Ben Vrackie

The Ben Vrackie hike leads to the summit of this isolated Perthshire mountain, which overlooks the town of Pitlochry. At 841 meters above sea level, this Corbett (a mountain between 2,500 and 3,000 feet) offers unobstructed views of the Cairngorms to the north, the Beinn a'Ghlo range, and the surrounding Highland valleys. This hike is very popular with locals and is an excellent introduction to Scottish peaks.

Difficulties and description of the hike

The well-maintained trail to the summit is renowned for its quality. Some sections are physically demanding, but none are technically difficult. The route is not marked, but it is easy to follow in good weather, as there are few intersections. Nevertheless, always bring a GPS device or map. Scottish weather can change suddenly, and visibility can drop to zero in a matter of minutes.

What you'll love

  • The spectacular panorama from the summit: On a clear day, enjoy unobstructed views of the Cairngorms, the Beinn a' Ghlo massif, Schiehallion, and Pitlochry below.
  • Loch a' Choire, a magnificent mountain lake at the foot of the final ascent. It's an ideal place to rest before the last push.

Hike technical sheet

Activity: Hiking
Difficulty: ModerateiDifficulty levels explained here:
➡️ Hiking parameters
Average duration: 4 hiFind out how we calculate the duration here:
➡️ Hiking parameters
Length: 9.1 km
Type of route: Out and back
Elevation gain: 750 m
Maximum altitude: 841 m
Vertiginous: NoiVertiginous levels explained here:
➡️ Hiking parameters
Marked: No
Popularity: Moderate
Region: Cairngorms
Start point: 56.71550, -3.72758
Ben Vrackie