelic: Beinn Ois | |
Ben Oss seen from the high ground to the north of Tyndrum.
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,029 m (3,376 ft) |
| Prominence | 342 m (1,122 ft) |
| Parent peak | Ben Lui |
| Listing | Munro, Marilyn |
| Naming | |
| English translation | Mountain of the elk |
| Language of name | Gaelic |
| Geography | |
| Location | Stirlingshire, Scotland |
| Parent range | Grampians |
| OS grid | NN287253 |
| Topo map | OS Landranger 50, OS Explorer 364 |
Ben Oss (which is Beinn Ois in Scottish Gaelic) is a mountain in Scotland. It's located in the Stirling area, about six kilometers southwest of the village of Tyndrum. You can find this mountain inside the beautiful Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park.
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Discover Ben Oss: A Scottish Mountain
Ben Oss is a tall mountain, reaching 1029 meters (about 3376 feet) high. Because of its height, it's known as a Munro and a Marilyn. These are special categories for mountains in Scotland.
Where is Ben Oss Located?
Ben Oss stands with other hills in the Cononish glen, west of Tyndrum. It's part of a group that includes three other Munros: Ben Lui, Beinn Dubhchraig, and Beinn a' Chleibh. There's also a Corbett mountain nearby called Beinn Chùirn.
When you look at Ben Oss from the north or south, it looks like a sharp, pointed peak. This is different from its neighbor, Beinn Dubhchraig, which looks much bigger. People often climb Ben Oss and Beinn Dubhchraig together.
What Does the Name "Ben Oss" Mean?
The mountain's name comes from the Gaelic word "Os." This word can mean two things: an elk or a loch (lake) outlet. There's a small loch and a stream nearby with the same name. This suggests that elk might have lived in this area a long time ago, before they disappeared from Scotland.
Exploring Ben Oss's Landscape
Ben Oss has some interesting features. Its northern side is very rocky and steep, making it hard to climb directly from the Cononish glen.
Mountain Ridges and Valleys
The mountain has two main ridges that connect it to other nearby Munros. Hikers usually reach the top of Ben Oss by following one of these ridges.
One ridge curves around a valley called Coire Garbh. This ridge connects Ben Oss to Beinn Dubhchraig at a mountain pass called Bealach Buidhe, which is 779 meters high. Inside Coire Garbh, you'll find Loch Oss, a small lake about 500 by 300 meters in size. Another valley, Coire Buidhe, is on the northern side of this ridge. It has a very steep wall, so it's not a good idea to go down this way to the Cononish glen.
The other ridge goes southwest to a low point called a col, at the head of Coire Laoigh. This col is 687 meters high and links Ben Oss to Ben Lui.
Water Flow and Drainage
The southern slopes of Ben Oss are not as steep and lead down to Glen Falloch and the top of Loch Lomond. Ben Oss is on Scotland's drainage divide. This means that rain falling on the northern slopes flows into the Cononish glen, which is where the River Tay begins. This water eventually reaches the east coast of Scotland.
However, rain falling on the southern slopes flows through Glen Falloch and Loch Lomond. This water then reaches the sea on the west coast, at the Firth of Clyde. Ben Oss, along with Ben Lui, also sits at the start of Glen Fyne, which is connected to the long sea loch, Loch Fyne.
Climbing Ben Oss
Most people climb Ben Oss from the area just south of Tyndrum. A common starting point is Dalrigh (grid reference NN343292) on the A82 road.
Popular Routes to the Summit
Many guidebooks suggest climbing Ben Oss along with Beinn Dubhchraig from Dalrigh. This route is less steep if you go over Beinn Dubhchraig first, then continue to Ben Oss via the Bealach Buidhe. You can even do a circular walk around the Cononish glen, continuing over Ben Lui and Beinn Chuirn, and ending back at Dalrigh.
Views from the Top
The top of Ben Oss is fairly flat, with a medium-sized stone cairn (a pile of rocks) on a grassy area with large flat rocks. From the summit, you get amazing views of the southern highlands. It's a great spot to see the rocky eastern side of Ben Lui, its neighboring mountain.
