Ben Alder routes, easiest to hardest: times, distances and GPX
1,148 m ยท Highland
Ben Alder is a remote 1148m Munro above Loch Ericht, a huge flat-topped mountain reached by long approaches from Dalwhinnie or Corrour.
Peakify lists 1 measured route up Ben Alder, traced on OpenStreetMap paths from the start to the summit. Distances and ascent are one way, to the top.
Ben Alder routes, easiest to hardest
There is one measured route so far, graded Hard. Grades run Easy, Moderate, Hard, then Scramble.
| Route | Start | Distance | Ascent | Time up | There and back | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dalwhinnie via Culra and the Long Leachas | Dalwhinnie (Loch Ericht track) | 21.9 km one way | 739 m | 5h 35m | 10h 0m | Hard |
Ben Alder route times by Naismith's rule
The times above use Naismith's rule: 5 km/h on the flat plus 10 minutes for every 100 m of ascent, rounded to the nearest 5 minutes. "There and back" doubles the distance and counts the ascent once, for coming down the same way. Naismith assumes a fit walker and no stops, so add time for breaks, a heavy pack, rough or snowy ground, and a group that moves at its slowest member's pace.
Each Ben Alder route
Dalwhinnie via Culra and the Long Leachas
A long track runs beside Loch Ericht towards Culra. The Long Leachas ridge then climbs to the plateau with some easy scrambling. It starts from Dalwhinnie (Loch Ericht track). 21.9 km one way with 739 m of ascent. About 5h 35m to the summit and 10h 0m there and back by Naismith's rule. Grade: Hard.
Ben Alder route GPX
This page doesn't offer a GPX download. To get a GPX file for a Ben Alder route, use the Peakify iPhone app: open Ben Alder, plan the route in the route planner (or import a GPX you already have), save it, then choose Export GPX on the saved route. GPX export is part of Peakify Pro.
Before you pick a route
The grade describes the ground in fair weather. Wind, rain, cloud and ice change it: a Moderate path can be hard to follow in mist, and a scramble in strong gusts is a different proposition from the same rock on a calm day. Check whether it is safe to climb Ben Alder today and the Ben Alder 14-day forecast before you set off, and allow for the walk out in daylight.
Planning a day on Ben Alder routes
The walking times above use Naismith's rule, which assumes a fit walker on good paths with short stops. Most groups take longer: add a quarter for a mixed group, more for children or heavy packs, and plan the descent as carefully as the climb, because tired legs and fading light cause more trouble on the way down than on the way up.
Start early. Car parks at popular starts fill by mid-morning in summer and at weekends, and an early start leaves spare daylight if the weather turns or the walk takes longer than planned. In winter, work back from sunset and leave a margin of at least an hour.
Carry a map and compass and know how to use them, even on a well-trodden path; a phone battery fails fastest in cold, wet weather. Pack a waterproof jacket and trousers, a warm layer, a hat and gloves in every season, plus food, water and a head torch. Tell someone your route and when you expect to be back.
If you are new to Ben Alder, choose the easiest route in the table for a first ascent and save the harder lines for a settled day when you know the mountain. Turning back is always an option; the summit will still be there.
Questions about Ben Alder
What is the easiest route up Ben Alder?
The one measured route listed here is Dalwhinnie via Culra and the Long Leachas (Hard).
How much time does each Ben Alder route take?
Dalwhinnie via Culra and the Long Leachas: about 5h 35m up and 10h 0m there and back. Times are by Naismith's rule (5 km/h plus 10 minutes per 100 m of ascent), before stops.
Can I get a GPX file for a Ben Alder route?
Not from this page. In the Peakify iPhone app, plan the route in the route planner (or import one), save it, then choose Export GPX on the saved route. GPX export is part of Peakify Pro.